Born in Spain, Raquel Ortega is a sommelier based in Washington DC.  Raquel’s family owns a little vineyard in the heart of Ribera del Duero, so she has been linked to viticulture since an early age. As an interesting fact, her grandfather was a founding partner of one of the first wine co-operatives in the area in the 60s, a true pioneer. 

Raquel graduated in Advertising and Public Relations and masters in Business Administration. But she felt the necessity of being closer to her roots, so she decided to pursue a career in wine.

> Starting as a server in Casa Luca,  a DC restaurant owned by the Italian Chef Fabio Trabocchi (1 Michelin star), she learned the dynamics of fine dining.

> Raquel moved to Del Mar in 2017, a Spanish restaurant at the Wharf, owned by the same Italian Chef. While working in the restaurant as a server and sommelier, she devoted her time to learn wine and she got Certified by the Court of Masters Sommeliers in 2020 and gained her level 3 by the Wine Spirit and Education Trust (WSET3) in 2021. 

> Raquel joined Chef Enrique Limardo and his team in January 2021 at now Michelin Star restaurant IMPERFECTO as the wine director, sommelier and floor manager, where she has designed the wine menu and wine pairing programs, while focusing her attention in the restaurant dynamics and guest satisfaction.  She has also been leading the popular Women in Wine session on Wednesday’s nights and other wine tasting events. 

> Raquel decided to take all her years of education and experience in restaurants and started her own wine consulting company: EN WINE LLC. Where she offers different services like wine tastings, wine classes, wine purchase or restaurants and bars wine menu designs, to name a few. She now focuses her attention in her career in Real Estate with J2 Real Estate while making her wine consulting company her hobby.