Welcome to Episode 2629 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Juliana Colangelo speaks with sommelier and certified Italian wine expert Jack Liggett about the role of wine education and certification in building a successful career in the wine and hospitality industry.
Key Takeaways:
• Why structured wine education matters beyond tasting skills and restaurant service.
• The real impact of professional wine certifications for today’s sommeliers.
• How specialized Italian wine education can open new opportunities in the wine trade and hospitality sector.
More about the guest:
Jack Liggett serves as the Head Sommelier and Wine Program Lead at 53, a contemporary Asian restaurant in NYC. His connection to wine began at an early age through family tradition, picking grapes from his grandfather’s small backyard vineyard in Groton Massachusetts. Jack’s interest in wine rekindled during his travels to Rome, Italy, where he took a class about Italian wine and culture. Upon returning back to the U.S., Jack continued to explore and held an array of roles at wineries such as a tasting room associate, vineyard worker, and harvest intern, learning the ropes for winemaking.
Jack joined 53 as part of the restaurant’s opening team in 2022 as a wine runner, supporting the sommelier’s day-to-day service. After six months, Jack was promoted to sommelier and now, three and a half years later, leads the wine program. For Jack, the attraction of wine lies in its dynamic nature. At 53, he strives to explore new wines, engage in unexpected conversations with guests, and continue to learn and teach. Jack has also been awarded his DipWSET certificate and IWE through Vinitaly International Academy.
Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jack__liggett/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-liggett-dipwset-iwe-9525b9147/
More about the host:
Juliana Colangelo is the Director of Marketing at T. Edward Wines & Spirits, the NYC-based national importer and distributor. She leads the company’s marketing strategy across a growing portfolio of global wine and spirits producers, driving brand development, trade engagement, and national visibility during a period of significant expansion.
Previously, Juliana was Senior Brand Manager at Frederick Wildman & Sons, where she played a key leadership role in the Italian wine division, overseeing marketing strategy for shareholder brands within the Gruppo Italiano Vini and Cantine Riunite portfolios. Prior to that, she served as Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S., where she opened the firm’s first secondary headquarters in California in 2016, establishing its Bay Area office. Over the past decade, Juliana has become one of the most dynamic and influential marketing and communications executives in the wine industry. She is widely recognized as a mentor and connector for women in beverage alcohol, leveraging her network to create opportunities and elevate others in the field. Juliana has been featured in Forbes, Fortune, and other leading publications speaking on the future of wine marketing and consumer growth.
Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julezcolang/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jules.colangelo/
Twitter: https://x.com/JulezColang
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-colangelo-mba-04345539/
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