Originally from San Francisco, Elli Benchimol grew up in Northern California's wine country working through college at San Francisco State at some of the best chef driven restaurants in the city, under talented wine mentors with award winning wine lists. She was first captivated by wine while working at the Fifth Floor in San Francisco under the reign of Raj Parr and Laurent Gras. She has spent the past decade running an industry tasting group in D.C. and has lost count of how many of its attendees have gone on to pass exams open businesses and run programs after her tutelage. Apéro is the culmination of a lifelong dream for Benchimol to bring the joy of both hospitality and approachable, joyful love of wine.