Chef, culinary creative director, and entrepreneur. It all started Italy (as the best stories always do), after living and working there sparked a deep love for producer-driven food, wine, and the kind of hospitality that makes both feel inseparable.
That foundation took her to cooking in an Alaskan gold mine, the mountains of Colorado, and most recently as Chef and General Manager at Onyx Coffee Lab's restaurant in Northwest Arkansas. She helped create their wine culture through tastings, a wine club, and food and wine pairing pop-ups, before co-founding Able, her creative culinary agency, that produces experiential dining events and pop-ups.
Wineports is where all of it comes together. Years of living abroad, building relationships with producers, and developing a palate shaped by place gave Alex something rare. The context to know not just what makes a wine good, but what makes it matter. Her goal is to bring wines to the US that carry the fingerprint of where they came from, connecting drinkers to the people and landscapes behind every bottle.
ALEX OTTESON | FOUNDER
Rich in hospitality experience and a passion for food and beverage, Clay is no stranger to all things food and wine. Originally from Columbus, Ohio he has traveled all over the world in search of the next great bottle and culinary experience he can find. After meeting Alex in Colorado, the rest was history. They set out to create a company that was based in the shared loved of bring people together.
Clay is a people person through and through and has been instrumental in communicating the vision and ethos of Wineports. He has accompanied Alex to various wine shows where they have built relationships with procurers. He is ensures our clients are getting the best experience they can and the wines they need!
