Mariano Padilla has been appointed as Sommelier at The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay - the leading Forbes Five-Star oceanfront resort in the San Francisco Bay Area - has hired sommelier, Mariano Padilla, to spearhead the luxury resort's wine program. Padilla will play a crucial role in curating an exceptional wine program, ensuring that guests have access to a diverse and sophisticated selection of wines.
Padilla brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in wine to The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay. Padilla was certified as a Sommelier in 2015, and in 2022 he earned the Level 3 Advanced Sommelier Award in wines. Padilla comes to The Ritz-Carlton from 3 Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco where he served as sommelier and managed its prestigious cellars.
In his new role, Padilla will work alongside The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay Executive Chef Roberto Riveros and Navio Chef de Cuisine Francisco Simón to complement their menus at Forbes Four-Star restaurant Navio and the coastal-inspired establishment, The Conservatory. One of his first initiatives will be to curate the wine experience for the resort's Global Cuisine Series with Michelin-starred Chef Shin Thompson of NIKU X taking place September 21-24.
Prior to Atelier Crenn, Padilla served as head sommelier at Lavender Ridge Vineyard in Murphys, California, where he managed all wine programming, including tastings for vineyard guests. He brings robust resort experience to his new role, including sommelier positions at Chable Maroma Wellness Resort and Spa and Secrets Akumal Resort and Spa, both in Mexico. Additional international experience includes 1 Michelin-starred Nerua Restaurant in Bilbao, Spain, where he worked as sommelier stagier. Hailing from Mexico, he has a deep passion for oenology and is well-versed in global wine regions, grape varietals, and winemaking techniques. Not only is he an expert in wine, he also speaks Spanish, Italian, French, and English.