Beacon Grille's
Certified Sommelier
Tim Riley
 
 

A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Tim brings an intense passion for beverage service and his wide knowledge of wine, beer, and spirits to Beacon Grille. An honors graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Tim has worked all over the East Coast, including stints with Chef Cindy Wolf at Charleston in Baltimore; at the Statler Hotel in Ithaca, New York; and most recently as the Beverage Manager and Wine Director at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel.

In 2009, Tim became a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has also earned a Level IV certificate from the Wine Studies program at Boston University.
 

Mondavi Captivates Local Diners

 

Robert Mondavi, Jr. entertained and interacted with not one, but two function rooms full of guests, as the featured speaker and wine connoisseur for the third monthly wine dinner hosted by Beacon Grille in Woburn. The region's newest large restaurant, Beacon Grille opened in January of this year and is highly visible from Route 128.

Mr. Mondavi grew up in the famous Napa Valley. His visit to Beacon Grille was orchestrated by the restaurant's Beverage Manager, Tim Riley, one of Beacon Grille's two certified sommeliers.

During the event, Mr. Mondavi shared stories with his audience about how as a child, his play yard was among the barrels and grape vines of his grandfather's acclaimed Robert Mondavi Winery. He related that it was there that he began his career in the wine business at the age of 12. In 2004, Mr. Mondavi founded Folio Fine Wine Partners, and today he leads the production of what are reportedly some of California's most vibrant wine brands.

 

Beacon Grille's general manager, Sean Sullivan, termed the event "a huge success in all respects, and one that highlighted our restaurant's special function capabilities." He credited Beacon Grille's creatively designed layout as being able to not only accommodate but greatly enhance most any private dining occasion.

"For this dinner "he said, the guests who arrived early mingled on Beacon's outdoor patio while enjoying appetizers paired with the first of five wines to be presented. According to Sullivan, "the entire party was then seated into both Beacon Grille's East Room and its recently expanded Rumford Room. The two private rooms comfortably seated the more than one hundred guests in attendance."

Mondavi welcomed everyone, and as each dinner course was served he talked extensively about each wine presented, its grape sourcing, blend, aging, flavor, food pairing, and most of all, about how much good wines still excite him.

Also enjoying the evening was Richard Elia, the publisher of Quarterly Review of Wines Magazine, a nationally distributed publication, and a resident of Winchester. In his remarks, Elia noted that he frequently attends wine dinners and how rare it is for such dinners to have so many guests in attendance. He was also effusive in praising the food prepared by Head Chef Jason Carron, Senior Sous Chef Tracy Simone, and their colleagues.

The restaurant's owner, Bill Cummings, said "all the credit for providing our guests with this memorable experience goes to Mr. Mondavi, and our dedicated and talented staff here at Beacon Grille." Beacon Grille partnered with local retail company, Giles Fine Wine, in producing the event.

Beacon Grille is a 380-seat restaurant offering fine American cuisine served in an upscale and relaxed atmosphere. A member of the Cummings Properties family of companies, the restaurant has pledged to donate one hundred percent of its after-tax profits to charity.
 
 
 
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