Jimson Bienenstock is the Director of Outlets and Senior Sommelier at the Fairmont Royal York.
Jimson was raised in Canada, but spent the majority of his life in Europe – with an MA from Cambridge University and Executive MBA from ESSEC in Paris, France.
He established a series of bars, pubs, wine bars and restaurants in Paris, France over a period of 15 years (and still owns a tiny wine bar that he set-up in the Bastille in 2000), returning to Canada in 2005.
In Toronto, he was General Manager, Food & Beverage Director, and Sommelier for the critically acclaimed fine-dining restaurant George (Zagat “World’s Top Restaurants 2007 – 2010″ Food Category “Extraordinary”), where he personally selected the 500+ wines on the award-winning wine list, and organized all wines by the glass and the food and wine pairings.
Jimson moved to the Fairmont Royal York in 2010 where he is currently the Food & Beverage Director of Outlets and Senior Sommelier on site.
He served as Board Director and Treasurer of the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers, and judge at the Ontario Wine Awards and the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration.
His favourite drink is dark beer – particularly the Erdinger Dunkel, and fine old Champagne.
He has also been known to sabre champagne with very little encouragement.