Ashleigh Forester

Working with some of the best lists in the city, Ashleigh has spent her wine career focusing on bringing an approachability and ease to the world of wine. Working on the floor with niche-specific wines as the opening sommelier for AloBar Yorkville, she’s also managed the vast and more classically oriented lists at the Scotia Bank Arena and Eataly Yorkville. Always keen for new opportunities, Ashleigh explored the world of teaching at George Brown and, due to COVID, was able to experience retail wine for the first time at Peter Pantry, one of the first highly curated bottle shops in Toronto. After two years at the helm of Yorkville Eataly as the Beverage Director, Ashleigh moved to a more intimate guest experience, running the program at a small Italian tasting menu restaurant in the heart of Little Italy. After being awarded the Michelin Sommelier of the Year for Toronto, she moved to a slightly larger program of a similar nature, taking on the role of Head Sommelier and AGM at Don Alfonso 1890. She is currently focusing on pairing menus and curating a thoughtful wine list based heavily in Italian wine with classic global touches, including premium local selections.