Emily Wines MS, Vice President of Wine and Beverage Experience, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant (Chicago, USA)

Years In Industry:

I have been working in restaurants for around 30 years and I have been a sommelier for 20 of those. My early years were spent at the Fifth Floor restaurant in San Francisco, part of the Kimpton Hotels group, eventually leading 65 dining concepts across the US as Senior Director of Beverage and Bars. It was during this time I achieved the Master Sommelier accreditation. After a stint as GM for Skipstone Ranch, I joined Coopers Hawk Winery and Restaurant in 2017 leading their beverage and wine programs. Most recently we created a new wine brand that celebrates strong women called “Camille”. Camille Brave and Camille Proud are the first two cuveés and it’s a project I’m thrilled to be leading.

My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:

With travel, maintaining a routine is tricky. It takes extra effort to exercise and it is easy to over indulge. We are in a social industry and when I feel lonely on the road I know a friend is out there in any number of restaurants or bars across the country. I find that I eat and drink more when I travel and I have to catch up on self-care back home more than I would like. 

How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:

My newest self-care move has been to treat myself to massages when I travel. It seemed expensive and unnecessary for so long, but I have found that by doing this I spend the same money I might going out to eat and drink anyway, and the reward is that I feel more relaxed and balanced. I also do this in lieu of going out so the next day I am much more refreshed. It has been the best decision ever!

I have several favorite workout videos on YouTube to reference for workouts in case I only have time for a quickie in my hotel room and I reserve my most binge-worthy TV shows to watch on the treadmill. It makes the exercise a treat rather than something to dread. In particular I really like Maris Aylward’s Yoga Upload. She has a good range of short and long practices and has many that are hands free for when I mess up my wrists.  Also Team Beachbody has a TON of videos on demand and it is worth a subscription.  Of these, I like the Insanity cardio workouts and the Brazil Butt Lift videos. (now you know all my secrets!) But those are the easiest to do in a hotel room.

You can connect with Emily on Instagram @emily.wines or with Copers Hawk Winery online at CoopersHawkWinery.com Instagram @chwinery  and Facebook @CoopersHawkWinery