MATT MCKEOWN

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Raised in the restaurant business, Matt quickly grew passionate about fine dining, and therefore wine.  In 2003, while managing McCrady’s Wine Bar in Charleston, Matt entered into the Court of Master Sommeliers program.  

In 2005 he was voted Charleston’s Best Sommelier by the Charleston City Paper. His first business, The Charleston Wine Traveler provided entertaining & educational wine tasting events, and retail consultation. Also in 2005, Matt was named Chair of the Wine Committee for the inaugural Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and was the first Festival Wine Director. He went on to work with the Charleston Wine + Food Festival in multiple capacities for the next 13 years. 

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In 2009 Matt went on to build his next business venture, EventHaus Rentals which specialized in premium restaurant quality, premium event rentals.  In 7 years, he built it a multi-million dollar company, and sold the business in the summer of 2016. 

 

Following his passion for wine and in particular the sales side of it, Matt joined Grassroots Wine Wholesalers as the Business Development and General Manager, where he gained extensive experience in wholesale distribution and supplier brand management.

Matt founded DRINK Brand Partners in the summer of 2018.