Nick Hetzel began his more than 20-year career in the hotel and restaurant industry in the back of the house, cooking for numerous James Beard award winning chefs. It was his passion for food that lead to his intrigue in wine and its role in the dining experience. This thirst for wine knowledge eventually leads him to a 15 year sommelier career. During this time, he worked in top restaurants in Las Vegas and the Napa Valley with Sage Restaurant accounting for the last seven. While at Sage, Hetzel achieved numerous awards including Best Sommelier, Las Vegas in 2012 and 2013, as well as Top 100 Wine Restaurant in the nation by Wine Enthusiast magazine six years in a row.

In the summer of 2013, Hetzel earned the most prestigious title a sommelier can achieve by passing the Master Sommelier Diploma exam. In addition to his Master Sommelier diploma, he is also a graduate of the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

Nick Hetzel joined Jackson Family Wines in August 2017 as the Director of Wine Education.