Lorena Ascencios
In 1998, Lorena Ascencios began working for Astor Wines & Spirits. Starting in a sales position, she was promoted to assistant wine buyer within the year. In 2000, Lorena took a sabbatical to Europe, where she worked harvest and taught, an experience that would prove fundamental to her growth at Astor. Shortly after her return, she became Astor’s wine buyer, a position she has held ever since. Philosophically, Lorena believes that the hardest part of her job is finding the finest everyday wines for her everyday patrons, real wines, like what the local winemakers would drink on an average evening in Piedmont. She lives and works in New York City with her husband and two daughters.