Full Name
Mr John Rielly
Job Title
Food And Beverage Director
Company
The Peaks Resort And Spa Telluride Colorado
Speaker Bio
John is currently Wine Director at Cosmopolitan in Telluride, and Food and Beverage Director at the Peaks Resort in Telluride Colorado. John has 35 years of experience in Food and Beverage including a 5 year run at the Peaks from 1994-1999.
When he left the Peaks in 1999 and moved to California, he worked in service at Zuni Café in San Francisco which is a multi-James Beard Award winning restaurant before moving to San Diego.
In San Diego John worked in service at several high-end dining establishments including Laurel restaurant, Hotel Del Coronado, and his last position in service as Director of Private Dining at IVY San Diego. This last role was modeled on the Private Dining program at Per Se in NYC and had John focused on high status and celebrity guests in private spaces.
After being recruited by Southern Wine and Spirits in 2008, John joined that organization for 5 years as a Wine Manager in San Diego and was promoted to Hotel Specialist for Orange County CA. John primarily focused on the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy portfolio selling brands like Krug, Moet, Veuve Clicquot, Newton, Cloudy Bay, and Numanthia. He also represented the Diageo Chateau and Estates wine division representing premium Burgundy brands like Ramonet, Roumier, Niellon, and Marquis D’Angerville along with the Napa icon Beaulieu Vineyards.
After 5 intense years at SGWS John left for a Supplier job at Terlato Wines based in Chicago. John was Fine Wine Specialist covering California, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. At Terlato John represented premium brands like Gaja, Il Poggione, Chapoutier, Rochioli, Ramonet, Nino
Franco, and Champagne Bollinger. After 4 years at Terlato John left to become West Coast Sales Manager for Groth Vineyards and Winery where he spent 2 years establishing new sales records for
California and the west.
In 2019 after 14 years of continuous work John went on a 90-day, 16 country round the world trip via one way tickets to countries including Iceland, the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, Germany, Malta, Israel, Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia.
He came back to the US and was living in Los Angeles when COVID struck and miraculously landed a job as National Sales Manager for Immortal Estate which produces luscious Cabernets from Spring Mountain in Sonoma County.
John spent a year with Immortal and was about to sign up for another when Gaia Gaja called and asked him to be the National Sales Manager for Tuscan winery CA’MARCANDA by Gaja for the US. During his year with Gaja John visited 26 states and had so many unique experiences including moving back to Telluride after 22 years away. When his contract with Gaja ended, he decided to stay.
In June of 2022 John started as Wine Director at Cosmopolitan Telluride and in December of the same year started working as the Floor Sommelier. This was the first time in service in 15 years and John finds being on the floor fun and stimulating. He also re-joined the Peaks as Wine Director in 2023 and was promoted to Food and Beverage Director in July of 2024. Both properties were upgraded to Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence for the first time in 2024 and each have 650+ labels on their respective lists.
John has presented at SommCon 4 times over the years and worked as a Room Captain and Panelist as well. He also works as a Brand Ambassador for Spring Mountain winery Immortal Estate selling wine in California, Texas, and Colorado.
When not working too much John skis 75-100 days a year, plays golf, and travels the globe with friends and family seeking a good time!
When he left the Peaks in 1999 and moved to California, he worked in service at Zuni Café in San Francisco which is a multi-James Beard Award winning restaurant before moving to San Diego.
In San Diego John worked in service at several high-end dining establishments including Laurel restaurant, Hotel Del Coronado, and his last position in service as Director of Private Dining at IVY San Diego. This last role was modeled on the Private Dining program at Per Se in NYC and had John focused on high status and celebrity guests in private spaces.
After being recruited by Southern Wine and Spirits in 2008, John joined that organization for 5 years as a Wine Manager in San Diego and was promoted to Hotel Specialist for Orange County CA. John primarily focused on the Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy portfolio selling brands like Krug, Moet, Veuve Clicquot, Newton, Cloudy Bay, and Numanthia. He also represented the Diageo Chateau and Estates wine division representing premium Burgundy brands like Ramonet, Roumier, Niellon, and Marquis D’Angerville along with the Napa icon Beaulieu Vineyards.
After 5 intense years at SGWS John left for a Supplier job at Terlato Wines based in Chicago. John was Fine Wine Specialist covering California, Nevada, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Arizona. At Terlato John represented premium brands like Gaja, Il Poggione, Chapoutier, Rochioli, Ramonet, Nino
Franco, and Champagne Bollinger. After 4 years at Terlato John left to become West Coast Sales Manager for Groth Vineyards and Winery where he spent 2 years establishing new sales records for
California and the west.
In 2019 after 14 years of continuous work John went on a 90-day, 16 country round the world trip via one way tickets to countries including Iceland, the UK, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Poland, Germany, Malta, Israel, Vietnam, Singapore, and Australia.
He came back to the US and was living in Los Angeles when COVID struck and miraculously landed a job as National Sales Manager for Immortal Estate which produces luscious Cabernets from Spring Mountain in Sonoma County.
John spent a year with Immortal and was about to sign up for another when Gaia Gaja called and asked him to be the National Sales Manager for Tuscan winery CA’MARCANDA by Gaja for the US. During his year with Gaja John visited 26 states and had so many unique experiences including moving back to Telluride after 22 years away. When his contract with Gaja ended, he decided to stay.
In June of 2022 John started as Wine Director at Cosmopolitan Telluride and in December of the same year started working as the Floor Sommelier. This was the first time in service in 15 years and John finds being on the floor fun and stimulating. He also re-joined the Peaks as Wine Director in 2023 and was promoted to Food and Beverage Director in July of 2024. Both properties were upgraded to Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellence for the first time in 2024 and each have 650+ labels on their respective lists.
John has presented at SommCon 4 times over the years and worked as a Room Captain and Panelist as well. He also works as a Brand Ambassador for Spring Mountain winery Immortal Estate selling wine in California, Texas, and Colorado.
When not working too much John skis 75-100 days a year, plays golf, and travels the globe with friends and family seeking a good time!
Speaking At
