Biography.
Michele got her start at the Culinary Institute of America. Every student here is required to take a class on wine. She loved the way her professor, Michael Weiss, made wine sound like art: living poetry. She was the tutor for this class for over a year, while finishing her bachelor’s in business management. After graduation she got her first job as a Sommelier at Savona in Philadelphia. This charming restaurant located on the Main Line of Philadelphia was founded and created by Evan Lambert, one of the founders of The American Sommelier Association and Star Wine. She worked there for four years, hosting weekly wine tastings and monthly wine dinners. During this time, she started working for Angel’s Envy as a Whiskey Guardian, where she worked for three years. From Savona she moved to Steven Starr’s Barclay Prime. Shortly after, she started working at The Four Season’s Jean Georges in Philadelphia, on top of the Comcast building. The COVID 19 pandemic hit, with her there just over a year. Michele moved down to South Carolina to manage a restaurant while the North East was shut down. During the lock-down, Michele wrote her first book: Pairing Paws: Dog Breeds and Their Spirit Wines. Annihilation Archetypes, The Splattering of Silence, Unleashed, and How To Build a Wine List were released in 2023. Pairing Paws: Cat Breeds and Their Spirit Wines is anticipated by the summer 2024. She went on to be the Wine & Beverage Director at the Fearless Restaurant Group, where she oversaw 10 restaurants in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. She is currently working at the Four Seasons Philadelphia in Jean Georges.
Michele is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators, a Certified Sake Advisor through the Sake School of America, an Executive Bourbon Steward through the Stave and Thief Society, and a diploma student for WSET.
In the Press.
PHL 17 News
Drinks and Dresses for the 2023 Kentucky Derby
Pretty Progressive
This article showcases our top picks for the Positive Books To Read.
FOX Philadelphia
TikTok trend pairs 'itos' with bubbly
The perfect late-night snack? A new TikTok trend is pairing Cheetos and Doritos with sparkling wine!
FOX Philadelphia
Cheers! Mocktail recipes for Dry January
Just because it's Dry January, it doesn't mean that your gathering have to be boring! Here are some fun booze-free cocktails ideas to keep the party going.
Bustle
The 12 Best Wine Racks, According To Sommeliers
PHL 17 News
This Saturday is National Champagne Day!
PHL 17 News
Festive Thanksgiving cocktails to wow your guests
Wine and Beverage Director of the Fearless Restaurant Group Michele Gargiulo shared some festive Thanksgiving cocktails!
FOX Philadelphia
How to cure the post-season flu after Phillies and Union both lose championship titles
FOX 29's Jenn Frederick is curing her post-season flu with cocktails and food at White Dog Cafe in Wayne.
FOX Philadelphia
Popping bottles at White Dog Cafe in Wayne
White Dog Cafe is mixing up some delicious cocktails for a Sunday brunch!
PHL 17 News
Get in the Halloween spirit with these spooky drinks
Best Products
50 FUN WINE GIFTS FOR OENOPHILES IN YOUR LIFE
From winning accessories to the best bottles you can buy online.
PHL 17 News
Get in the spirit with these fall drinks.
Michele Gargiulo, Director of Beverage for Fearless Restaurants, shared her favorite fall drinks!
“I start working on these menus a good month before they actually change. We’re sweating and I’m like ‘Let’s talk about fall,'” laughed Michele.
Michele showcased her pumpkin spice latte-inspired martini made with real pumpkin spice simple syrup consisting of pureed pumpkin, nutmeg and cinnamon.
The City Pulse
RSVP Now For Paws On the Patio!
Susan Scovill
A food and wine pairing at White Dog Cafe, Glen Mills
Positive Publicity
Paws on The Patio Book Launch
Australian Dog Lovers Book Club
With the winter school holidays upon us, it's time to stock up on a new pile of great reads for yourself and the kids.. You know, just in case that Internet connection or the power grid went down... Thankfully, books will always be there for us!
You also can't beat snuggling under a warm blanket with your dog for company so grab your favourite cuppa and enjoy this July 2022 selection of the Dog Lovers Book Club.
FOX Philadelphia
The Moshulu features chef Robert Irvine's latest spirits
Jenn Frederick heads to the Moshulu to taste new menu items and flavorful drinks.
