Nicole Hakli is the Beverage Manager of Momofuku Ssäm Bar in New York City. Nicole is originally from Detroit, Michigan and a former opera singer turned hospitalian. She discovered her love for wine while opening restaurants and living among the vines in Yountville, Napa Valley. Moving to New York City in 2010 gave her the opportunity to polish her wine skills and learn the fundamentals of fine dining at one of the best restaurants in the world: Eleven Madison Park. She pursued her wine education as a sommelier at The Nomad under mentor, Thomas Pastuszak.
Nicole previously ran the beverage program for ACME restaurant earning it the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence. She has been awarded Wine & Spirits Magazine Best New Sommelier 2016 and Court of Master Sommeliers Rudd Scholar 2017. Nicole had the honor of presenting at TEXSOM Wine Awards 2017 on behalf of Turkish Wines. She is passionate about emerging wine regions and the potential for New World wine traditions, while keeping the classics close to her heart.