June Rodil is a Master Sommelier and 2026 James Beard Award Semifinalist for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Partner/CEO of Goodnight Hospitality
Here’s what June has to say about the woman who shaped her path:
- Who are the women who inspired you (and why)?
Definitely my mom. Like most Asian moms, she’s a force, but also the kind of force that comes from having to be one. She’s the eldest child, the first niece, the first granddaughter, and life asked a lot of her early. She moved overseas to work, left me with my biological dad, and he passed away not long after she left. She made the brutal, brave choice to stay in the U.S. so she could secure a green card for me and build a life from scratch.
She worked her ass off. I was a latchkey kid, and I remember this moment in middle school when she finally made it to one of my game days, and one of my friends said, “Oh… I didn’t even realize you had a mom.” It gutted her. We laughed it off then, and honestly we still laugh about it now, because that’s how we survive. She taught me fight, not flight. And she’s still teaching me. She recently had brain surgery for a tumor and kept working through it. She finally retired about a year later and said, “Life is short. I’m going to visit a new country every year for the rest of my time.” That mentality is so her: resilient, curious, forward. I’ve adopted it too. Travel and adventure are a big part of how I reset and stay inspired, and I’m hoping she and I can do a country together soon– just the two of us (sorry, other fam).
- What made her so impactful for you?
She’s the blueprint for grit and joy existing at the same time. She didn’t have the luxury of falling apart. She just kept going, and somehow still found humor in the mess. Watching her taught me that you can be exhausted and still show up, you can be scared and still be brave, and you can carry a lot while still choosing curiosity. That’s shaped how I lead, how I work, and how I live.
- If you could tell her anything right now, what would it be?
“You f*cking rule. Thank you for showing me what strength looks like. You’re the reason I don’t flinch when life gets hard.”
As one of only 29 female master sommeliers in the Americas, June shares insight on her journey and words of wisdom for aspiring women in the world of wine:
- During your time becoming a Master, other female students were few and far between. Why was connecting with other aspiring female sommeliers so important?
Because there’s power in numbers, and in our world, the number of female Master Sommeliers is still painfully low. Studying can be incredibly isolating. You’re living in flashcards, blind tastings, and self-doubt. Having other women around me wasn’t just support, it was oxygen.
When you join forces, you get sharper and more grounded. You learn faster, you stay humble, and you remember you’re human. Egos can get in the way in any industry, any gender, any room, but community cuts through that. Those “morsels” of shared experience keep your momentum up, keep you learning, and keep you connected. No one is an island, even when the path makes you feel like you should be.
- What would you say to women navigating the world of wine?
Find your voice, and make sure it’s actually yours. When you’re one of a few in the room, it’s easy to shrink yourself into a whisper to avoid judgment, or swing the other way and go extra loud because you’re used to being ignored. But the goal isn’t volume. Its authenticity. Once you find your real cadence, how you speak, how you lead, how you set boundaries, people can’t stop you. Your authority lands differently when it’s rooted in truth instead of performance. And you don’t need permission to take up space.
- What is the biggest misconception about women in wine and hospitality?
Two big ones.
First, the quite lazy (and I am wayyyy over it) “women are too emotional” narrative. The truth is: emotions aren’t the problem. Reactivity is. Great hospitality requires empathy, intuition, and reading a room. Those are strengths. The expectation shouldn’t be “don’t feel.” It should be “lead with clarity, even when you feel.”
Second, there’s still this assumption that if a woman gets married or has kids, she’ll downshift or disappear. It’s outdated and honestly insulting. Yes, the balance can be harder for women because the world still isn’t built evenly. But ambition doesn’t evaporate because you have a family. Also, wanting it all doesn’t mean wanting it all at once. Women are allowed seasons. We can build careers, build families, build both, build neither. What we shouldn’t have to do is justify it.Want to drink like June Rodil? Join June’s All Day Wine Club before the annual deadline on this International Women’s Day, Sunday, March 8, 2026 and enjoy monthly selections of seasonal sips, rare finds, and bottles with a good story. Each bottle is selected by Rodil herself alongside her wine team to ensure members relish wines that are thoughtful, unfussy, and delivered straight to their home.
