Our Team

Having trained under James Beard nominees and winners on both coasts, Justin’s technique and understanding yield plates that are thoughtful and current. But equally important as his training are the places Justin was raised – the mountains of western Pennsylvania, the Midwestern plains, the North Carolina piedmont and the lowcountry of South Carolina. The marriage of his training and his upbringing results in a style that is accessible yet complex, comforting yet upscale. Above all, Justin’s approach is to leave every diner feeling as though they are fed in a way that conjures excitement, passion or a memory… to connect to their meal. Because, as it’s been said “one cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well.”

Shawn Paul is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and holds certification in Advanced Blind Tasting from the American Sommelier Society. A native of central Maine, Shawn studied Classics, Philosophy and French at Clark University in Worcester, MA and spent an academic year in Dijon, France. Shawn has more than 15 years of experience in Food & Beverage management, with nearly 10 as a professional sommelier and beverage director in New York City at Michelin starred restaurants. Prior to leaving New York for North Carolina, Shawn worked as an Associate Specialist in the wine department of the international auction house Christie's.

In North Carolina Shawn has worked as the Wine Buyer and Wine Room Manager for Dean & Deluca and later General Manager and Beverage Director at Corkbuzz by Master Sommelier Laura Maniec. With Foxcroft Wine Co. Shawn works as Wine Operations Director where he oversees purchasing, education and professional development. Shawn lives in Matthews, NC with his wife Heather and sons Oliver and Emmett.

Liz Saintsing, was born and raised just outside of Winston-Salem and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a concentration in printmaking from Guilford College in Greensboro.  Shortly after graduating, Liz bought a one-way ticket to San Francisco to pursue her dream of making art in an eclectic, progressive environment among some of the most creative artists in the country.

Early in her seven-year tenure in California while establishing herself as an artist, Liz started working at Rose Pistola, a James Beard Award-winning restaurant in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. There she was introduced to wine through a passionate wine director, who taught her how to make wine something that was accessible and fun.

She’s been involved with wine ever since. For the past two decades, Liz has made a career out of distributing wine across regions and serving and presenting wine in restaurant settings. Liz first came to Foxcroft Wine Co. in 2013 as a server, and then returned to the company in 2017. She is now the General Manager of Foxcroft’s Dilworth location.

When she is not at the shop, she can be found antiquing, doing various home projects with the help of her very patient father, walking her dog Foxy, traveling, and printmaking for private clients like the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota and the Levine Cancer Center in Charlotte.

Keely has been in the hospitality industry for her entire working life. Her experience ranges from working in local restaurants, to corporate and boutique hotels and private country clubs. The world of wine quickly became a passion for Keely and she soon decided to pursue a career in wine professionally. After graduating from Johnson & Wales University with a B.S. Degree in Hotel Management, Keely continued on to complete her certification with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET).

Keely’s personal passions include outdoor activities such as hiking and riding horses, reading at eccentric coffee shops, and traveling. She is originally from Washington State.

Kristy Strasswimmer is the Baker at Foxcroft Wine Co. and joined the crew in 2018. She bakes all the breads fresh daily, from hamburger buns and donuts to lavash and flatbreads, for both Southpark and Dilworth locations. Kristy graduated from Johnson & Wales University with a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts, right here in Charlotte. Her passion for baking stems from wanting to bring people joy through making delicious food. Whether guests come in for a special occasion or a casual evening out, Kristy pays attention to detail in the kitchen and wants to help give them an experience where they can unwind and enjoy a pleasurable meal.