Who: Bryce Faucheaux

What: Beverage director

Where: Justine Brasserie in New Orleans

Age: 33

First Industry Job: Interning for Master Sommelier Christopher Miller at République’s wine cellar in Los Angeles

Favorite Drink: Clover Club (I’m a raspberry fanatic)

A New Orleans native, Bryce Faucheaux broke into the world of wine at a young age and has quickly risen to the ranks of the industry. He currently holding the city’s highest sommelier accreditation.

Now serving as beverage director at Justine in the New Orleans French Quarter, he owes much of his early success to the widespread but close-knit network of the wine community, where he believes the “pay it forward” mentality is alive and strong. In the five years Faucheaux has been with Justine, he’s been as promoted from floor sommelier to wine buyer/educator, to wine director, and to beverage director.

Faucheaux has made the wine program a core focus of the restaurant, from building a wine list with a French hyper-focus, to leading a wine team of sommeliers and incorporating wine-based cocktails into the beverage list.

During his first few years as a sommelier in New Orleans, people would frequently ask Faucheaux if he was even old enough to drink. “I could tell that guests thought I was just some kid who wore a suit and tie and was full of it,” he notes.

“To this day, I sometimes get that question, but I look at this as a compliment and an opportunity to really impress these guests with knowledge. When people hear I am studying for the theory portion of the Master Sommelier Diploma exam, their whole perspective changes and my recommendations are trusted without fail.”

With a focus on education and inclusivity, Faucheaux believes that “the best way to reinforce your own learning is to help other people with their journey.”

He also feels that New Orleans needs more sommeliers and wine professionals, and he’s been at the forefront of making the city more sommelier-centric.