Maurice DiMarino is a native to San Diego and worked for 10 years in the San Francisco restaurant industry. Today he is the beverage director for the Cohn Restaurant Group and oversees wine, beer and spirits programs for 26 restaurants in San Diego, Long Beach and Maui. Maurice is a certified sommelier, certified cicerone® and CRT certified in Tequila. When he is not training, hosting events, and creating programs, Maurice is teaching several of the wine intensive courses at the Business of Wine Program at San Diego State University. He judges wine and spirits for the San Diego International Wine & Spirits Competition, Sommelier Challenge, Ramona Vintners Association Wine Competition, and Toast of the Coast wine and spirits competitions. Maurice has written for several of San Diego’s major publications, but most enjoys writing his blog, Maurice’s Wine Cru.