Jean-Charles
Boisset

Jean-Charles Boisset grew up in Vougeot among the historic vineyards of the Côte de Nuits, where he was immersed from the very beginning in a family deeply involved in the world of wine, his parents having started the family wine business in 1961. Jean-Charles’ involvement began early, accompanying his grandfather to the vineyards, playing in the barrel rooms and, as a teen, working several summers in the winery & cellars.

Jean-Charles completed his studies at the University of London, including courses in Spain and Germany, and moved
to the U.S. for graduate studies in business and finance. He
soon began work with Boisset's American operation, his first mission for the family firm. Fortified by his marketing studies in the country where this discipline originated, he successfully developed a domestic portfolio of wines & built a sales and marketing arm for the U.S. and Canada. He then rapidly joined the family management team in Burgundy as Vice-President, to further expand the family firm by organic growth & through numerous acquisitions to become the third largest wines-and- spirits concern in France.

Here, in obedience to his personal philosophy, he instituted the concept of "viniculture", which redefined the company’s traditional role to encompass a close and active interest in all aspects of winegrowing to ensure premium quality and sustainable farming practices.
Jean-Charles’ next big move was to dramatically redefine the family’s founding winery, bearing his father’s name, Jean-Claude Boisset. Concentrating its activities in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune, he elevated the winery to new heights of quality by focusing on small-production wines from vineyards with very low yields that relied on organic or biodynamic farming methods.

These efforts led to a redefined Boisset wine portfolio at every level, from historic négoce houses, brand name wineries and the domaines and chateaux, with a strict emphasis on premium quality. The strategy is best exemplified by the creation of Domaine de la Vougeraie together with his sister in 1999, where the family’s vineyards in Burgundy were for the first time united as a single domain. The crown jewel of the Boisset portfolio, Vougeraie showcases the highest quality from Burgundy and deep respect for its vineyards, through certified organic farming, to match Jean-Charles' vision: excellence at all costs.

Jean-Charles then extended the family’s leadership in Pinot Noir to the New World, where a partnership with Vincor, then Canada's leading wine firm, resulted in the creation of Le Clos Jordanne in Niagara in 1999. Le Clos Jordanne is now widely recognized as the premier producer of Pinot Noir in Ontario.

Robert
Bower

Robert Bower represents the eighth generation of the Yeatman line to be involved in the Port industry, which he joined in the spring of 2001.  Bower was born in Oporto, Portugal, and educated in England, attending Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, in London, where he graduated in biology and, a year later, obtained a Masters in molecular biology and virology. After leaving university Bower worked briefly in Cambridge for the pharmaceutical company Novartis, then continued his education with marketing, languages and wine tasting courses, both in the United Kingdom and France, in preparation for his return to Portugal. He subsequently spent five years in the United States working for the fine wine importer Kobrand Corporation, and in 2011 became sales and export manager for the Fladgate Partnership.

Bartholomew Broadbent

In June 1997 Decanter magazine named Bartholomew Broadbent one of the “fifty most influential in the wine world…the faces to watch in the new millennium”. This was reaffirmed by Wine&Spirits magazine [2008], which polled leaders throughout the industry and named him one of ten in the world to be “driving the most revolutionary changes in wine”. Today, he has expanded from his pivotal role in the breathtaking growth of Port and Madeira to “exert a profound influence on the US wine market” says Decanter. Profiled by Wine Spectator in 1986, Market Watch “The Pioneer of Port” May 2008 and Forbes.com [2009], Bartholomew, son of legendary Michael Broadbent, is now one of America’s leading wine importers,  Broadbent Selections, Inc. [www.broadbent.com], representing such famous brands as Chateau Musar. His speaking circuit includes major cruise lines, wine festivals, including being the Reserve Tasting Director at the Food&Wine’s Classic in Aspen [for 25 years]. He is classic rock KFOG radio’s “Wine Guy” in San Francisco. He is the permanent expert for www.intowine.comwebtv. He is considered one of America’s top wine educators and trend builders. He makes Port, Madeira and Vinho Verde in Portugal under the Broadbent name, as well as Malbec in Argentina and Gruner Veltliner in Austria. He was the 50% partner in Dragon's Hollow, a pioneering winery in China, and launching the first nationally available Chinese wine in the US market. He enjoys an active web presence on Twitter and Facebook www.facebook.com/broadbentselections.