PHL 17 News
New book pairs wines with well known dog breeds
Philly Grub Blog
Pairing Paws, Dog Breeds and their Spirit Wines Book Launch
PHL 17 News
National Martini Day!
Main Line Tonight
Daddy O is LBI’s Hottest Hotel and Restaurant
PHL 17 News
Celebrating National Mimosa Day in studio
Fearless Restaurants Director of Beverage Michele Gargiulo joins us on National Mimosa Day! See how to make different varieties of mimosas!
The Classic: Orange Juice and Sparkling Wine
Strawberries and Aperol (orange) Mimosa
Lavender and Earl Grey Tea Mimosa
FOX Philadelphia
Rosalie hosting Kentucky Derby Day Party
Michele Garguilo joins FOX 29 to discuss Rosalie's Kentucky Derby watch party and showcase some of the menu items.
PHL 17 News
Cocktails for Derby Day
Philadelphia (WPHL)- Celebrate Derby Day with these delicious cocktails.
NBC Philadelphia
Put on Your Finest Hat and Enjoy This Kentucky Derby Party on the Main Line
Fox Philadelphia
Easter candy cocktails and mocktails
Michele Gargiulo, the director of beverage for Fearless Restaurants, showcases several Easter-themed cocktails and mocktails.
PHL 17 News
Easter leftover candy with cocktails
Leftover Easter candy? We hear how to pair Easter candy with cocktails. Fearless Restaurants Director of Beverage Michele Gargiulo joined us.
Here are the cocktails/mocktails she made:
Dark and Fluffy cocktail: 2 oz marshmallow vodka, 2 oz chocolate liqueur, 1 oz cream, marshmallow PEEP garnish
JellyBean Dust Bunnies: 1.5 oz jellybean infused rum, 0.5 oz aperol, 0.5 oz lemon juice, served on the rocks with crushed jellybean dust
(Mocktail) Bean There, Done That: Jellybean infused lemonade, cranberry juice splash, orange wheel garnish
Main Line Today
Head to Rosalie in Wayne this Derby Day for its live watch party, or make one of the eatery’s specialty cocktails at home with this recipe.
Fox Philadelphia
Celebrating National Whiskey Day
Whiskey expert Michele Garguilo discusses the unique taste of whiskey.
PHL 17 News
Learning About Different Whiskeys
Philadelphia (WPHL)– International Whiskey Day is on Sunday, so Michele Gargiulo, Wine Director, Fearless Restaurants, joins us.
We’re talking about whiskey and the different kinds. Gargiulo says whisky is a hugely growing market. Women are also starting to get into this “classically masculine” drink.
Gargiulo talks about the differences between all of the whiskey’s besides just location. Such as; mash bills, different grains used, the aging process, how it varies per location based on the climate.
PHL 17 News
National Drink Wine Day; Taste wine the right way
Philadelphia (WPHL)- Are you tasting wine the right way? Do you want to impress your crush on a first date? Well, today, you are in luck. Fearless Restaurants Wine Director, Michele Garguilo, joins us on National Wine Day to teach us how to taste wine the right way.
PHL 17 News
“How to properly open a champagne bottle”
Philadelphia (WPHL)- Wine Director for Fearless Restaurants, Michele Gargiulo, tells us how to open a champagne bottle properly and which champagnes will go well to make cocktails. Gargiulo teaches us the difference in champagne’s that we all should look out for that best fits our desires.
Fox Philadelphia
“Holiday cocktails made with champagne”
Jenn Fred visits White Dog Cafe in Wayne to try some holiday cocktails made with champagne.
Fox Philadelphia
“Mocktails to celebrate a Dry January”
Good Day Philadelphia showcases some mocktails for Dry January.
Philly Magazine
“The New Faces of Philly Wine”
Inside the restaurant scene’s latest youth movement.
The Item
“Servant of Wine”
New Hampton’s Front of House Manager Enlightens Sumter on Grape History
Conde Nast Traveler
Best Wine Regions to Visit in 2020
And the wines to buy if you can’t buy plane tickets to all of them.
Philly Bite
Savona on the Main Line Completes $1M Renovation
VinePair
We Asked 14 Sommeliers: What Are You Drinking on Super Bowl Sunday?