Nelson Daquip - Wine Director

Nelson Daquip has been the most rapidly promoted employee in Canlis' history, rising from server assistant, to server, to assistant sommelier, to wine director in only four years. We weren't the only ones to notice - Food and Wine Magazine featured Nelson in their June 2005 profile of national up-and-coming sommeliers. The following year, Wine & Spirits Magazine named Nelson one of the "Best New Sommeliers" of 2006, and in 2008 he was recognized as Seattle's "Best Sommelier" by Seattle Magazine.

After earning a culinary degree from Kapiolani Community College through the University of Hawaii, Nelson served at the prestigious Alan Wong's restaurant in Hawaii for three years.

He found Canlis in the summer of 2002 and within the year, Nelson had earned his place in the much coveted six-month Canlis Vinternship program, aimed at developing young sommeliers within the Seattle wine community. Under master sommelier and Canlis Wine Director Shayn Bjornholm, Nelson learned how to run a world-class wine program. Proving his time was well spent, he has passed the Advanced Sommelier exam in 2007 and will sit for the Master Sommelier exam in early 2010.

Nelson expanded his horizons on his first trip to Champagne, France in order to assist with the second bottling of Jean Milan "Canlis Cuvée" Brut. He later led the Canlis Wine Team to Walla Walla Valley to bring the 2006 Buty "Peter Canlis" Syrah from vineyard to bottle.

Nelson brings the aloha spirit to the table - a welcoming tradition where he shares a piece of his life with each guest. As Queen Lililuokalani stated in her last message to the people of Hawaii, "Kulia I ka Nu'u" - strive for the highest.

Phillip Dunn - Assistant Wine Director

Phillip Dunn, a native of the South, brings a flair of southern hospitality to Canlis Restaurant. After graduating from Auburn University with a Bachelor's Degree in Liberal Arts, Phillip moved to Atlanta where he quickly fell in love with the world of food and wine.

In 2001, Phillip moved to Seattle, where his earnest pursuit of a career in wine began at the Four Star/Four Diamond Woodmark Hotel, and later Jak's Grill in Laurelhurst. Cross training in the wholesale industry for two years, he excelled at selling the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Italy and California to top accounts in Seattle.

After passing the Advanced Sommelier Examination on his first attempt, Phillip will sit for the Master Sommelier exam in early 2010. He also holds the Sommelier Diploma from the International Sommelier Guild and is a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators.

In June 2008, Phillip was hired as Assistant Wine Director at Canlis "I have the fortunate challenge of being involved with one of the greatest wine lists in the world. My dream job has become a reality."

Kevin Weeks - Sommelier / Cellar Master

From Opera, to technology, to wine, Kevin Weeks's rutan resume is the foundation of his fast-rising career as a sommelier. Arriving at Canlis in 2006, he worked his way from server assistant to sommelier and cellar master in only 18 months.

Kevin holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Vocal Performance from the University of Montana. His love of opera, foreign languages, international cuisines and cultures, combined with his passion for wine, make him a unique and valuable addition to the Canlis wine team.

Mr. Weeks holds the Advanced Sommelier title with the Court of Master Sommeliers. He was recently the recipient of the coveted Société Mondiale du Vin Scholarship, and plans to sit the Court's Master Sommelier Exam in July 2010. In addition, Kevin holds a diploma with the International Sommelier Guild. He is an active member of the Guild of Sommeliers, and regularly instructs the Canlis staff in wine tastings and theory.