Luis
Burgueno

I have worked in the wine industry since 2000, being employed by several producers in the Ribera del Duero Appellation. In 2005, after undergoing a selection process nationwide, I joined Bodegas Marqués de Cáceres to take my current position as the Export Area Manager responsible for the following territories: USA; Germany; Eastern Europe; Middle East and Brazil. 

Jean-Christophe
Calvet

Jean-Christophe Calvet, President, brings over 25 years of experience in the marketing and sales of both wines and spirits in the USA, South America, and Europe.  He started his career in his family’s 200 year old négociant firm (Calvet & Cie), eventually leaving to make his mark in the USA.  After 10 years in New York with Julius Wiles and Remy-Amerique, where he was Vice President of Marketing USA, Jean-Christophe was Managing Director of the Andean/South American countries out of Bogota, Colombia and Managing Director of Remy Ireland.  In 1998, he returned to Bordeaux to start his own wine négociant company.  Jean-Christophe is a graduate of the University of Paris – ASSAS, and has attended the AMP programs at Stanford University and Columbia University.

Matt
Chivian

An industry veteran of over 34 years with a background in finance, CFO of Classic Wine Imports for 20 years; took over the Gordon & MacPhail portfolio in 2000. Has built a national distribution network, currently distributed in 22 states and in 2006 was inducted into “The Keepers of the Quaich” in Scotland.

Molly
Choi

Cape Classics’ Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing Molly Choi’s professional experience includes many different areas of Marketing and Public Relations, with a focus on luxury goods. She graduated from Bowling Green State University (Ohio) with a degree in Communications/Public Relations, and her first job in New York City was in media with the (now-defunct) advertising agency Ammirati and Puris. She developed her media planning skills and client relations working on blue-chip brands such as RCA, Waterford/Wedgwood, The Four Seasons, Compaq Computers and UPS. Her next move was to the client side, where she spent the next 4 years working for the French luxury conglomerate LVMH, at the corporate level as well as directly for Christian Dior and Louis Vuitton. A short stint at Estee Lauder’s Aramis division as a freelance creative assistant led to Cape Classics, where 13 years ago she was hired to manage the marketing and PR for the blossoming South African wine import company. Today she is responsible for creating and managing the branding, marketing and PR strategies for 20+ leading South African wineries and estates that are sold in 49 US states. She travels to South Africa bi-annually to taste and plan with winemakers and owners, setting marketing goals and programming with them for the coming year, and to stay on top of developments and trends within the South African Wine Industry.

Molly has been a panelist at the annual Aspen Food & Wine Classic, a guest speaker for the Wine Divas ‘Uncorked’ Conference, an annual judge for Global Traveler Magazine’s “Wines on the Wing” Airline Wine Competition, and has led countless tastings for private clients as well as at events such as the Boston Wine Expo, Wine Spectator’s Grand Tour and New World Wine Experience Events, and the New York Wine Experience. She was invited to speak about E-Marketing wine at the GothamMedia/WineTECH seminar, where she was a panelist with wine/press luminaries Tyler Colman (aka Dr. Vino), Randall Graham and Gregory del Paz of snooth.com. She has published pieces in Juluka Magazine, and the New York Resident, and been quoted in various wine industry and lifestyle publications such as Beverage Media, Beverage Network, Global Traveler, New York Woman, John Platter’s South African Wine Guide, and Decanter Magazine.

Cape Classics is considered a leader in the South African wine import business, and the company and their wines have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Departures Magazine, The Wine Advocate, The Wine Spectator, Food and Wine, and several national trade and consumer publications such as Forbes FYI, House & Garden, USA Today, Newsweek and Time Magazine.

John
Cressman

World Wide Wine LLC was founded by John Cressman in 2009. The company now operates as a national importer of fine wines and artisan spirits; Distributor in Illinois and as a wholesaler supplier in MASS., NH, FL, LA, OHIO and TX. The partners involved with World Wide Wine are highly experienced in the wine and spirits industry and have all been working in the beverage industry for many years.

John, known as “The Wine Guy”, has been involved with food and wine for the past 25 years. With a reverence and passion for the grape, John continues his pursuit today as a wine importer and distributor, consultant, speaker, collector and wine educator who teaches others about oenology (the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking), food and wine pairing  and wine collecting, but mostly “how to have fun drinking wine!”.  Mr. Cressman is a sommelier diplomat with the Association of Italian Sommeliers (AIS)  and a member of the Society of Wine Educators.  He has just earned his degree as “Italian Wine Master” and was awarded the gold “Testivan” cup which is presented to individuals who have made significant and long-lasting contributions to the wine industry. John was recognized for his work in helping to build Italy’s wine industry into a global force, by assisting to develop the export many of Italy’s indigenous grapes and helping to elevate Italy to a prominent  position among the world’s top wine-producing regions.

