ABOUT
KEVIN HART
Founder
Kevin@hartandcru.com
Hart & Cru founder, Kevin Hart, is an experienced sommelier and dedicated student of the vine. He worked the floor at Boca for seven years, eventually becoming sommelier and general manager. Alongside Chef David Falk, he developed his palate for pairing food and wine. He deepened his knowledge of French wines while working with Mobil Four-Star Chef Jean-Robert de Cavel. His stint as sommelier at Pigall’s, a Relais & Chateaux restaurant, impressed upon him the importance of classic styles in both the kitchen and the bottle.
In 2012, Kevin teamed up with his mentor, Gordon Hue, to grow wine CRAFT, an importing-distributing company based in Cincinnati. In 2015, Hart’s entrepreneurial spirit moved front and center and he launched HART & CRU to focus on bringing wine education, product selection and market expansion to an array of businesses and clients. Over the past 9 years, the business has grown to service an increasing number of wine enthusiasts, private clients and daily drinkers by offering concierge services—such as bottle selection and delivery, monthly wine clubs, in-person and virtual tastings, private events and cellar management. The business has also expanded into a brick and mortar location located in the Pendleton historic arts district, offering over 15 seasonal wines by the glass and close to 400 bottles.
Current wine obsession: Spanish whites
ABOUT
Sarah Tanner
Director of Operations and Client Services
Sarah@hartandcru.com
Sarah has been inspired by the guest experience for as long as she can remember. The opportunity to meet people, hear their stories and uncover what inspires them has kept her consistently engaged in the restaurant and wine scene for many years.
Sarah met Kevin while developing her cocktail skills and refining her craft behind Sotto’s bar. Recognizing she had another key skill—business sense, he tapped her to run the bar, from inventory management, cocktail creation and team training. In 2015, Sarah helped launch Hart & Cru, joining the team full time in 2020. While handling all operations, she also facilitates events, private gifting, and manages client relationships. Her combination of bartender’s creativity, hospitality connections, commitment to service and business know-how have been essential to making Hart & Cru experiences run smoothly for years. Sarah’s logistical prowess and business expertise has helped guide Hart & Cru to where it is now.
Current wine obsession: Beaujolais and Champagne
ABOUT
Brittany Marsh
Director of Education
Brittany@hartandcru.com
Years of restaurant work at some of the best in the city have inspired Brittany's passion for all things wine and hospitality. From managing at Boca to helping run the wine program at Party Source, Brittany, a level two sommelier, has proved insatiable in her quest for knowledge. An avid cook when she’s not working, she loves to deep dive into wine, food and culture, and makes some pretty incredible dishes along the way. She is passionate about education and manages the ‘Cincy Wine Cru’ a community-based wine group dedicated to bringing good people, wine, and food into the same room. Have a nerdy wine question? Don’t hesitate to ask Brittany, if she doesn’t have the answer she’ll absolutely dig in to find it for you.
Current wine obsession:
ABOUT
Lauren Jacobson
Director of Marketing and Sales
Lauren@hartandcru.com
Working in restaurants while she pursued her degree Art History and French, Lauren discovered that the way food and wine was talked about was very similar to the ways art and language are discussed. Following her desire to travel, she moved abroad post-graduation to teach English in Bordeaux, France where she was further able to immerse herself in all things culture. Returning stateside, she worked varied jobs such as fine art specialist, gallery assistant, freelance
photographer, but found herself missing the detail driven passion of restaurants. After helping to manage marketing and social media for various local restaurants Lauren joined the Hart & Cru team, finding the position to be a perfect convergence of her interests.
Current Wine obsession: All things mediterranean and Jura whites
ABOUT
Will Kamholtz
Tasting Room Team, Kitchen Operations Lead
Will met Kevin while working at Boca Restaurant Group and has been a part of Hart & Cru’s Tasting Room team since the very beginning. In addition to being on the Tasting Room Team, he now manages the Hart & Cru food program working with local chefs and purveyors to bring high quality dishes and ingredients to the Tasting Room menu. Will worked at Boca as the lead food expeditor for 7 years and prides himself on his experience in everything from washing dishes to managing restaurants. Will speaks German and is fascinated by all things Japanese culture, retro card games, his fiance and his two dogs Bruno and Shelby. Bringing not only procedural precision, his diverse interests and willingness to tackle a challenge make him a valuable part of our team.
Current Wine Obsession: In German fashion… you’ll usually find him gravitating towards
dry grassy rieslings and chilled reds!
ABOUT
Kendall Holmes
Tasting Room Team
Kendall@hartandcru.com
Kendall received his BFA from Syracuse University before working in various positions in the literary and creative industries. Falling in love with the science behind all things fermentation, Kendall entered into the hospitality industry from the product side, learning to make his own soy sauce, vinegar, miso and more while also enhancing this knowledge bartending and working in wine retail in NYC. Returning to Cincinnati, Kendall helped to run Cincinnati based company ‘CinSoy’ before joining the Hart & Cru team. Kendall’s passion for storytelling, hospitality, food and wine has made him a wealth of knowledge that we love having around.
Current wine obsession: Aromatic whites!
ABOUT
Trevor Biggs
Tasting Room Team, Creative Team
Trevor joins the Hart & Cru Team after years of working in both the hospitality and creative industries. Growing up around his family's deli at Findlay Market and based in Over-the-Rhine, Trevor has worked in a variety of positions from creative director, barista, baker, and restaurant manager throughout the Cincinnati area. He has a passion for fine art and film photography and enjoys finding ways to blend these interests with his love of people, the Cincinnati
community, and hospitality. Trevor’s visual eye and appreciation for what good hospitality can bring to a community makes him an excellent addition to our
team!
Current wine obsession? Sicilian Reds.