SERVICE NEVER STOPS

When Erin White first moved to New Orleans in 1982, she began her love affair with wine at Flagon's, a wine bar on Magazine Street. She continued to advance her career working at various wine bars in New Orleans and then in San Francisco before accepting the role as the assistant sommelier at The Windsor Court Hotel. Her time at the hotel proved fruitful, earning a James Beard Award nomination for Outstanding Wine Service and introducing her to Chef John Besh, with whom she kept in close contact. In the years that followed White joined Emeril Lagasse as the first wine director at his flagship restaurant Emeril’s where they collaborated to design the restaurant’s wine list. White then moved to Colorado with her 5-year-old son in 1995, but never lost touch with her passion, working as a wine buyer for a local shop while raising her child.

In 2010, White felt the tug to return to New Orleans and be part of the city’s revival after Hurricane Katrina. She accepted the position as the sommelier at Restaurant August, a New Orleans staple in fine dining. White combined her years of experience in wine bars, restaurants, and retail with her commitment to the guest above all. After a remarkable 13-year tenure at August, White's unbridled enthusiasm for the study of wine and her profound affection for all things Italian gracefully led her to the prestigious realm of BRG Hospitality's Italian culinary gem, Domenica, where she seamlessly integrated into the team in the early months of 2024.

During White’s time at August, the restaurant garnered numerous accolades including earning a spot on Wine Enthusiast magazine’s list of Top 100 Wine Restaurants for the past three years. August also received multiple James Beard Award nominations including Outstanding Restaurant and Outstanding Service. White is excited to work with Executive Chef Valeriano and the team at Domenica to bring the same enthusiasm and elevation to the wine program.