Grayum Vickers
Lillian, Lost Letter, and The Brooklyn | Richmond, VA
February 2026
Growing up, Grayum Vickers wanted to study tornadoes. He went to Florida State University for meteorology, but after realizing he would need a PhD for that specialty, Vickers moved to Brooklyn, New York, to teach earth science at a high school in Flatbush. It was his roommate at the time, a bartender at New York’s Death & Co, who helped him land an interview at The NoMad. Vickers was hired as a kitchen server, and after a couple of months, a sommelier invited him to one of the restaurant’s weekly tastings. Surrounded by some of the best sommeliers in the country, Vickers became completely enraptured by the beverage program.
He spent three years as a server at The NoMad before joining its sommelier team, where he was introduced to wine and service while also acting as the restaurant’s beer director. Under Rising Stars alum Thomas Pastuszak, Vickers learned how to lead a team, treat peers with respect, and prioritize approachable communication in the workplace.
In 2019, Vickers and his wife left the country to travel across South America. When they returned to the United States, the pandemic hit. In 2021, they moved to Richmond, Virginia, and soon after, their neighbor, a sommelier at Longoven, mentioned the restaurant was hiring. That same year, Vickers took over the wine program at Rising Stars alum Megan Fitzroy Phelan and Chef Patrick Phelan’s Longoven and continued there as the restaurant transitioned into Lost Letter in 2023. Since then, he has become the wine director for the restaurant group, overseeing the programs at Lost Letter; Lillian, which opened in 2024; and The Brooklyn, which opened in 2025.
Though he is not chasing tornadoes, Vickers’ meteorology degree helps him better understand terroir. Like his progressive wine list at Lillian, he draws inspiration from this background by organizing the menu around bodies of water. With an emphasis on education, Vickers organizes staff tastings, offers wine classes for interested guests, and teaches public sessions that guide participants through food and wine pairings while encouraging them to learn something new.
2026 StarChefs D.C.-Maryland-Virginia Rising Stars Award Winner
