Gretchen Thomas, CIA culinary arts alumni, is Wine and Spirit Director, Barteca Restaurant Group

Alumni Bio: Gretchen Thomas ’05

Management
Vice President of Beverages, Del Frisco's Restaurant Group
“I would not have been introduced to wine if it wasn’t for the CIA. While you’re at the CIA, every door in the restaurant business is opened up to you.”

As the Vice President of Beverages for Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group based in Dallas/Fort Worth, Gretchen Thomas supervises the largest Spanish wine program in the United States. She discovered her passion as a CIA student. “I would not have been introduced to wine if it wasn’t for The Culinary Institute of America,” she says. “While you’re at the CIA, every door in the restaurant business is opened up to you, so even if you’re not really sure what you want to do, you’ll figure it out while you’re there.” Watch her story:

 

Learn more about the CIA Master’s in Wine Management degree

Contact Us

The Culinary Institute of America
1946 Campus Drive
Hyde Park, NY 12538-1499