Monica Samuels is one of the country’s most accomplished sake professionals - including being named “Top 40 Under 40” by Wine Enthusiast Magazine and holding the prestigious title of Sake Samurai.

 Monica has been in the sake business for over fifteen years on both the hospitality side and as Southern Wine & Spirits’ Sake Ambassador before joining the Vine Connections team to oversee the strategy, marketing, sales, and education of the Japanese sake and spirits portfolio.

She is a skilled educator making her passion and knowledge for complicated subjects approachable and understandable. She specializes in introducing sake to those who are unfamiliar with it, including developing sake programs in non-Japanese restaurants and recommending some truly outstanding non-traditional sake pairings to everyone she meets.