JORGE LILOY
Jorge E Liloy was born in Colombia, South America; came in to the States in the early 80's to study Medical Technology at Kean University in New Jersey. During his studies, Mr. Liloy learned biochemistry; this subject inspired him to learn and understand wine, food and the relationship between them. He graduated in 1988 with a BS degree on Medical Technology from Kean University and the Certificate on Clinical Scientist from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.
During his studies Mr. Liloy supported himself by working in the food and beverage industry as Restaurant Manager and Wine Director at The Grand Summit Hotel in New Jersey. After Graduating from college Mr. Liloy made the decision to continue his work within the food industry utilizing his knowledge gained from his education. In 1993 Mr. Liloy joined Chef Craig Shelton at the Ryland Inn Restaurant in Whitehouse, New Jersey. Mr. Liloy was the Wine Director and Maitre d'. In 1994 the Ryland Inn achieved the extraordinary rating of four stars by the New York Times. On April of 1997 Mr. Liloy joined Douglas Rodriguez at Patria Restaurant with the position of General Manager and Wine Director. Mr. Liloy took on the great challenge of pairing Nuevo Latino cuisine with global wines.
Patria offered a complete wine list that combined complexity and depth on carefully selected wines from the world. The list consisted on 650 worldwide selections with great concentration on Spain and South America including 28 wines by the glass, a great selection of half bottles, Magnums and an extended selection of dessert wines. Sherries, Ports, Madeiras, Cognacs, Armagnacs and Cordials are also indicated on the list. The most successful program offered at Patria is the wine and food tasting menus. Patria maintained the 3 stars rating from the New York Times on November 14, 2001.
“Mr. Liloy has successfully completed the Certificate Introductory Course from The Court of Master Sommelier, Certificate Course from The Sommelier Society of America, Certificate de Mérite from Food and Wines from France/Sopexa. He joined the American Sommelier Association and the Society of Wine Educators, and participated in the 2000 U.S. National Competition of the "Cork Screw"-ASA-, he is an official educator for the ASA teaching the class for the Wines of South America every semester in New York City chapter until 2002.
Mr. Liloy joined Billington Wines, Inc. on January of 2003 with the title of Brand and Supplier Relations Manager in charge of the South America & Spanish Portfolios, with wineries like Bogeda Catena Zapata in Argentina & Viña Cousiño-Macul in Chile. Mr. Liloy is also the educator for the Billington Sales Force, distributors and consumers nation wide.
Mr. Liloy has visited and worked closely with wine makers and enologists in the following wine producing countries: Chile, Argentina, Spain, France, Germany and USA.