Jennifer Huether’s love affair and studies in wine started in her early 20s when she took an interest course at George Brown college. From there, she immediately leapt into the Sommelier Certification from ISG and graduated top of her class. She then earned her Diploma of Wine from WSET, followed by the Advanced Sommelier, which she passed in 2005, and finally the Master Sommelier Exams – becoming Canada’s first female Master Sommelier in 2011, graduating in Dallas, Texas.
Her restaurant industry experience is vast, starting off in Toronto Restaurants where she found wine. Huether has also worked for Canadian-owned Cliff Lede Vineyards based in Napa Valley, and for seven years ran one of Canada’s top wine programs at MLSE in Toronto. During that time she oversaw six restaurants and a multi-million dollar beverage program, while mentoring the property’s 11 Sommeliers. Huether most recently was employed with California-based Jackson Family Wines representing their brands throughout Canada. Huether is a founder of @socialherbivore, together with Priya Rao, and is now writing a book on plant-based food & wine matching and feels that this is the next huge wine trend.
After winning the Ontario Sommelier Competition in 2006, she decided to invest her energy heavily in the execution of the competitions from 2008 to 2019. Huether, together with Alex Evans, made it her mission to hold the Ontario & Canadian ASI Competitions to the highest level of quality, integrity and standards to provide the best possible experience to the candidates. She sat for several years on the board of directors of CAPS Ontario and focused her energy into building competitions and the content for them. Huether continues as an active teacher with the Court of Masters and mentors several Advanced and Master Sommelier Candidates throughout Canada and teaches with WSET. She sits on the Board of Directors for Femmes du Vin as the Education Chair working to enhance the lives of all women in wine. Huether can be found curating an organic, sustainable and earth friendly wine and spirits list at Fresh City Farms.
