Changing your career is scary at any age, but sometimes transitioning into a new industry can be the beginning of something beautiful. Christopher Sealy was returning from Paris when he decided to dip his toe into the restaurant world. A decade later, he took home the Michelin Guide's 2022 Sommelier Award.
"I found it was the engagement with different people in all these different spaces that actually fuelled who I was and what I wanted to do," says Sealy. After immersing himself in wine education, Sealy fell into the CAPS (Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers) program, which operated out of George Brown College and talks to students about the major wine regions of the world.
The fledgling sommelier moved through some of Toronto's best kitchens, working at spots like Terroni, George Restaurant, and at the popular Little Portugal spot, Midfield Wine Bar, as founder and operator. Since 2015, Sealy has been the head sommelier at Michelin one-star restaurant Alo, where he pairs executive chef Patrick Kriss's tasting menu plates with exquisite pours of wine, and connects with each and every guest.
"I felt I was just being Christopher Sealy," he says of his accolade in the Michelin Guide's inaugural 2022 ceremony. "If Michelin recognized that, that's dope."
His latest project, Parcelle Wine Studio, is a series of wine events that gives the sommelier an informal space to chat with the wine-curious about all things grape. "It's an extension of my brain," laughs Sealy. To learn more about the wine professional, watch the full video above.
Looking to start a new career or make a change? Head to georgebrowncollege.ca/sommelier to learn more about the wine courses available.
