James Oatway
Oakville,Canada
Summary
Highly motivated and entrepreneurial, possessing multifaceted skills which include; creating content on a tight deadline, editing, superior writing and language skills, focused project management, production of both audio and video content as well as written. I have proven to be a sort of self-contained production studio.
I am looking for a change at this point in my career – but not out of the wine industry. I am still very motivated to further any contributions I can make in the Ontario Wine Industry, but I’d like to be advocating for more local brands and work to be an integral part of growing Ontario’s wine industry’s sustainability and raising its profile in the global market through interesting and creative endeavors.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Sommelier
Halpern Enterprises
- In September of 2000 I began working as a driver for the largest wine importer in Ontario
- I quickly realized that the wine business held more than a fascination for me
- I learned as much as I could on the job, moved into the office and learned even more about the brands and the relationship between an agency and the L.C.B.O
- I studied, became a sommelier and moved through every position I could, performing every job or task from administrative work (ordering and logistics) to sales, accounting, marketing, promotions (eblasts and finally a podcast I created in 2023,“Crew Classé” - a sales tool as well as an entertaining wine show).
HOST: Rock And Grapes Presents (ONTARIO WINE PODCAST)
05.2023 - Current
- I created this podcast in May of 2023
- Script writer, host, co-host and sole producer of the show
- This vehicle ties both loves of mine, music and wine, into an interesting cross promotion of both topics
- I’ve created this show to highlight Ontario wineries specifically
- Having been in the wine business for 25 years and being in close contact with pretty much most players in the Ontario market, I wanted to do something in an entertaining and informational way to highlight any and all Ontario wineries
- Having taken my sommelier studies in Niagara – I just can’t seem to get the region out of my blood
- There is still so much that can be done for this Province’s wine business.
HOST: Crew Classé (HALPERN WINE PODCAST)
02.2023 - Current
- I created this podcast in February of 2023
- Script writer, host, co-host and sole producer of the show
- In the first four short weeks we rose into the top 25% of all new podcasts
- This venture, a mainly a sales-based vehicle, is also an entertainment hub for wine lovers
- The future of wine sales and interest in wine will be tightly tied to advertising and social media as our community demographic of wine lovers changes
- As we can see the average wine buyer (high-end mostly) is still north of fifty, but we need to accommodate those in their twenties and thirties and social media will be the frontrunner of this effort – and this means podcasts/social media may very well prove to surpass the written word (as unfortunate as this may be) as far as social reach.
FREELANCE CONTENT WRITER
01.2010 - Current
- In May, 2021 I was contracted to write an article for an online site, “Wine Cellar Depot.com”
- The article titled, “Wine Pairing: Change Is Important”
- I’ve been a ghost writer for the Canadian magazine, CHAARMZ, under the name “Alli Mang” (my wife)
- Both spring and summer issues of 2022 have articles written specifically for the magazine
- Recently I just finished ghost-writing/editing a biography of an American Rock Musician
- Before this, like many others, I had a wine blog titled “RANTS AND WINES”
- In short, I’ve been writing for my entire life.
HOST: TALES FROM THE TURNTABLE (PODCAST)
06.2021 - 04.2022
- This popular podcast did very well, attaining the #43 spot in Canada for “rock-talk” podcasts only weeks after its creation
- Not only did I act as co-host, but produced the entire production from my home studio
- As well, I took on the role of marketing and creation of video ads for social media.
CAPS BOARD MEMBER
Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers
01.2012 - 01.2015
- I served as an advocate and ambassador for the organization by fully engaging ideas to promote the art of professional restaurant service in Ontario
- I also had a hand, during my tenure, in the annual “Best Sommelier” competition.
Creator/Chair SOUTHERN ONTARIO SOMMELIER ASSOCIATION
01.2011 - 09.2013
- This association was created months after graduating both sommelier certification endeavours
- I organized and led a group of sommeliers who were dedicated to promoting Ontario wineries
- I created the annual SOSA AWARDS (a competition that ran only two consecutive years as I was convinced to fold this effort as it was seen as a bit of a conflict with CAPS)
- A SOSA report was created from the two-day annual event which outlined the category winners and gave a nod to those who showed best in our competition
- The outcome for more than a few of the winners was a gateway to an L.C.B.O
- Listing.
OWNER/OPERATOR AT MNOSTUDIOS
- In my spare time in 2015 I created a home recording studio
- As an avid music lover and creative individual, I took on the task of recording local musicians and producing albums
- The range of music spans Jazz, Country, Rock and in a few cases Hip-Hop
- This venture started out as a simple hobby but turned into a place where artists like: Stu Harrison, Callandra and Stu Mac launched successful music careers
- This skill happened to transfer well to sound production for podcasts, two of which I am still working on.
Education
Diploma Program C.A.P.S. - Wine business Management -
Niagara College
01.2011
Certified Sommelier Certification -
Court of Master Sommeliers
01.2011
Wines 1, Wines 2, Sensory Evaluation Certificate -
George Brown College
01.2010
Advertising/Copywriting Certificate Program -
Seneca College
01.2006
Bachelor of Arts: English literature/Creative writing -
York University, Toronto, Canada
01.1995
Skills
- Word/Excel
- Apple Final Cut Pro (video production)
- Pro Tools (audio production)
- Last Call (LCBO software)
- Channel Snap (sales/tracking software)
- Self-motivated
- Content creator/Social Media
- Editor/Writer/Marketing
- Organized
Timeline
HOST: Rock And Grapes Presents (ONTARIO WINE PODCAST)
05.2023 - Current
HOST: Crew Classé (HALPERN WINE PODCAST)
02.2023 - Current
HOST: TALES FROM THE TURNTABLE (PODCAST)
06.2021 - 04.2022
CAPS BOARD MEMBER
Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers
01.2012 - 01.2015
Creator/Chair SOUTHERN ONTARIO SOMMELIER ASSOCIATION
01.2011 - 09.2013
FREELANCE CONTENT WRITER
01.2010 - Current
Sommelier
Halpern Enterprises
OWNER/OPERATOR AT MNOSTUDIOS
Diploma Program C.A.P.S. - Wine business Management -
Niagara College
Certified Sommelier Certification -
Court of Master Sommeliers
Wines 1, Wines 2, Sensory Evaluation Certificate -
George Brown College
Advertising/Copywriting Certificate Program -
Seneca College
Bachelor of Arts: English literature/Creative writing -
York University, Toronto, Canada
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