Expertly specializing in wines, beverages, food pairings, and hospitality, Amy Heather Flannery is a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. This impressive credential serves her well in her position as sommelier at Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon in Breckenridge, Colorado, where, today, she is responsible for selecting wines, liquors, and beers for purchase after working previous stints as the restaurant’s wine director and lead server. Having found dual success, Ms. Flannery is also the beverage director for the Flame Restaurants Group. She is a prominently featured authority in the Breckenridge Wine Classic, a major annual gathering of winemakers and enthusiasts from around the world in the mountains, from August 22-24, 2024.
Among her vast responsibilities, Ms. Flannery passionately procures specialty items, creates and maintains an exciting wine and beverage program, and trains staff on everything concerning wines, beverages, and proper service. She additionally oversees cost and budget controls, and, as such, maintains relationships with numerous relevant professionals within the company and outside, including suppliers and distributors. As a dedicated member of the team at Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon for more than 15 years, Ms. Flannery is proud to have created the restaurant’s wine and beverage program from scratch, growing in her role to become the multi-unit beverage director and sommelier, creating the positions to give herself room to thrive. Her exceptional efforts have been lauded, as she was featured in Mountain Town Magazine for being the first working sommelier on a restaurant floor in her community.
Before starting her career in hospitality, Ms. Flannery graduated from Johnson & Wales University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in food service management. While pursuing higher education, she steadily gained experience in the field by working in fine dining establishments in Denver, Colorado. Among her talents, Ms. Flannery is highly effective at training staff members and educating customers on the intricacies of wine. Her aim is always to foster excitement as she encourages others to appreciate complex flavors and grow as discerning wine connoisseurs. As a direct result of her efforts, Ms. Flannery has played an integral part in the development of a plethora of individuals and companies. Attaining great confidence in her knowledge and abilities, she has added value to every enterprise.
Ms. Flannery has an extensive professional network, allowing her to significantly expand the wine program at the Briar Rose Chophouse & Saloon, which now enjoys priority access to exclusive and rare products in both the wine and spirits industries. She is grateful for having taken several international wine-centric trips sponsored by the restaurant group’s ownership, thus exposing her to diverse products and cultures and accelerating her growth. One such experience took place in Argentina, where a winery named Catena Zapata flew Ms. Flannery out and gave her a tour of all their regional vineyards. She even visited the Catena Institute of Wine, an incredible research facility. During the experience, she was challenged to match the taste of a specific wine by creating a custom blend, and the director noted that Ms. Flannery’s creation matched the desired flavor best. She found the experience enlightening and gratifying.
Ms. Flannery credits her success to her entrepreneurial spirit and strong work ethic, stemming from her upbringing. Despite her broad experience in hospitality, wines, and beverages, she is always striving to deepen her expertise and grow as a professional—an approach and attitude that she says helps her to get better at her job every day. In addition to her own goals, Ms. Flannery is dedicated to helping others along on their journeys. She is proud to say that multiple former employees have contacted her to tell her how much of an impact she had on their lives and career trajectories.
While Ms. Flannery loves to share the joys of wine, helping customers discover new favorites and incredible food pairings, she also relishes her free time. Away from work, she enjoys time outdoors and stays active by hiking, cross-country skiing, and mountain biking.
