Steven W. Alexander

Hi, I'm Steven, co-founder of Pyrenees Wine Merchants in Chicago, Illinois.

My path into wine has been anything but linear. I grew up between the agricultural landscapes of the Midwest and the deserts of Arizona, inspired by art, literature, music, and the cultures of faraway places. In the 1990s, I spent time in California studying environmental science, playing guitar in punk rock bands, working in restaurants, and skateboarding. Somewhere along the way, I discovered that food and wine offered the same sense of creativity, community, and cultural exploration I had been searching for all along. Wine spoke to my agricultural roots, intellectual interests, and my desire to be part of a dynamic and creative movement.

What followed has been more than twenty-five years in the wine industry as a sommelier, retailer, distributor, and national importer. I've had the privilege of building wine programs, working alongside remarkable chefs including Thad Morrow, Homaro Cantu, Tony Mantuano, and Missy Robbins, while helping introduce generations of wine drinkers to some of Europe's most distinctive regions and traditions.

For fourteen years, I served as Chief Strategy Officer for a leading national importer of Spanish and French wines, helping build brands, grow markets, and develop relationships with producers throughout Europe. The role took me through hundreds of vineyards, countless cellars, and more than one hundred flights a year in pursuit of great wine. More importantly, it taught me that great wine begins with great people. 

Pyrenees Wine Merchants is the culmination of the lessons I have learned throughout my journey. Together with my wife and partner, Kristin Lewis, I set out to build the kind of company we believe in: local, independent, authentic, human-scale, and deeply connected to the people and places behind the wines we represent.

I come from a working-class farming family and have spent my entire professional life in hospitality and wine. This isn't a hobby, a side project, or a financial exercise. It's the work of a lifetime.

My inspiration comes from the people I've encountered along the way, and the opportunity to share their stories through the wines we bring to market.

When I'm not traveling to wine regions, you'll usually find me cooking, listening to music, playing with our dogs, planning the next adventure, or opening bottles with friends. After all, wine is meant to be shared and enjoyed. Thanks for supporting our work!

Kristin C. Lewis

Hi, I'm Kristin, co-founder of Pyrenees Wine Merchants, and I believe the best wines tell a story of place, people, and purpose.

My appreciation for food and wine began during a decade in hospitality, working at Chicago bars and restaurants including Bar Louie, Matchbox, and Bongo Room. The mentors I met and the community I found along the way taught me that thoughtfully crafted food and wine are ultimately about memorable experiences and meaningful connections. That appreciation has only deepened through my travels and the opportunity to explore the cultures, traditions, and craftsmanship that define wine regions around the world.

Professionally, I've spent more than 20 years helping Fortune 500 organizations create meaningful impact through community engagement, philanthropy, nonprofit partnerships, and strategic communications. My work has focused on investing in long-term sustainability, strengthening local communities, and creating lasting value. Those same principles are part of what draws me to the independent growers we represent: people who care deeply about their craft, their communities, and their responsibility to the land for future generations.

At Pyrenees Wine Merchants, I help shape our marketing, communications, and storytelling, sharing the people, places, and traditions behind the wines we represent and connecting those stories with people who appreciate what goes into every bottle. I also play an active role in building our portfolio, traveling to vineyards, tasting alongside growers, and helping select producer partners whose wines reflect the quality, authenticity, and sense of place at the heart of Pyrenees.

Whether I'm tasting a new vintage, learning about a grower's approach to farming, or introducing someone to a new favorite wine, my goal is the same: to create meaningful connections between people, places, and the wines they'll remember.

Every bottle we carry represents more than what's in the glass. It's a reflection of a family's history, the stewardship of a vineyard and its landscape, and a commitment to thoughtful craftsmanship. I'm proud to help bring those stories to life here in Chicago and look forward to sharing a glass with you soon.