James NelsonGeneral Manager
James Nelson brings over 15 years of industry experience and extensive wine and spirits knowledge to the team at Kappo En. Nelson spent years in Washington, DC working with top brands in the hospitality industry. Most recently, he was the General Manager & Sommelier at Bardo after a two year period at Steak 48 in South Park. From 2015-2019, Nelson held the position of Beverage Director at BLT Prime by David Burke and BLT Steak in Washinton DC and during this time he was tasked with managing $5 million in beverage sales between the two restaurants. As Bar Director at Poste Moderne Brasserie from 2013-2015, he created craft cocktail menus for the Kimpton Hotel Group where his passion for the industry was born.
In addition to his roles at impressive restaurants and hotels, he has also taken the Advanced Sommelier Course and intends to sit for the Advanced Exam in the near future. He has also started the Diploma Course for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust with an end goal of achieving the Master of Wine Designation. In 2021 Nelson competed in the Best Sommelier USA competition where he finished in the Semi Finals making the top 13 in the competition. In his spare time, Nelson can be found cooking and enjoying local restaurants.