John has presided at numerous educational wine tastings, seminars, and wine dinners for small and large industry groups, including professional culinary schools, restaurateurs, sommeliers, and retailers, as well as consumer groups and charities.

Through these unique experiences, he has gained invaluable knowledge about the wine industry that more than anything enjoys sharing wine and his wine knowledge with others.

Cressman has had an extensive career in the wine & spirits business with progressive and successful experience in marketing, sales, management and ownership. John began in this industry selling wine for DiCarlo Armanetti Fine Wines in Chicago and became DiCarlo’s Director of Wine and Special Events for the 5 store chain.  Looking to expand his experience and career in wine, he took a position with Orange Importing as a Regional Manager selling French wines and Champagnes. His travels to France on many occasions continued to increase his food and wine knowledge. Throughout his career, he has been involved in projects in the epicenters of food and wine including Italy, Spain, France and in the U.S.. Founding World Wide Wine LLC has been a lifelong ambition, and one borne with a very clear identity and philosophy, which John strongly upholds today in his desire to build a company where passion and integrity come first. His portfolio contains some of the very best Italian wines available anywhere in the USA!

Seeing the necessity in the market for an organization that would truly represent the best interests of the suppliers, while respecting the needs of the customer, World Wide Wine LLC has established an unprecedented business model where we are working as “partners” with the suppliers, and where we are also the distributor that makes sure the customer comes first.  The model supports sales, education and brand development in the most creative, passionate and dynamic ways.

Since inception four years ago, the philosophy and mission of WWW LLC has proudly remained unchanged by always celebrating character, diversity, expression and tradition on every level.

Harlen
Davis Wheatley

Harlen was born in Mount Sterling Kentucky in 1969, the older of two boys. He lived in both Hazard and Mt. Sterling, KY before his family moved to Northern KY in 1976.Harlen attended Northern Kentucky University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry, with a minor in math. After graduation from NKU Harlen moved to Central Kentucky, where he worked full time at a chemical company and attended the University of Kentucky. While earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering, Harlen received his formal training in distillation and separation techniques.

In 1995 Harlen came to Frankfort to work as Distillery Supervisor at Buffalo Trace Distillery. At Buffalo Trace, he has applied much of his formal education and received intensive "on-the-job" training. Harlen was soon assigned additional responsibilities in the powerhouse/boiler room, maintenance and warehousing, and was promoted to Distillery Manager in 2000.

Harlen was named Master Distiller in 2005, becoming only the sixth Master Distiller at Buffalo Trace since the Civil War. He has worked in all aspects of bourbon production, from incoming raw materials to barrel aging. While at the Distillery he has driven many initiatives including solidifying standards and consistency, quality focus and efficiency gains. In 2010 Harlen was promoted to lead all the distilling and aging operations for Buffalo Trace Distillery, including the three plants in Kentucky; Frankfort, Bardstown, and Owensboro, as well as the operations in Fredericksburg, Virginia. He looks forward to many more years of carrying on the tradition of producing some of the world's finest bourbons.
Harlen lives in Frankfort with his wife Heather and two sons, Luke and Jett.

Lou
DiPalo

Lou Di Palo is a noted trade member, epicurean and fourth generation purveyor of authentic products of Italy. His family run business, Di Palo’s Fine Foods, opened its doors in 1925 in New York City’s Little Italy where it remains today. Lou and his family are personally involved in every facet of the business as their customers remain their first priority.

Lou travels to Italy several times a year to personally select the country’s best handcrafted specialties, ensuring excellence with every season. When he’s not in Italy, Lou is behind the counter at the store, where crowds of faithful customers brave the wait for knowledgeable and personalized service. Lou explains the traditions and history behind the products, offering tastes to store patrons, many of whom have known Di Palo’s through the generations.

It is out of his passion for authentic Italian Products along with his desire to share his knowledge and experiences with others that Lou has become New York City’s very own beloved Italian Cheese Guru and a regularly featured educator and lecturer on Italian Cheeses and specialty products.

Lou has appeared on many radio and television broadcasts and been featured in numerous magazine and newspapers including The New York Times, Vogue, Gourmet, Wine Spectator, and various publications on Italian Cuisine.

