A native of Brazil, Jardim’s first memories of wine come from the leisurely Sunday brunches when his father would serve the slightly chilled Chianti “in fiasco” to offset the tropical heat. Wine took a more serious turn for him while working as a Public Relations for the Number One Restaurant Group, immediately after graduating college with a degree in Communications.
Jardim moved to San Francisco in 1988 and worked at several of the top restaurants in the city while continuing his education in Food & Wine. While working as an Assistant Wine Buyer at the legendary Ashbury Market, he successfully completed the Foundation and Advanced Courses at Sterling’s School of Service and Hospitality in Napa Valley, taught by a renowned team of Master Sommelier, led by Evan Goldstein. He then passed the Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Course with a special commendation for one of the highest scores.
With the opening of Eos Restaurant and Wine Bar in San Francisco in 1995 he had the opportunity to co-created one of the most famous cutting-edge wine programs in the country and became the sole Wine Director from 1999 until 2001.
From 2001 to 2013 Jardim held the Wine Director position at one of San Francisco’s iconic restaurants Jardinière, then a partnership between Chef Traci Des Jardins, twice a James Beard Award Winner and Restaurant Designer Pat Kuleto. At Jardinière he and his team earned the highest four-star rating for service from the San Francisco Chronicle and in 2010 Sunset Magazine named Jardim Sommelier of The Year!
From 2001 until 2003 he taught an immensely popular class at the University of Berkeley Extension on the ‘Wines of America and Europe’.
He has established many critically acclaimed wine programs for restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond, including: Chef Loretta Keller’s ‘Coco 500’, SF Magazine’s Rising Star Chef Jessica Boncutter’s ‘Bar Jules’, Chef Elizabeth Faulkner’s ‘Citizen Cake’ and ‘Orson’, Chef Traci Des Jardins’ ‘Manzanita’ at the Ritz-Carlton Highlands Resort in Tahoe and, most recently, Black Cat Restaurant and Jazz Club.
Jardim has been featured in various wine publications in the US. His passion for wine has taken him to the most important wine growing regions of the world. He has extensively toured Argentina, Australia, Austria, Chile, France, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Portugal, Spain, South Africa and the United States. His wine travels earned him mentions in magazine and newspaper in England, Germany, Spain and Brazil.
Apart from his work in restaurants Jardim became a featured guest Sommelier and Guest Speaker at many National and International wine competitions and conferences such as; ‘The Masters of Food and Wine’ in Carmel, California, ‘The International Pinot Noir Celebration’ (IPNC) in Oregon, ‘The World of Pinot Noir’ in Shell Beach in California, ‘La Paulée’, in New York City and San Francisco, ‘Taos Winter Wine Festival’ in New Mexico, ‘Pebble Beach and Los Angeles Food & Wine Festivals’ in California, SomCon in San Diego and Washington, and TexSom in Dallas, TX. He has also acted as a judge and panelist for the San Francisco Chronicle, Wine and Spirits Magazine, Dallas Morning News, plus Bon Appétit, Sunset Magazine, TexSom Wine Awards and the Portugal Challenge Wine Competition, in Lisbon.
Jardim has been features at a Guest Lecturer at many Crystal Cruises, Symphony and Serenity, voyages presenting on the many wine regions of the World. He starred as the wine expert on the popular PBS weekly television series “Joanne Weir Cooking Class”.
Currently, an Independent Wine Consultant, Sommelier and Wine Educator in the US, Portugal and Brazil, he also acts as the Brand Ambassador for Ernest Vineyards, a new and exciting boutique Sonoma Coast producer.
In January 2014 Jardim became a partner of Esprit de Champagne, a small import company dedicated to bringing the finest Grower Champagnes to the US market.
In 2015, he was selected to become the first Wines of Portugal US Ambassador overseeing and supporting Portugal’s educational and marketing initiatives in the USA.
He is also the acting Director of Wine Studies at the San Francisco Cooking School and an Adjunct Professor at the CIA Greystone Napa Valley (Culinary Institute of America).
Eugenio Jardim brings passion and creativity to all the projects he is involved in, insisting that everyone’s encounter with wine should be fun, illuminating and exciting. He imparts a unique international style to his eclectic and award-winning lists, wine classes and seminars, live or on-line.
He has built a reputation for seeking out the new and exciting wines of the world and for his fun but professional, educational and non-threatening approach to wines, creating an enjoyable experience rather than an intimidating one.
When not involved in one of his many wine projects, Jardim enjoys traveling the world, cooking, swimming and playing tennis.
We're honored to have Mr Jardim join San Francisco Wine School for a special two part virtual seminar and tasting exploring the Wines of Portugal from top to bottom May 7 and 14, 2021. Learn more about Portuguese Wines.
