Giovanni Favella
Key Account Manager - Off Trade Central Region
Giovanni was born in Trieste, Italy. He had the opportunity to spend multiple summers in the United States before making the decision to permanently move there. After graduating from high school there, he embarked on a career in the hospitality industry. During this period, Giovanni attended numerous courses offered by the A.I.S. (Association Italian Sommelier) and the A.I.B.E.S (Association Italian Bartenders and Supporters). Following nearly two years in Venice, he returned to his hometown to work for a regional distributor specializing in wine, beer, and spirits.
In 2016, Giovanni started working in Aspen, where he worked as a sommelier in a renowned Italian restaurant. During this time, he continued his pursuit of wine studies with the C.M.S. (The Court of Master Sommeliers) and he enrolled in a certificate program for ‘Food & Beverage Management’ at Cornell University to enhance his skills. At the end of 2021, Giovanni relocated to Houston, TX, where he assumed the role of beverage director for an Italian restaurant group. Subsequently, he transitioned back to the distribution side of the industry, serving as a sales consultant for one of the leading distributors in the United States. He considers joining Ethica a wonderful opportunity for his career as it gives him the opportunity to work with something he truly loves: ‘not just wine, but Italian wine.