TJ
Douglas

As a child growing up in Vermont, TJ Douglas would often add one very important accessory to his t-shirts before running out the door to school – a clip-on tie.  While other kids were working to save money for a spring break trip, TJ was saving every dollar for a dream that was just beginning to form.

Upon his arrival in Boston, TJ’s journey began to take shape as he combined his love of restaurant management with a newfound passion for wine.  After helping to open the wine bar Rustic Kitchen in Faneuil Hall, TJ worked his way up at Armani Café until he became General Manager.  Along the way, no wine list was safe from TJ’s scrutiny and fine-tuning.

Trips to Italy, France, South Africa, Napa and Sonoma ignited TJ’s passion for wine.  Slowly, his dreams turned from owning a restaurant to owning a wine store, where he could share his love for wine with other people.  After four years as a wine salesman for Ruby Wines, the time was right for TJ to realize his dreams.  The Urban Grape is the culmination of this journey. 

The Urban Grape Chestnut Hill opened in June of 2010 and won a Best of Boston award from Boston Magazine in both of its first two years. In September of 2012, The Urban Grape South End opened to much excitement from the Boston wine-loving community. Both stores have been recognized for their use of “Progressive Shelving,” a unique new system of wine categorization, developed by TJ, that makes it easier for customers to find the perfect bottle of wine for their palate.

Says TJ, “I love wine.  Not just the taste, but the experience.  The Urban Grape is the culmination of half my life’s work.  Each of my experiences with wine (and the people who love wine) has led me to this moment.  I believe I have opened a store that can create community, memories and joy through the experience of wine.”

TJ lives in the South End with his two sons, and his wife and co-owner of The Urban Grape, Hadley Douglas.

Merry
Edwards

With a career spanning nearly four decades, Merry is one of California’s first women winemakers ― a true pioneer in her field. In 1997, she founded Merry Edwards Winery in the region that was to become the epicenter of Pinot Noir in America. She and her husband, Ken Coopersmith, now manage six estate properties to grow both Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc near their winery in Sebastopol, California.

Gina
Gallo

Gina’s journey as a winemaker began when she was just 10 years old, tending the gardens with her father and grandfather and picking fruits and vegetables that her mother and grandmother would turn into family meals.  One of eight brothers and sisters, Gina has fond memories of working alongside her family. She spent her high school summers working at the Gallo family’s winery, and she joined the Gallo sales team after earning her bachelor’s degree from Notre Dame de Namur University.

It’s no surprise that Gina found her true calling as a winemaker, following in her grandfather’s footsteps. She studied winemaking at the University of California at Davis and later became an apprentice winemaker at the Gallo family’s experimental micro-winery in Modesto, CA. Under the tutelage of Julio Gallo and Marcello Monticelli, a 30-year veteran of the Gallo team, Gina flourished as a winemaker. Three years later, she completed her first full harvest in Sonoma County, working side by side with her brother, Matt.  He grew the grapes and she made the wine, in a partnership that has thrived for more than two decades.

Today, as the winemaker behind the Gallo Signature Series, Gina is intimately engaged with these special wines from the Gallo family’s premier estate vineyards in Napa, Sonoma and Monterey counties. She carves out the specific blocks on her family’s most sought-after vineyards to hand craft limited batches of wine. Gina’s personal passion is behind each bottle of Gallo Signature Series wine, which is why her signature is printed on every label.

Thomas
Houseman

Thomas Houseman was not always a winemaker. His professional life began in New York City, where he pursued a career in modern dance. Traveling the globe performing was great, but it did not get him much free beer. So, he bought a book and taught himself to brew. With the creativity of a dancer, the eye of a scientist, and the encouragement of friends who loved the free beer, the passion for fermenting emerged. Thomas left the stage and went back to school at CSU Fresno in the enology program. It was there he fell in love with Pinot noir. Across the globe he embarked again, first to California’s Anderson Valley, then to New Zealand, and finally to Oregon. After four years at Ponzi Vineyards, Thomas saw the opportunity to express himself at Anne Amie Vineyards where he is happy he can still use words like balance, grace, fluidity, elegance, power and style- words that once described his dancing, now describe his wines. His mission at Anne Amie Vineyards is to produce wines that, while inspired by Burgundy and Alsace, express the unique characteristics of Oregon and their two estate vineyard sites.

