Emily Makowski comes to us by way of the Pacific Northwest, with a small stopover in the Big Sky state of Montana. Her journey with wine and craft cocktails started at Durkin’s Liquor Bar in her hometown of Spokane, Washington. Learning all things craft and began her journey with the court of Master Sommeliers. She passed the Level 1 Sommelier exam in October 2017 and knew she had found her calling. Later that year, she and her now husband Matt moved to Billings, Montana, to support family and get to know their two nieces. During this time, Emily worked at City Vineyard and curated two public wine classes, Wine 101: Around The World With Wine and Wine 102: A Tale of Two Varietals. Through curating these two programs, she found a love of teaching to empower guests and staff alike to try new wines, broaden their taste profiles, and ultimately drink more wine. She jokes, ”My dad always said to be a lifelong learner, and with wine, I don’t think I’ll ever stop learning. There is always a new region to explore or a new winemaking method to nerd out on!” 

In early 2021, Emily, Matt, and their sweet Newfie Lilabelle made the cross-country move to South Carolina. Emily landed a job as a server for Greg McPhee at The Anchorage in Greenville’s West End. She went from server to bar manager and ultimately helped open their second concept, Mr. Crisp. Fast forward to 2024, Emily is pursuing the 3rd Level of the WSET as a precursor to taking the Certified Sommelier exam. She is thrilled to be on the team at Crave Kitchen! Aside from her love of wine, Emily loves traveling, eating, and exploring all the East Coast has to offer. Her love of hospitality is palpable in all she does in and out of the restaurant.