Sasha St. Germain was born in Cherkasy, Ukraine, and immigrated to New York City as a young child. He grew up learning to love food by eating his way through the city's wide array of ethnic and inexpensive eats – from classic New York-style pizza to bodega sandwiches and falafel. His passion for food drove his decision to attend the renowned former French Culinary Institute in Soho. It was here where he refined his kitchen skills and cooking techniques with the goal to work with some of the best well-known chefs in the fine dining industry. For the next eighteen years, he cooked his way to the kitchens of New York City’s top culinary establishments, collaborating with acclaimed celebrity chefs such as Tom Colicchio and Marcus Samuelson.

In 2021, Sasha wanted a change of pace and the California wine country had always been of interest to him. He loved the idea of creating a meal using the area’s bounty of fresh ingredients with the purpose of complementing the local wines, bringing out the best flavors in both the wine and the cuisine. With that in mind, he relocated to Sonoma County and joined Silver Oak Cellars’ Alexander Valley winery where he created food and wine pairings for the winery’s variety of tasting experiences. Then in early 2022, the crisis in Ukraine worsened and Sasha couldn’t help but feel drawn to do something. All of the turmoil ignited a desire in him to help and he launched a Ukrainian food pop-up restaurant called Sashinka. It was his way of paying homage to his homeland by cooking and sharing his beloved Ukrainian cuisine. While his background is in fine dining, Sasha has always loved the more casual smoked fish, seasonal salads, dumplings, and pickles of his Ukrainian childhood.

In April 2023, Sasha joined Kendall-Jackson as Chef de Cuisine, overseeing the daily management of the culinary team based at Kendall-Jackson Wine Estate & Gardens and the many culinary tasting options offered at the estate. In addition, he collaborates closely with Executive Chef Tracey Shepos Cenami in the creation and evolution of culinary experiences for other wineries in the Jackson Family Wines portfolio.

In his spare time, Sasha loves to explore the natural beauty of Sonoma County with his wife Whitney and dog Zelda.