Rachel
Imbrogno

Like many Italian-American households, wine was an essential part of the dinner table each evening for Rachel Imbrogno and her family in Darien, Connecticut. But it wasn’t until Imbrogno worked as a bicycle tour guide in Tuscany that herpassion for wine truly blossomed. “…being in the center of the Chianti region created an endless open classroom in which I educated myself about Italian wine,” she explains. Although her family traces its ancestry to Calabria, Rachel did not learn to speak Italian until college, where she dedicated herself to learning the language. Proclaiming herself to be “obsessed with all things Italian,” Rachel knew communication was essential to connecting with the culture she loves. After studying Italian in college for one year, she moved to Italy so that she could completely immerse herself in the language and culture. After a year of living abroad, she enrolled in the Middlebury College Master’s program to perfect her language skills even more.

For two years, Rachel has worked as a buyer for Zachys Wine & Liquor in Scarsdale, New York, specializing in Italian wines. Now a resident of New York City, Rachel travels to Italy twice a year to meet with winemakers face-to-face and finds that communicating in their native language helps her be a better business woman. Most importantly, while speaking Italian and interacting with agencies in Italy, Rachel is always advancing her knowledge of Italian culture even more.

Alain
Junguenet

Alain Junguenet, started his career in wine by going back to his roots located in the southern Rhône Valley after a 20 year career as a professional rally car driver in Europe. Since 1984, Alain’s company, Alain Junguenet Selection, has become a national reference for premier quality, estate-produced wines from all over France with several Top 10 Wine of Year selections from Wine Spectator and has twice been named ‘Wine Personality of the Year’ by Robert Parker. Alain is commonly referred to as ‘Mr. Châteauneuf-du-Pape’, in the United States for his expertise in the wines of this great region.

In 2005, Alain’s son, John, joined his father, ensuring the continuation of the company. Today, the two continue to seek out undiscovered winemakers from all over France and introduce their wines to consumers across America.   

Dan
Kravitz

Dan Kravitz is the CEO (Chief Enological Orator) of Hand Picked Selections, an independent wine importer selling to 58 wholesalers in 46 states.  He has been drinking wine for 50 years and tasting it for 49. Dan is of Brooklynese origin.  He graduated from Roslyn High School before dropping out of four distinguished institutions of higher education.  He worked as a motorcyle messenger, truck driver and cook as well as for a food Cooperative before going into the wine business in 1980. 

Hand Picked Selections imports wines from France, Spain and Argentina as well as producing one wine from California.  Dan spends 8 weeks a year tasting several thousand wines and blends 2/3 of the volume sold.  His passion is for the wines of Roussillon and Languedoc.  Wine writer Robert Parker recently called HPS “one of the best at finding terrific values that often sell for 10, 11, 12 dollars a bottle.  It’s hard to believe!” Dan Kravitz lives with his wife Sarah, splitting time between a beautiful saltwater cove in Harpswell, Maine and his import business in Warrenton, Virginia.  His son Matt, a teetotaller, now works full time for HPS.     

Roger
Kugler

Roger Kugler has been a market manager for the Drink Ribera campaign since 2009. His expertise has been sought out by The New York Times (tasting panels for white Riojas, Bierzo reds and Navarra reds) the discussion panel at the launch of the Peñín Guide to Spanish wine with Mr. Peñín and Álvaro Palacios, Wine & Spirits Magazine, Santé, DeGustibus at Macy’s, Spain Gourmetour, Vanity Fair on line, NY Daily News, Food Arts, Food and Wine Magazine, Tasting Table and many others. In addition, Roger was chosen Top Sommelier at the Third International Copa de Jerez sherry competition in Jerez, Spain in January of 2009. 

Gloria
Maroti Frazee

Gloria oversees Wine Spectator School, which offers wine courses for consumers as well as restaurant, retail and winery sales staff at winespectatorschool.com. She also conducts wine seminars internationally. In reality, Gloria is a fine example of another wine consumer gone bad. Her first trip to wine country in France ended up lasting six weeks. It had something to do with a rented bicycle and a map of Burgundy’s vineyards.

After working crush in Napa Valley and tromping through vineyards in Oregon, Bordeaux and Piedmont, it was all downhill. Gloria quit her job, sold her condo –- and ended up at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management. MBA in hand, she made her way to California (via the Mosel, Rheingau and Alsace) and the marketing department at a large winery. Gloria managed brands ranging in production from 10,000 to 1.2 million cases and developed nationally-implemented wine appreciation, sales and service training programs. 

Gloria eventually found her dream job at Wine Spectator, where she launched Wine Spectator School. The on-line courses include video-clips with winemakers, tutored tastings to share with friends, worksheets, study guides and maps (everything, that is, except the bicycle). 

