Michel R. Mincin
Owner & Winemonger
Michel is the co-founder of Allora Wine Group, and has been actively involved in its growth and development since October 2007. Michel graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1996 with a double major in Pre-Medicine and Psychology. In his last semester at the University of Pittsburgh, he began his career in the restaurant industry and discovered his love for food and wine. In 1997, Michel joined the premier speciality restaurant group, big Burrito, a catalyst for Pittsburgh’s dining transformation. During his 16-year tenure, he managed at all seven different culinary concepts, and currently is a limited partner in two of the group’s Mad Mex restaurants. While working for big Burrito, Michel received an M.A.T. in Elementary Education from Chatham University in 2001, and passed his Level One wine certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2006. Michel, an avid world traveler, has seized the opportunity to explore numerous vineyards on four different continents, eating and drinking his way across the globe.
Brian M. Cubellis
Operations Manager & Winemonger
A native of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Brian grew up surrounded by Italian friends and family. After attending the University of Pittsburgh, Brian pursued a number of successful business ventures. Always the entrepreneur, he was one of the original Allora Wine Group team members, providing support in everything from sales, to logistics, to public relations. He is well-traveled and has been perfecting his spoken Italian, which certainly comes in handy when communicating with Allora’s clients.
Robert D. Mincin
Inventory Manager & Consigliere
Retired in 2015 from Bayer Corporation, Bob was a Senior Project Manager there, responsible for managing projects from initial scope and cost development to final construction completion and start-up at plant locations throughout the country. He graduated for the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Civil Engineering in 1965. A native of Pittsburgh, and the son of Italian immigrants, Bob grew up surrounded by homemade food and wine. He brings this love of Italian flavors, coupled with his years of experience at Bayer Corporation, to his work at Allora Wine Group, embodying the work ethic and enthusiasm he inherited from his parents. There is no project too daunting for Bob to handle!
domenic A. Mantella
business development director & WINEMONGER
A Pittsburgh native, Domenic graduated from Arizona State University, where he worked with the Sun Devils’ Athletic Department for five seasons. After graduation, Domenic worked for two prominent sports agencies in Southern California. As a serial entrepreneur his ventures have included producing television shows and education programs, as well as consulting in sports business and importing food products from Italy. A proud first generation Italian-American, Domenic loves sharing his roots with friends and family, especially his love for Italian foods and wines. Fortunately for Allora’s portfolio, Domenic’s uncle is a wine master in Piedmont, Italy. In addition, Domenic’s understanding of Italian culture and language is certainly an asset to the Allora Family.
Dan gigler
winemonger & Raconteur
A dyed-in-the-black-and-gold wool Pittsburgh native of the South Hills and longtime resident of the city's South Side, Dan (or "Gigs" as he prefers) spent 22 years as a journalist for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette where he covered everything from mundane municipal meetings to murder scenes; high school football to the Super Bowl; and for more than a decade wrote extensively on Pittsburgh’s restaurant community. In early 2022 he embarked on a second career in wine and spirits with local distiller Kingfly before recently joining the Allora team. Of Scots-Irish/German stock, he is clearly the Tom Hagen of this group, but has been fortunate enough to travel extensively through Italy numerous times over the past 20 years, honing his passion for Italian food, wine and culture. A board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh, he is married to the amazing Raelynn Harshman Gigler, bar manager at the inimitable Dish Osteria. They are "parents" to a pair of beagle mixes who do not listen to instructions.