40 Under 40 Spotlight: Erin Lindstone

Who: Erin Lindstone

What: Wine director

Where: Barolo Grill in Denver

Age: 38

First Industry Job: Host at Restaurant Kevin Taylor in Denver

Favorite Drink: Wine drinker — anything that is fresh and vibrant, with lots of acidity and minerality

Erin Lindstone has spent nearly all of her career at Barolo Grill, rising from server to sommelier to wine director through passion, talent, commitment and love for wine and hospitality. The award-winning wine program offers more than 2,000 selections and deep vintages, with selections that emphasize organic farmers, female winemakers and those that practice sustainable production. 

Lindstone directs all of the wine training for the restaurant and is on the floor as the sommelier for the restaurant nightly. Her efforts have lifted the beverage training, implemented multiple levels of wine pairing options, and provided a deep sense of hospitality to a world-class wine program.

She currently mentors three servers that have sommelier aspirations and spends a significant amount of her personal time doing this. Lindstone is also a part of the team that organizes a staff trip to Northern Italy and arranges which wine producers they will visit.

The pandemic provided plenty of challenges and opportunities. “It was an all-hands-on-deck moment that allowed for me to dip my toes into every corner of the restaurant, and get creative wherever I could to help us survive,” Lindstone says.

“I figured out how to translate our menu and wine program to a to-go format; I created a wine club with different tiers of membership, including hand-written notes with customized wine selections for nearly 75 members.”

Lindstone also learned how to message guests through social media and other forms of online communication, and helped create a fundraiser to fund bungalows for outdoor dining. “Then I figured how to run around a restaurant with a much larger footprint, taking care of guests outdoors and indoors,” she notes.

“The list goes on, it was a crazy time, but I learned so much that I carry with me to this day.”

The Beverage Information Group 40 Under 40 is sponsored by Inspiro Tequila, IV20 Terp Vodka, Heaven Hill Brands and Tequila Herradura. For all of this year’s 40 Under 40, which represent every tier and channel of the beverage alcohol industry, check out our special supplement.

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