Bao Michael Bassler

Current

• California District Manager at V.E.D.I. Wines
• Owner at Catalina Burning Music

Past

• Owner / Managing Partner at AIRe Global Cuisine: Costa Mesa, CA
• General Manager at Svelte Restaurant: Corona Del Mar, CA
• Director of Wine at Steele Restaurant and Lounge: Dallas, TX

• Director of Wine at Voltaire Restaurant: Plano, TX
• District Manager, Arizona and California at Palace Brands / UDV: Orange, CA
• Winery Representative at Regal Wine Company: Santa Rosa, CA
• Marketing Director/Buyer at Cosenza Import and Export, Inc.: Placentia, CA
• Import Wine Buyer/Newsletter Editor at Hi-Time Wine Cellars: Costa Mesa, CA

see less...

5 more...

Education

• The Institute of Masters of Wine of London

Connections

6 connections

Industry

Food & Beverages

Bao Michael Bassler’s Summary

A wine specialist with 18 years of experience with the most prestigious wine professionals, wineries, importers, wholesalers and retailers, both locally and internationally. A success in all aspects of wine demonstrated time and time again by increased sales, successful wine programs, notable acquisitions, solid training programs, effective marketing strategies, educational wine and food events, and high achievement in business development. A passionate wine lover that studied with The Institute of Masters of Wine of London and belongs in the upper echelon of wine specialists found worldwide.

*Business Development –Creating and introducing product into market with clarity for company’s expectations

*Acquisitions – Acquire rare, international, domestic, best value wines

*Wine Programs – Develop and implementation

*Management – Recruiting, on-boarding, and training of wine professionals and executive chefs

*Budgeting – Manage budgets

*Account Management – Acquire, manage and maintain viable accounts

*Marketing and Public Relations – Branding, marketing initiatives and public relations

*Sales – Developed and executed programs to achieve objectives in on-sale, off-sale and chains accounts

*Wine and Food Education – Wine and food pairings, seminars and conferences

Bao Michael Bassler’s Experience

• California District Manager

  V.E.D.I. Wines

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  April 2009 — Present (4 months)

• Owner

  Catalina Burning Music

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  January 2004 — Present (5 years 7 months)

  Catalina Burning Music owns/manages music and deejay performances by Bao Michael Bassler (a.k.a. Audiotherapist Sai).

• Owner / Managing Partner

  AIRe Global Cuisine: Costa Mesa, CA

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  January 2005 — September 2007 (2 years 9 months)

  *Raised necessary capital to develop concept
  
  *Created concept and designed restaurant
  
  *Created and developed an innovative “small plates/tapas” menu with executive chef
  
  *Managed day to day operations
  
  *Created an aggressive pricing wine program and a progressive wine by-the-glass program
  
  *Awarded “Best New Restaurant” in 2007 by Riviera Magazine for AIRe Global Restaurant along with numerous favorable reviews from many other magazines and newspapers

• General Manager

  Svelte Restaurant: Corona Del Mar, CA

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  February 2003 — December 2005 (2 years 11 months)

  *Managed day to day operations
  
  *Revitalized a faltering business through public relations with local neighborhood, budgeting, staff training and over-haul of over-priced menu and wine list
  
  *Created an aggressive pricing wine program and a progressive wine by-the-glass program
  
  *Brokered a successful sell of the property and restaurant

• Director of Wine

  Steele Restaurant and Lounge: Dallas, TX

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  January 2000 — December 2002 (3 years)

  *Developed and implemented a successful and aggressive wine program
  
  *Broke the barrier on wine and food pairing for Indo-chine cuisine
  
  *Aggressive pricing & constant staff training produced 1.2 million in annual sales of wine
  
  *Garnered “Best of Award of Excellence” wine list by Wine Spectator

• Director of Wine

  Voltaire Restaurant: Plano, TX

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  March 1998 — December 2000 (2 years 10 months)

  *Acquired rare and world-class wines worth $2,000,000.00
  
  *Hired wine captains, trained staff, and created wine pairings with executive chef
  
  *Created an aggressive pricing program and a progressive by-the-glass program
  
  *Garnered “Best of Award of Excellence” wine list by Wine Spectator

• District Manager, Arizona and California

  Palace Brands / UDV: Orange, CA

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  January 1997 — December 1998 (2 years)

  *Managed sales team from Southern Wine & Spirits in California and
  Arizona Beverage Distribution Company in Arizona
  
  *Developed and executed programs with V.P. of Sales in both markets
  
  *Conducted weekly seminars and tastings with both distributors
  
  *Achieved all sales objectives and managed local budgets for both markets

• Winery Representative

  Regal Wine Company: Santa Rosa, CA

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  February 1995 — December 1997 (2 years 11 months)

  *Maintained over 100 viable accounts in Long Beach City and Orange County
  
  *Conducted wine and food seminars for accounts’ staff
  
  *Gained distribution and volume in all key accounts

• Marketing Director/Buyer

  Cosenza Import and Export, Inc.: Placentia, CA

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  March 1992 — December 1995 (3 years 10 months)

  *Attended Vin-Italy three times and visited all major wine growing regions of Italy
  
  *Negotiated and acquired over 60% of new wineries for portfolio
  
  *Responsible for suppliers’ marketing issues, orders, and pricing
  
  *Managed and trained sales staff on product knowledge
  
  *Consulted and trained key accounts’ staff on wine and food pairing and wine service

• Import Wine Buyer/Newsletter Editor

  Hi-Time Wine Cellars: Costa Mesa, CA

  (Food & Beverages industry)

  January 1991 — July 1995 (4 years 7 months)

  *Increased total wine sales by an average of 20% annually
  
  *Bought Australian, Chilean, French, Italian, Portuguese, S. African, and Spanish Wines
  
  *Formatted newsletter monthly which resulted in higher exposure and increased sales
  
  *Evaluated over 600 imported and domestic wines weekly and conducted daily tastings
  
  *Implemented numerous wine dinners with local restaurants, hotels, and country clubs
  
  *Rated by Wine & Spirits magazine: “The best wine shop in America”

Bao Michael Bassler’s Education

• The Institute of Masters of Wine of London

  Masters , Viticulture and Viniculture , 1993

Bao Michael Bassler’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• business deals
• reference requests