Patrick
Mata

Olé Imports began in 1999 with just 3 wines. Our unique portfolio of Spanish wines has now grown to over 100 wines today. My dear friend and partner Alberto Orte and I have searched the Spanish peninsula for wines that share four fundamental elements: terroir, quality fruit, exceptional winemaking and last but not least, wines that present an exceptional value.

Andrew
Murray

Andrew Murray fell in love with the emerging Rhône varieties, Syrah and Viognier, in the late 1980’s while traveling through France’s Rhône Valley. Leaving his UC Berkeley paleontology studies behind, he pursued his new mistress, Syrah, with an internship in Australia. His three-month tryst evolved into a 15-month romance with the famed Australian Shiraz. Returning to the states, he earned a bachelor’s degree in viticulture and enology from UC Davis’ renowned wine program, then founded his eponymous Santa Ynez winery and vineyard.  He sought out growers who shared his passion for excellence and who dared to farm their vines to perilously low yields with the most advanced viticultural methods in the industry. This uncompromising winemaker’s lucid philosophy is summarized succinctly in three words: Passion – Evolution – Wisdom; the Passion of an unflagging love affair with Rhône varieties; the Evolution of winemaking techniques where even the most subtle nuance is divined from each new vintage; and the Wisdom gained with 20 years of winemaking experience.

Elizabeth
Neuman

A granddaughter of winery founder Joseph Phelps, Elizabeth is the first member of her generation to join the Phelps family’s wine business in a full-time capacity. Elizabeth spent her formative summers at the Phelps winery, culminating in a 2003 internship where she was exposed to all facets of grape growing and developed her love of fine wine. In 2008, Elizabeth traveled to Piedmont, Italy where she worked the harvest for Ceretto Aziende Vitivinicole. Following her return to New York, Elizabeth joined Lauber Imports as a Wine Consultant, where she gained an understanding of the three-tier wine distribution system and sold, among other labels, Joseph Phelps and Freestone Vineyards wines.  In her free time, Elizabeth is a connoisseur of fine food and wine and frequent traveler throughout the world's leading wine regions. She is currently a candidate for the WSET Advanced Certificate.

Thomas
Pastuszak

Born & bred in New York , Thomas got his first taste of the restaurant world in his early teens while helping out at his godfather’s bed & breakfast, Peconic Lodge, on Shelter Island . While studying neurobiology and classical piano at Cornell University , Thomas worked to pay off his student loans as a bartender at Stella’s in Ithaca , New York , where he fell in love with food, wine & hospitality. He went on to become the General Manager at both Stella’s and its sister restaurant, Olivia, and by 2009, he was made the Director of Operations of the expanding restaurant group. In January 2011, Thomas moved back to New York to take on the role of Wine Director at Chef Tom Colicchio’s newest restaurant, Colicchio & Sons.  In March 2012, the team behind the world-renowned Eleven Madison Park created The NoMad, which Thomas opened as its Wine Director & helped it achieve its 3-Star New York Times rating within a few months of its opening.  Named one of the "Best New Sommeliers of 2012" by Wine & Spirits Magazine, Thomas is currently working toward a Master Sommelier certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and is committed to sharing his love of great food & wine with everyone he meets.

Dario
Peiropan

Marc
Perrin

Marc Perrin, 42, is the 5th generation owner and winemaker at Chateau de Beaucastel and has been involved in the winemaking there since 1988. Marc is a strong advocate of organic and biodynamic viticulture which have been practiced at beaucastel for more than 50 years. He is also an enthusiastic wine geek that loves to share his passion.

Len
Presutti

Len Presutti,CWE, is  the Corporate Wine Educator of the Martignetti Companies, a Certified Wine Educator, a Certified International Bordeaux Educator, a Certified Spanish Wine Educator, a graduate of the German Wine Academy and an active member of the Society of Wine Educators (administering testing on their behalf).  A professional musician for over twenty years, Len also holds a B.S. in Music Education from Berklee College of Music and has played with bands as diverse as Gladys  Knight and the Pips and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra (under the direction of Warren Covington). 

A student of wine for over 30 years, he was at the Martignetti Liquors retail chain for almost ten years, the last seven as the Wine Director.  One of the founding members of the On-Premise Division, Len worked for four years in the field as a salesperson and has been in his current position for over a dozen years. 

He has traveled extensively, visiting the vineyards of France, Italy, Spain, California, Washington State, Oregon, Germany, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Argentina. 

