With over 30 years of experience selecting and dealing in the best rare and boutique wines, Frank is your “Patron Saint of Tannins”!
From 1998 to 2005 Frank ran a consulting company, training restaurant staff with their wine programs (a service for restaurants that do not have sommeliers on their staff).
Frank was a longtime member of the distinguished San Francisco Chronicle Wine Tasting Panel(1993-2004), San Francisco International Wine Competition (1994-2014), consultant to various wine bars and restaurants in Colorado, Florida and Hawai’i.
While working as the Wine and Spirits consultant for Padovani Restaurant and Wine Bar in Honolulu, Frank garnered the following accolades:
- Wine Spectator, Best of Award of Excellence, 2000
- Wine Spectator, Award of Excellence, 1999, 2003
- Zagat Guide, Rating of Excellence, 1999, 2001
- Fodor’s, Special Recommendation, 2002
- Gayot, The Best Wine list of Hawaii, Excellent Rating, 2000
- Honolulu Advertiser Ilima Award, Critic’s Choice, 1999
- Ilima Award, Best Restaurant Wine List, 2003
- Honolulu Magazine Hale ‘Aina Award, Best Restaurant Wine List, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2004
- Restaurant & Hospitality Rating Bureau International Wine Award of Excellence, Diamond Wine Award, 2004
Some of his clients include : Mckinsey & Company, Schwartz Law Services, Putnam Investors, SF Waldorf Schools, St. Mary’s Hospital, Merrill Lynch (Columbus Ohio), Merrill Lynch (Ashland Kentucky), Somoroff Plus Film Studios, and others.
Frank is also the proprietor of Melis Family Wines. His winemaker Paul Lato produces some of the most amazing wines each year. A single vineyard Cabernet from the Napa Valley A2 Vineyard in Rutherford, Syrah, Pinot Noir and Rose of Pinot Noir from the Santa Rita Hills.