Who We Are...
What we drink
Jessica with partner Nino created The Savory Grape because of their passion for wine! Simply put, they wanted to share their excitement and knowledge of wine with others. From travels in the US and Europe, Jessica, with Nino, has brought her experiences into this boutique shop that has received recognition in the Wall Street Journal, Wine Spectator, RI Monthly Magazine, Providence Journal and Providence Business News. If you don't see Jessica at the store, then she is either traveling to vineyards or trying to keep up with her 4 year-old daughter.
Jessica has received the Top 40 Under 40 award by Providence Business News which honors the region's most successful people under 40 years of age and was featured in its Sept. 2009 issue. She holds a BA in Communications, Magna Cum Laude, and a MA in Psychology. She has completed the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
Nino is co-owner of The Savory Grape with Jessica, and is just as much a lover of wine as she is. But you will only have sightings of Nino at The Savory Grape on weekends. During the week, Nino is busy traveling internationally for Honeywell Corporation. So, when not traveling, enjoying food or traveling to vineyards, Nino is on the golf course. Nino holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering and a MBA.
From New Hartford, CT, Patrick first came to RI to attend Johnson & Wales University. While there, he received an Associate degree in Culinary Arts and BA in Business. Having completed a Culinary internship at Sunriver Resorts in Oregon and continuing to fuel his love for food, he returned to the East Coast. In 2007, Patrick joined The Savory Grape. Patrick has been more than hooked and enjoys traveling to Willamette and Napa Valleys to find exceptional producers to share with New England.
Patrick enjoys a variety of wines. Yet nothing quite gets him like the bolder Italian and Bordeaux reds. As The Savory Grape's Manager, Patrick loves traveling and finding interesting, new wines for everyone to enjoy.
A native Rhode Islander, Sabrina is from RI's Providence area. With a vibrant soul, Sabrina is its Event Director and Beer Buyer. She comes to The Savory Grape with experience in banking and a love of food, once an integral part of the Whole Foods team. While she shares a passion for wine, Sabrina has a love for unique craft beers. She attended the Hospitality College at Johnson & Wales University, where she earned an Associate’s in Hotel Management and a BA in Hospitality Management with concentrations in Leadership and Sales & Meeting Management. Sabrina has completed the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.
A gourmet chef and wine lover, Tulay grew up in Istanbul, Turkey, a place famous for its wide variety of cuisine from its heritage of the Ottoman Empire. Its cuisine offers a fusion of Middle Eastern, Central Asian and Mediterranean influences. From an early age, Tulay dedicated herself to mastering these unique techniques and catering professionally. Migrating her passion, in 2001 she moved to America and started her own catering business in Rhode Island. After moving to New England, her life involved going to culinary school, tasting great wines and traveling to different vineyards. In 2008, she graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in culinary arts and hit the ground running. In 2010, she then traveled around western Turkey for a month just to tour the spectacular vineyards in the area. Now at The Savory Grape Tulay is weaving her love of wine into her everyday culinary experiences.
Lisa is a lover of wine whether on the ground or in the air. By day you might encounter Lisa on American Airlines' flights, where she has worked for 20 years. But when she is on the ground, Lisa is writing about wine, tasting wine & enjoying lots of different cuisine. Lisa has worked part time in the wine industry for the past 10 years.
