Board member and treasurer of Second City Sommeliers Tasting group in Chicago, Jim Bube is a Master Sommelier and General Manager of Mercantile Dining and Provision in Denver, CO.  Formerly the Director of Education for Heritage Wine Cellars in IL, Jim focuses heavily on mentorship in the wine industry when not cooking or trying to make the perfect canelé. 

Jim was the 2016 National TopSomm second place finisher and 2017 Guildsomm Online Competition winner.  Jim has hosted hundreds of tastings and wine dinners in his 18 year career as a wine professional and has just wrapped up working harvest at Argyle winery in Willamette Valley. 

Over his career, Jim has worked the restaurant floor, rose to top management at the 3rd largest wholesaler in IL, managed a 7 state territory as an importer prior to joining Hogsalt as wine director.  Jim has helped organize an annual, immersive, two-day hospitality and tasting boot camp for the wine industry drawing participants from across the United States.

Jim was born and raised in the meandering suburbs of the Northwestern Chicago suburbs and came to wine late in college.  Spending years in one of the highest grossing single-unit restaurants in the United States at the time, Jim grew to love guest-oriented service.  Ironically a vegan at the time working at an all-you-can-eat steakhouse, he spent the lion’s share of his free time studying.  

Looking to see a different side of the business, he moved to one of the great, family-owned wholesalers representing many legendary producers and ultimately becoming Director of Education. Wearing many hats over his 18+ years in the business, Jim passed his MS in 2017 and is presently general manager of Mercantile dining and provisions in Denver, CO. 

As treasurer and board member of the Second City Sommeliers tasting group, Jim is heavily invested in mentorship and believes a united community creates strong professionals and leaders. Catch him on social media retweeting videos of adorable otters and posting his triumphs and failures in the kitchen.