Wine Time Team
Kevin Cleary
Founding Partner & Executive Chef
I have over 25 years of experience in the highly competitive food and wine industry. During that span, I’ve worked every job associated with restaurants, bars, and retail stores. My focus for most of that time was as a Chef. I’ve cooked in some of the best restaurants in Boston and the surrounding area. I’ve also spent time in Italy working in a Michelin 2-Star restaurant outside Bologna and a small, family-run osteria in Tuscany. As a chef, I have always been a proponent of supporting local farmers and suppliers. In 1997 I got involved with the Slow Food movement before there was a chapter in the US. That year I attended the inaugural Slow Cheese Conference in Bra, Italy which showcased the Italian dairy industry to an international audience. At Wine Time Bluffton, I plan to bring this same sense of support to local farmers, producers and artisans.
I hold the prestigious WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust in London. The WSET Diploma is the highest level of wine certification one can achieve short of Master of Wine. I am also a French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar and hold several Master Level Certifications with the Wine Scholar Guild. In 2011, I founded the Vermont Wine School where I taught the WSET and Wine Scholar Guild certification courses to professionals and consumers. I also conducted private tastings and corporate events to clients such as Marvin Windows, Merrill Lynch, Wells Fargo and Timex.
Wine Time Bluffton will not just be a wine shop and wine bar, but a place to come and learn about and enjoy different wines from small, responsible producers. Education will be an important aspect to our shop. There will be a wide range of wines offered by the glass and in 3-ounce pours to give our clientele a chance to try new and exciting wines. We’ll offer wine flights and wine ‘flights’ where the same grape from different regions will be pitted against one another to see who comes out on top. There will also be tastings and classes covering the basics as well as Master Classes for those who want to take their knowledge up a notch.
Wine Time Bluffton will also specialize in cheeses from local producers and all over the world. Guests will be able to taste many that will be featured on our small-plates menu and they will be available to take home by the ounce or pound.
Dennis Alcock
Kitchen Manager
Born in Canada and raised in the United States, Dennis found his love of food at an early age working in his family’s restaurants. Dennis comes to Wine Time with over 25 years of culinary experience that includes managing kitchens to general manager. After spending 6 years working in the marketing side of the restaurant industry Dennis returned to his first love of being in the restaurant having spent the past 2 years in Savannah as a General Manager.Dennis’ philosophy when it comes to cooking, combines simplicity with the use of fresh, high-quality ingredients and attention to detail.Dennis and his family moved to Bluffton 4 years ago and have loved it since they arrived. When not in the kitchen you will most likely find Dennis playing golf at one of the local courses. If you ask for a cooking tip you better have a good golf tip for him in return.
Jacqueline Wooster
Manager
Jacqueline Wooster’s lifelong passion for the food and beverage industry is deeply rooted in her family’s heritage. Born in Friedberg, Germany, she grew up immersed in the restaurant business, following in the footsteps of her parents and grandparents who owned establishments there.
Her dedication led her to earn a bachelor’s degree in restaurant hospitality from the Berufschule in Butzbach, Germany.
In 1991, Wooster relocated to Rochester, NY, where she gained extensive experience at various restaurants before joining the Renaissance Del Monte Lodge in Pittsford, NY. Her expertise was recognized in 2013 when she received the prestigious Renaissance “Saber” Award for Global Beverage Professionals of the Year.
Further solidifying her credentials, Jacqueline worked at the New York Wine and Culinary Center in Canandaigua, NY, where she achieved her WSET Level 2 certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and her Introductory Sommelier designation from the Court of Master Sommeliers. These accomplishments opened doors to opportunities at renowned Finger Lakes wineries.
Jacqueline and her family recently embarked on a significant life change, relocating to the charming Lowcountry town of Bluffton, South Carolina. Wine Time Artisanal Kitchen and Wine Bar gives her the opportunity to keep working in the world of wine and further her wine knowledge.
