Mark Cartland is currently the Sommelier at Cala Restaurant, Gabriela Cámara’s modern Mexican restaurant in San Francisco, California.  He works with a list that features coastal, organic, and biodynamic wines that pair well with Mexican spices and cuisine.  A former high school teacher, Mark’s true love is teaching staff about wine regions, service, and sales techniques. 

Prior to Cala, Mark served as the Wine Director of Greens Restaurant, the iconic vegetarian restaurant located in Fort Mason, San Francisco, California.  His carefully curated wine list featured growers and producers from around the United States and Europe with a common commitment to sustainability and stewardship of the environment.  

From 2011 to 2015, Mark worked as a Sommelier at The Slanted Door Restaurant in San Francisco, winner of the 2014 James Beard Foundation award for Outstanding Restaurant in the United States.  The Slanted Door has long been known for its extensive selection of German Rieslings and Austrian Grüner Veltliners and is the top grossing, independent restaurant in California, serving approximately 1000 guests daily.

In addition, Mark manages, Creative Wine Solutions, a restaurant consulting firm that provides staff training, wine list development, and beverage program assistance to smaller, independent restaurants seeking to refine or expand their beverage offerings. 

Mark travels frequently to wine regions around the world and has been a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers since 2009.