June Rodil / Photo by Matt Harrington
For many who grew up in the Philippines or in a Filipino household, alcohol meant beer and spirits. Wines were often considered inaccessible and expensive. Plus, there’s a misconception that Filipino food doesn’t go well with wine.
These five Filipino and Filipino-American sommeliers are helping to change that narrative in the United States. While there are challenges to being in a Western-leaning industry, these professionals also appreciate the opportunities to share their culture and heritage.
June Rodil MS
Houston
As a young girl in Cavite, Philippines, Rodil would walk to the palengke, or wet market, every morning with her grandfather, a fisherman, to choose the produce that her grandmother would later cook for them. So began her love of food.