This week, we sit down with Corey Reis, the thoughtful and resilient Wine Director of Be.Steak.A in Campbell. In a deeply personal conversation, Corey shares his winding journey through the hospitality industry—a path marked by high-stakes Michelin pop-ups, the humbling reality of wine sales, and a profound, life-altering turn toward gardening as a way to navigate grief. It’s a story about coming home to your passion, even when the road is anything but straight. Corey’s story is the epitome of what it means to be a "Reluctant Somm." He’s a professional whose expertise was forged not just in fine dining rooms, but through real-life struggle, adaptation, and a willingness to step away to find clarity. This is a must-listen for anyone who understands that a career isn’t always a ladder, but a journey of resilience, self-discovery, and finding your way back. We dive into: The Zig-Zag Career: Why stepping in and out of the wine world—from breweries to sales—can be a source of strength and perspective. Growth from Grief: How starting a garden after a personal loss provided a powerful new connection to the earth and a path through hardship. The Michelin Gauntlet: A look inside the controlled chaos of running the wine program for Ritual at Manresa, a rotating, three-Michelin-star pop-up. The Power of Mentorship: The story of the Bacchus Group "family" and the key figures who shaped his journey in hospitality. Timestamps: The Winding Road 03:16 - A Serendipitous Start: How a legal battle with a vocational school led to a job at Pizza Antica and the start of a career. 07:52 - The Humbling Reality of Sales: The transition from the restaurant floor to a distribution rep and the lessons learned. 10:05 - A Detour into Beer: Stepping away from wine to find a different kind of community and passion at a local brewery. The Turning Point 09:17 - Navigating Personal Loss: Corey speaks openly about his mother's passing and the decision to step back from the industry. 11:33 - The Hibiscus Project: How discovering a passion for gardening transformed his father's yard into a food forest and became a source of healing and joy. 37:34 - Connecting Soil to Wine: How getting his hands dirty in the garden created a deeper, more tangible understanding of viticulture. The Return to Wine 16:27 - Ritual at Manresa: The story of landing a "vastly underqualified" job and being thrown into the fire with the world's best chefs. 19:54 - Chasing the Michelin Bug: The desire to be part of a home team and build something lasting, leading to his role at Be.Steak.A. 1:21:23 - Advice to the Industry: Corey's final thoughts and his most important piece of advice: "Don't ever take your foot off the gas." Connect with Corey: Instagram: @[Corey's Handle] Be.Steak.A Restaurant: @besteaka_ca Corey's Gardening Project: The Hibiscus Project on YouTube Connect with The Reluctant Somm: Instagram: @reluctantsomm Support Our Mission: Your support is our fuel. Leave a review, share this episode with a friend, or subscribe on YouTube. #TheReluctantSomm #CoreyReis #BeSteakA #Sommelier #GriefJourney #Gardening #HospitalityStrong #Resilience #PersonalStory #WinePodcast #NewEpisode #Podcast #Interview #Wine #WineLover #SommLife #BayAreaFoodie #CampbellCA #FoodAndWine #Winemaking

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related