John P. Laloganes

Sommelier, Author and Educator

John has been a contributor to the Hospitality Industry since the mid-1980s, avidly collaborating and strategizing with restaurants and related beverage establishments. He has traveled, researched and tasted extensively throughout the major wine and beer producing regions of Europe and the United States. In 2012, Mr. Laloganes was awarded in New York City with the "Sommelier/Wine Steward of the Year" by the IACP International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Currently, John is the Director of Beverage Management and Assistant Professor at Kendall College in Chicago, IL and the creator and educator for Kendall’s Wine Professional (WP) Program, an accelerated 3-tiered sommelier educational track that is designed for industry professionals.

In 2016, John was awarded the highest organizational honor in being the winner of the Laureate Global Products and Services (GPS) award for innovation for his work in creating the Wine Professional (WP) program at Kendall College. From 2012 to 2014, John was Wine Director at the Grey Plume restaurant in Omaha, NE., and Sommelier / Management Instructor at the Illinois Institute of Art - Chicago where he was honored with the "Excellence in Teaching Award" in 2012. Back in 2007, John was awarded the distinctive Sommelier Diploma (level III) through the International Sommelier Guild (ISG). And from 2007-2009, he taught wine fundamentals level I and II for industry professionals through the ISG. Before then, he was an Associate Professor at Le Cordon Bleu Chicago where he created their wine class and earned the “Customer Service Award” from North American Le Cordon Bleu Schools in 2005 as well as the “Educator of the Year” award in 2004.

John has authored several highly-acclaimed books: The Essentials of Wine with Food Pairing Techniques (Amazon #1 Best Seller in Wine Pairing); The Beverage Manager's Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits – 3rd edition (awarded the “Best Wine Book for Professionals in the United States” in 2013 by the Gourmand International Book Awards); and the release of an online learning module, Managing the Beer-Centric Operation in late 2014. His latest release is due out in June 2017 with the completely revised 4th edition version of The Beverage Manager’s Guide to Wines, Beers and Spirits.

Mr. Laloganes has taken extensive coursework in Culinary Arts, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management from the University of Wisconsin–Stout with a concentration in Food and Beverage Management and a specialization in Training and Human Resources Development. Additionally, Mr. Laloganes earned a Master’s Degree in Vocational Education in Human Resource Development from the University of Minnesota.

John is a current member of the Society of Wine Educators (SWE) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP).

Feel free to visit John's web-site at www.johnlaloganes.com for wine and beverage friendly resources and more information about his activities.