Lynn Whittum

Bar Director

It is New Year’s Eve at Mizuna, and Lynn Whittum is in her element, she practically lights up the dark corners of the dining room with her warm energy.

In the industry, we call what she’s doing “working the room,” but lucky for us, Lynn considers it more of a passion than a job. Smiling, she guides our diners through their wine experiences—urging some toward more adventurous choices, picking up new information from others. It is Lynn’s palate that shapes the Mizuna wine list, Lynn who educates the Mizuna team, Lynn who helps everyone at Mizuna find comfort in the exotic and complicated.

“Think back on some of the favorite times in your life and a lot of them will include good food, good wine and good company—so what could be more fun than working with food and wine every day? I’m really fortunate to be in a place where I can share this love with so many people. Isn’t that what we really want—to turn our joy into our jobs?

Wine fascinates me; it is an art, a delicate dance with nature, a lot of hard work. Wine has incredible history and wonderful stories. If you learn about the varietals, their beginnings, how they traveled the globe–you end up with a pretty good sense of world history and international politics.

Mizuna is a great experience for me–I cannot imagine working with anyone else in Denver. I love an environment that constantly encourages us to learn and grow and explore new possibilities. It’s an honor and a thrill to be part of this team.”