Julie Dalton discovered her passion for wine while waiting tables during her undergrad days at Texas A&M University.  Although her education is in the life sciences, wine was something that grabbed hold and would not let go.  She studied wine on her own for twelve years while holding a full-time job in the Biotech industry and while getting her master’s degree from Johns Hopkins University.   During this time she was also moonlighting as a sommelier at her neighborhood tapas and wine bistro, Ranazul, as well as Bryan Voltaggio’s Volt Restaurant in Frederick.  

Before she left biotech to go into wine full time, she collected her Sommelier Certifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers up through the Advanced Level, as well as her Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators.  After a year representing Terry Theise for Skurnik Wine & Spirits, she realized hospitality was where she belonged so she returned to Baltimore in 2011 to open Wit & Wisdom in the Four Seasons Hotel and has been there since. 

Julie was awarded ‘Best Sommelier’ for Baltimore Magazine in 2016 and her blind tasting group has been featured in the Baltimore Sun and in the ‘Master of Wine’ documentary on Curiosity Stream.  She has been on the staff of TexSom Sommelier Conference and International Wine Awards since 2010, and has judged numerous wine competitions including Virginia and Maryland Governors Cups since 2012.  She has presented at conferences for the Society of Wine Educators, StarChefs, Atlanta Food & Wine and Virginia Wine Summit.