Josiah & stevie:
Co-founders / husband & wife /
co-parents
…boom.
Josiah Baldivino
Josiah began his beverage career behind the bar while studying for his Bachelor’s degree in Business at Cal State University Northridge. As part of his studies, Josiah crafted his own wine business management internship at the popular wine retail shop Silverlake Wine in Los Angeles. Upon graduation, Josiah took his wine studies to New York City, where he worked as a sommelier for the world-renowned Daniel Boulud group while he advanced through the Court of Master Sommeliers.
In 2011, Josiah moved to the Bay Area, received his Advanced Sommelier Certification and was named one of Wine & Spirits Best New Sommeliers. As lead sommelier at Michael Mina restaurant in San Francisco, Josiah received national acclaim in publications such as Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirits and Wine Enthusiast for the wine program he managed. After opening Bay Grape in 2014, he and partner Stevie Stacionis opened MAMA Oakland in 2019.
Likes: fishing, ill hip-hop beats, golf, puppies, Champagne, sushi
Dislikes: beets, dirty glasses, littering
Stevie Stacionis
Stevie paid her way through the University of Southern California through years of serving in restaurants in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and New York City. After graduating magna cum laude with her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and a minor in Psychology and Law, Stevie traded her apron for a laptop and a career in food, wine and travel writing.
In addition to her editorial background, she worked in wine retail and copywriting, managing communication, media, marketing and brand management for New York City’s Alphabet City Wine Co., Crush Wine & Spirits, Corkbuzz Wine Studio, and the Guild of Sommeliers. Stevie is a Certified Sommelier and founder of the Bâtonnage Forum addressing issues faced by women in the wine industry. In addition to Bay Grape, she co-owns MAMA Oakland with Josiah Baldivino.
Likes: White Burgundy, huge bowls of pasta, running, colorful tennis shoes
Dislikes: being cold, scary movies, itchy tags on t-shirts
