Award-Winning Sommelier & Beverage Leader; Founding Partner & Executive Director Of Beverage At Gracious Hospitality; 2022 Michelin Sommelier Of The Year; Author Of "Wine Girl" & "Drink Pink"

New York, NY, USA
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Victoria James Biography

Victoria James is a speaker who focuses on wine tastings and tying the art of hospitality, sales and beverage to large audiences. From being a keynote speaker for Forbes to leading a blind tasting of wines for The Wall Street Journal to empowering women through inspiring seminars in the fields of legal and technology, James is a versatile, inspiring and funny speaker.

James is the executive director of beverage and a founding partner at Gracious Hospitality Management, the restaurant group behind Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse in New York City, Miami, Singapore and Las Vegas, as well as the cocktail bar UNDERCOTE and the Michelin-rated fried chicken spot COQODAQ, where she built the largest Champagne list in America. Her beverage programs received a James Beard nomination for Outstanding Wine Program two years in a row, and James received the Michelin Sommelier of the Year Award in 2022.

James has worked in restaurants since she was 13, fell in love with wine while bartending in college, and when she was 21, became certified as a sommelier, the youngest in the country.

James's name has appeared on many notable lists, including Forbes 30 Under 30, Food & Wine's Sommelier of the Year, Zagat 30 Under 30, Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40, Wine & Spirits' Best New Sommeliers and Esquire's Beverage Director of the Year.

She is the author of, "Drink Pink, A Celebration of Rosé," and the national bestseller about her coming of age in the wine world, "Wine Girl: The Trials and Triumphs of America's Youngest Sommelier," which was a Fortnum & Mason Drink Book Winner and recipient of the Roederer Chairman's Award. She is also a contributing writer to Esquire, Forbes and Bon Appétit.

In 2018 James co-founded WINE EMPOWERED, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that diversifies the hospitality industry by offering tuition-free wine classes to women and BIPOC in hospitality.

BOOK Victoria James

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 03/23/2026.

Victoria James Speaking Topics

  • How to Become a Wine Expert in One Hour (And Trust Your Own Taste)

    Wine has long been positioned as something exclusive—coded language, intimidating lists, and gatekeepers at every turn. But the truth is, becoming “good at wine” has very little to do with memorization, and everything to do with learning how to trust your own palate.

    In this interactive tasting, Victoria James breaks down the fundamentals of wine in a way that is both deeply practical and unexpectedly empowering. Guests will taste through a curated selection of wines while learning how to identify quality, articulate preferences, and navigate any wine list—or business setting—with confidence.

    What begins as a wine class quickly becomes something larger: a conversation about voice, decision-making, and the confidence to say what you actually think, especially in rooms where that doesn’t always come easily.

    This session is particularly powerful for women, reframing expertise not as something you’re granted, but something you claim.

    Attendee Results:

    • Learn a simple framework to taste, evaluate, and talk about wine with confidence
    • Understand how to order, buy, and navigate wine in any setting without intimidation
    • Develop language around personal taste and preference
    • Build confidence in decision-making and trusting your instincts
    • Walk away with a skillset that translates beyond wine into business and leadership settings

  • How to Sell Something No One Needs (And Why People Buy Anyway)

    Every night in a restaurant, a sommelier is tasked with selling something completely unnecessary—and often at a higher price than anyone planned to spend. And yet, guests say yes. Happily.

    This talk breaks down the real mechanics behind that decision.

    Through stories from the floor of Michelin-starred restaurants, Victoria James reveals how great sales is never about pressure—it’s about understanding people. Why they buy, what they value, and how trust, timing, and storytelling shape every decision.

    From reading a table in seconds to guiding someone toward a bottle they didn’t know they wanted, this session reframes sales as an act of listening, empathy, and subtle influence.

    Because the truth is: no one is buying the wine. They’re buying how it makes them feel.

    Attendee Results:

    • Understand the psychology behind why people make purchasing decisions
    • Learn how to build trust quickly and authentically with clients or customers
    • Develop techniques for guiding decisions without pressure
    • Reframe sales as a relationship-driven, long-term strategy
    • Apply hospitality-driven sales tactics to increase revenue and client satisfaction

Read More +

  • How do I book Victoria James to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Victoria James for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Victoria James, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Victoria James or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Victoria James

    Speaking fees for Victoria James, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Victoria James are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Victoria James, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Victoria James speak about?

    Victoria James is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Author, Business, Business Leadership, Customer Experience, Hospitality, Influential Women, Non-Profit, Sales, Women, Women's Empowerment
  • Where does Victoria James travel from?

    Victoria James generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Victoria James’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Victoria James for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Victoria James for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Victoria James or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Victoria James is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as How to Become a Wine Expert in One Hour (And Trust Your Own Taste), How to Sell Something No One Needs (And Why People Buy Anyway) and The Art of Hospitality: Turning Service Into Strategy. The estimated speaking fee range to book Victoria James for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Victoria James generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ellen Yin, Elizabeth Blau, Will Guidara, Susan Sarich and Merrilee Kick. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Victoria James for an upcoming live or virtual event.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP