Meet Our Team

Wes has been working at Amanti since 2009. Wes holds his Advanced Certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). He graduated from Rutgers University-New Brunswick in 2006 and was the captain of the varsity soccer team his senior year.  In his spare time Wes enjoys surfing and playing Bossa Nova and Samba on the guitar. He's been compared to Palo Cortado, the rarest type of sherry, surrounded by myths and legends, most of which are a bit exaggerated.

Veronica joined Amanti Vino in February 2016. Before joining us, Veronica worked as a floor manager for a large chain of liquor stores and a beer manager at a boutique wine & craft beer shop. She holds a Beer Server Certification from the Cicerone Organization and an advanced certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). Veronica went to Champlain College & Kean University to graduate with a degree in Public Relations. In her free time, she enjoys playing music, cooking, and hanging out with her dog.

Jacob joined the Amanti Vino team in 2016 while teaching at Montclair State University, before moving to full time in 2019. An Illinois native, he attended both Ithaca College and New York University, where he earned his Master of Fine Arts in Fiction. Previously a wine professional and spirits buyer in Manhattan, he holds an advanced certificate from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). His writing appears in Sycamore Review and Midwestern Gothic, and he has served as the fiction editor for Washington Square Review as well as a guest editor for Five Quarterly and Pipette. He is currently at work on a novel.

Steven started full time at Amanti Vino in 2018 after operating his own private fine dining company. He graduated from the University of Delaware with a degree in Hospitality Business Management and holds an advanced certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). In his free time, Steven enjoys cooking, eating, and drinking great wine. He also writes a column for Montclair Local called “Montclair Eats,” which covers restaurants throughout town.

Pete started stocking the shelves at Amanti Vino in 2016 while looking for a change in industry after working in Real Estate for 4 years. As his love and interest for wine and beer grew, he passed his WSET level 3 certification with merit and became a grape specialist. On his spare time, Pete enjoys playing guitar and drums with his band, dancing in the moonlight and trying out the freshest new IPA's. He is the tallest person here.

Rufus passed his Store Mascot spirit onto his younger brother Brody, who now hangs out with us at the store almost every day. Brody is a 5-year-old black lab who loves belly scratches and meeting other friendly dogs (and people!). Brody currently holds 2 private label wines, a Rosé and a Toscana Rosso. In his freetime, Brody enjoys running through the vast wilderness of Eagle Rock Reservation, sleeping on Sharon, and mentoring his little sister Mazy on the ins and outs of being an Amanti Doggo.