Len has taught seminars and wine courses at colleges, universities and professional organizations, including a Symposium on Culinary Arts at the Harvard School of Public Health (Panel member) and a “Food as Medicine” seminar at Brandeis University (Speaker).  He took part in judging the Chaine des Rotisseurs ‘Young Sommelier’ competition, where the regional winner went on to win the national title. Very much involved with wine and food pairing, he has orchestrated numerous wine dinners over the years, including presentations at the James Beard House in New York City.

Often appearing on local and national radio and television (weekly on WRKO’s Pat Whitley Restaurant Show for one and a half years, as well as spots on CNN, NPR, Ch. 5’s Chronicle and various newscasts), Len has also acted as a consultant to various hotels and restaurants in the greater Boston area. He has crafted numerous award-winning wine lists, including many Wine Spectator Awards of Excellence and co-authored one (with Dexter Lawson) that received the Open Table “Best Wine List of New England.”

He is also an active member of the Boston Wine Expo Seminar Committee and has conducted seminars for both the Society of Wine Educators and the Boston Wine Expo.

Nick
Ramkowsky

Nick Ramkowsky is a lifetime wine guy. Nick got his first wine business experience in 1986 working at North Berkeley Wine Shop while still attending UC Berkeley. Nick quickly moved from the sales staff to management, eventually becoming the store’s manager and wine buyer.

After working as a sales representative for several Bay Area wine wholesalers, Nick started his own wine sales and distribution company. Nick represented top-quality California wineries, portfolios of some of France’s best wines, and a collection of several high quality wineries from Argentina and Chile. Years later, Nick became one of Ed’s key wine suppliers at Passport Wine Club.

Over time, Ed & Nick became good friends as well as respected business associates. Soon after the sale of Passport Wine Club, Ed joined Nick on a trip to South America that would change their lives. After visiting many wineries and tasting many wines from the just-completed 1999 harvest, Ed & Nick came to the conclusion that they simply had to seize the opportunity to bring their wine discoveries to the U.S. by forming a wine importing and national sales & marketing company, Vine Connections.

When he is not in Mendoza, Nick spends his time in Jackson, Wyoming with his wife Deanna, daughters Maya and Coco, and their Jack Russell terriers Hannah and Stubby.

Giorgio
Rivetti

"Our philosophy is to take a step back, away from a globalization of taste and instead take a step forward towards respecting our terroir, culture and history."

Growing up in Piemonte, Giorgio Rivetti realized at an early age that he had a passion for wine. After studying viticulture and enology at the Scuola Enologica di Alba, one of Italy’s oldest wine institutes, he apprenticed in both Burgundy and Bordeaux. He returned to Piemonte and began working alongside his father Giuseppe Rivetti, "Pin", making the family’s acclaimed Moscato d’Asti.

His father taught him that the secret to making great wine was found in the vineyard. Giorgio quickly learned that by respecting the vine and its terroir and by dramatically reducing yields, the result was always top quality fruit - the essential to all great wine. He continues to employ this philosophy today and says, "I don’t achieve any magic in the cellar; I start with great fruit and the rest is simple."

Giorgio made his first red wine Barbera d’Asti Ca di Pian in 1985. It was a fruit forward, rich and velvety but elegant example of Barbera that led many to rethink the potential of this under-appreciated local grape. With the success of La Spinetta’s Moscato d’Asti and Barbera d’Asti, Giorgio led his family to acquire top vineyard sites throughout Piemonte. By 2000, La Spinetta’s line-up included fifteen mostly single-vineyard wines including a Barolo, Barbaresco and Barbera - some of Italy’s most exciting wines.

La Spinetta 10 years ago has expanded to Tuscany with its new estate Casanova della Spinetta. Here, Giorgio is only focusing on the region’s Sangiovese grape and is making three different wines that capture the essence of pure Sangiovese.

Giorgio Rivetti has cultivated an international reputation for the wines of La Spinetta. He is arguably one of the most influential winemakers in Italy, receiving critical acclaim for almost every wine he makes. Gambero Rosso awarded La Spinetta "Winery of the Year" in 2001 and "Three Stars" in 2006, only the 2nd winery ever awarded this distinction.

In June of 2011 La Spinetta, lead by Giorgio, acquired Italy’s oldest metodo classic (Champagne Method) producer, Contratto in Canelli, Piedmont. With this acquisition Giorgio wants Contratto, which was founded in 1867, to return to its rich heritage of 150 years in wine-making, but, enhanced by modern knowledge and technology as well as great passion and respect for tradition, moving ahead into a bright future.

