Maude Renaud-Brisson
Founder
Born and raised in Québec, Maude has called Vancouver home for the last decade. Maude began in the restaurant industry as a server and GM, then as a sommelier at iconic restaurants such as Nightingale and Chambar, to an importing role with Lifford Wine & Spirits. She founded APÉROmode in 2019, hosting beloved events, and curating a widely distributed wine club. She often acts as a consultant and contributes to wine initiatives including the global Tasting Climate Change conference. Maude has always believed in giving back to the industry she loves and is a former board member of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers as well as a BC Wine Ambassador with Wine Growers BC.
An original student of the International Sommeliers Guild, she later obtained the Vinitaly Maestro certification and completed her studies with the WSET Diploma program and is now a WSET Instructor at her latest venture, This is Wine School. When she isn’t hosting her popular Apéro pop-ups or teaching classes, you can find her moderating and presenting seminars at various events such as Cornucopia Whistler Wine Festival and Vancouver International Wine Festival. She recently placed top 3 in Canada in the prestigious global South Africa Sommelier Cup competition and is now an ambassador for Wines of South Africa locally.
Kelcie Jones
Wine copywriter
Born and raised in Dunbar, Kelcie is comprised of equal parts literature fiend, mushroom enthusiast, and geeky sommelier. When not sipping and (sometimes) spitting in a wine class (she teaches WSET and is a Master of Wine student), she is GM of Elephant on Powell, which she recently opened after running the Chambar wine program for half a decade. Kelcie holds the WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits as well as a Bachelor’s and an Master’s of English from the University of Toronto. Though she’s content to stay home buried in back-issues of Lucky Peach or writing her next piece for Scout Magazine, she also relishes every opportunity to meet and mentor young people looking to get into the beverage industry.
