Ryan Totman

Beverage Director Union Square & Chelsea Market

Ryan Totman hails from Stillwater, Minnesota where he began washing dishes in restaurants at 13 years old. As an undergraduate, he moved to California to study graphic design. While there he shifted his love of drawing to a love of comic books and eventually found his way to New York. Over time in the city, he began waiting tables again and his mentality switched from just serving for tips to an understanding of the value of hospitality and fine dining.

While in New York, he attended beverage classes at BR Guest Hospitality and while there was introduced to Master Sommelier, Laura Maniec. He began to really appreciate his work in the wine industry and became a Certified Sommelier during the Spring of 2013. As soon as Corkbuzz opened he became an intern for Laura and from there transitioned into becoming the Captain Sommelier for three years before becoming the Beverage Director. He has entered numerous competitions and has placed in the top 3 in several, including 1st place in the 2018 Ruinart Competition and 2015 Sud de France Best Sommelier. You can find our Head Sommelier and Beverage Director on the dining floor at Union Square entertaining guests and teaching wine classes.