Luca
Speri

Valpolicella Classico is a hilly nook within northern Italy’s Veneto region, covering one fifth of the entire Valpolicella DOC and corresponding to just five communes. Wedged between the Adige river and the Alps mountain range, it constitutes the appellation’s historical core: select, elevated terrain on the Alpine foothills, enjoying a temperate climate you would not expect at this northerly latitude. The Speri’s presence in this heartland of fine winemaking goes back to 1874, though the original homestead and cellars are even older: 1580. From generation to generation for well over a century, this grass-roots family has handed down a heritage of authenticity and passion for the soil and its fruits. Handed down, literally: every grape going into a Speri wine is estate-owned and estate-grown, personally sculpted by the Speris with just as much pride in the craft of viniculture, the manual, hard-working side to it, as in its art. The Speri family has always put the vineyard foremost, and through the years, purchased over 148 acres in the finest Classico districts. These are divided into distinct crus comprising La Roverina (24 acres), Sant’Urbano (23 acres), and more recently, La Roggia (24 acres). Throughout the property, the native vines of Corvina Veronese, Rondinella, Corvinone, Molinara, and others are planted with a much higher density than the appellation’s average.

This naturally means they yield small crops of excellent concentration, fine-tuned in the stateof- the-art new winery that was completed in 2002. In the words of one of the Speri brothers, Carlo, “The Speris are a clan.” He is flanked by vineyardists Eliseo, Marco, and Giampietro, winemaker Alberto, marketing manager Giampaolo, and the ever present young Luca, Carlo’s son. All of them Speri: a shining example of Italy’s most authentic, ancient, successful business philosophy: keep it in the family.

Herve
Tucki

Hervé Tucki was born in Burgundy in 1958 near the vineyard of Chablis. In 1969 his father, Jean-Michel, becomes the Managing Director of La Chablisienne and every summer, when  Hervé was a teenager he discovers the vineyard of Chablis, La Chablisienne and the work in the winery. In 1985, he incorporated La  Chablisienne and joins the production team. From this date, he exercises several responsibilities in production, wine making, purchasing, business and public relations. In 2001, he leaves  his technical director's position, to become The Wine Ambassador of La Chablisienne. Today, he travels with great pleasure in numerous countries to the world to pass on his love and his passion of the soils of Chablis and wines of La Chablisienne. He is a very good connoisseur of wines of Burgundy and accounts among the experts recognized by the vineyard of Chablis.

Aldo
Vacca

Born in Barbaresco in 1958, the year in which Produttori del Barbaresco was founded, Aldo grew up in Alba and spent his summers as a teenager helping his uncles in the Barbaresco vineyards.His great-grandfather was among the 9 farmers that joined in the first wine cooperative in Barbaresco, the “Cantine Sociali del Castello” founded in 1894 by Domizio Cavazza, the man that is known as the “father of Barbaresco”.

Both his grandfathers were among the 19 farmers who founded Produttori del Barbaresco in1958 and his father was the winery general manager from 1958 to 1984. Two of his cousins are current members of the Produttori.

Aldo graduated from University of Torino in 1982, Viticulture Department with a thesis on the “Clonal Selection of the Nebbiolo Grape” and spent 6 month after his graduation at UC Davis as a visiting student  in the Viticultural Department. From 1986 to 1990, he worked at the Gaja Winery as a right hand man for Mr. Angelo Gaja, mainly in public relations.

Aldo has been part of the Produttori del Barbaresco since 1991, first as the export manager, and then took on the role of managing director in 1997.  His background, knowledge and passion makes him an international ambassador of Barbaresco. 

Brad & Brian
Wasik

As proprietors of one of the busiest and oldest full-service cheese counters in the country, the Wasik family has quietly and dutifully set the standard for serving the highest caliber of cheese in the industry. Located in Wellesley, Massachusetts, The Cheese Shop (known to the locals as Wasik’s) is an old-time family business where cheeses are nurtured and matured under proper conditions, selected for and matched to a customer’s needs, and cut to order at the time of sale to insure freshness.  While their primary intent is to serve as the neighborhood’s source of the finest gourmet cheeses and other specialty foods--such as olive oil, vinegar, sea salt, coffee, tea, preserves, chocolate, chutney, charcuterie, and caviar--the demand for their cheese selections and gift baskets has grown nationwide. With their website, they aim to meet this growing demand with the same individual attention they have shown customers in the store for almost a half century.