How a Love of Wine Became the Wine Likes App

What starts as a story inspired by a grandfather's World War II experience with champagne turns into a full-circle journey through fine dining, wine education, and app development.  In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by Jeff Gillis, a certified sommelier, adjunct professor, and former food and beverage director at luxury hotels in Beverly Hills and Napa Valley.  Jeff shares how his upbringing shaped his love of wine and why curating wine lists at five-star hotels prepared him for teaching and innovating. He talks about building his app, Wine Likes, a gamified platform designed to help wine lovers connect, learn, and discover new bottles.  Whether you're in hospitality, a wine student, or just someone who's tired of wine apps that don't get you, this conversation blends tradition and tech with heart and a healthy splash of fun.  What You'll Learn:  How WWII and a European-style home influenced Jeff's love of wine What it's really like to run wine programs at world-class hotels The power of educating future wine pros with science and storytelling Why supporting local winemakers is a long-term win What led Jeff to create a social wine app, and how it works The real challenges of transitioning from hospitality to tech A surprising 'wonky wine term' that might make you giggle And if you're ready to hear how the past, present, and future of wine collide in one conversation? Listen now at www.winebehindthescenes.com Jeff Gillis began his career in the hospitality industry, spending over 15 years as a food and beverage director, wine buyer, and wine director for top-tier hotels like The Beverly Hills Hotel, The Peninsula Group, and Bardessono in Napa Valley. After earning an MBA from the University of Illinois, he transitioned into biotech operations, where he also began building Wine Likes, a social platform for wine lovers. A WSET2-certified sommelier and adjunct professor at the College of the Canyons, Jeff is passionate about teaching, innovating, and making wine fun again, especially for those who want to enjoy wine without the pressure of being an expert. You can visit Jeff's website here: www.winelikes.com and all of his other socials: Instagram: @winelikesapp LinkedIn: @winelikesceo Facebook: @winelikes TikTok: @winelikes