Liz Willette

Liz Willette came to wine through travel. She began her career guiding trips in Italy for the luxury travel company Butterfield & Robinson, and was later posted to its office in Beaune, France. There she shared an apartment with Erin Cannon (now Chave), who was running Kermit Lynch’s French office. While living in Burgundy with Erin, Liz was inevitably bitten by the wine bug.

Italy eventually called her back. With no formal training, she taught herself about wine by buying the best bottles she could afford, studying them, and sharing what she learned with her clients.

In the winter of 1998, Liz ran the wine bar at La Rosa Alpina in the Dolomites of northern Italy. She chose the wines for a dinner cooked by David Bouley, who then asked her to move to New York as assistant sommelier at his new restaurant Danube. She went on to earn her sommelier certification and moved from the restaurant floor to the import and distribution side of the business, spending four years with Michael Skurnik Wines.

In 2004, she founded the first Willette Wines, built around the wines of Jean-Louis Chave. In 2011, the company merged with Grand Cru Selections, bringing together two high-end portfolios devoted to France and Italy, and Liz helped grow the combined business until 2017.

That year, ready for a life beyond Manhattan, she moved with her family to Boulder, Colorado, where she spent six years with Natural Wine Company. In early 2023, she relaunched Willette Wines, once again with the wines of Jean-Louis Chave at its foundation. The portfolio has since grown to include producers from France, Italy, Germany, and the United States.