Los Angeles International Wine Competition Chairwoman

Sommelier, Professional Wine Judge, Consultant & Educator

Spreti Valente, a distinguished sommelier and seasoned wine judge, boasts a rich career spanning both sides of the wine industry. Notably recognized for her influential role in prestigious competitions like the Los Angeles International Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle, and other notable competitions across the US and Europe, she brings a refined and experienced palate. Spreti’s journey took a historic turn as she stepped into the role of Chief Judge at the Pacific Rim Wine Competition in 2017 and, later, became the first woman Chair at the renowned Los Angeles International Wine Competition (2022), the oldest wine competition in the USA. Beyond her judging experience, Spreti’s consultancy skills shine through, assisting clients in crafting successful wine marketing strategies and curating engaging wine events. Her partnership with the Pigs and Pinot Festival in Sonoma underscores her impact, working alongside culinary and winemaking luminaries as an emcee and coordinating the wine competition. Spreti is equally adept at educating the public and university audiences about the world of wines, and her consulting insights have been published internationally.

Group: Chair

Treasury Wine Estates Master Sommelier
Education Director

Gillian Ballance MS, DWS has spent the last 20 years working in the best fine dining restaurants in the United States.

Ms. Ballance began her career at The Rainbow Room, one of the most beloved restaurants in New York City, and worked under Andrea Immer Robinson. While there, Ballance’s thirst for knowledge and passion for wine became evident, so when Andrea became the Beverage Director at the Windows Of The World Restaurant, she took Gillian with her.

Exposed to a cellar with over 100,000 bottles was the best education a passionate wine enthusiast could have and Ballance’s career soared. Her career includes opening up Cello in NYC, Wine and Beverage Director at Bacara Resort in Santa Barbara, Plumpjack Group’s Wine Director, Wine Consultant and Sommelier for Bottega Restaurant in Napa Valley, Wine Director at the luxurious Cavallo Point. Currently, Ballance is the National Education Manager at Treasury Wine Estates.

Ballance has been featured in numerous publications like Wine Spectator, Food and Wine Magazine and an abundance of Trade publications. She has also judged at several wine competitions and conducts wine seminars and lectures across the United States.

In 2012 Ballance passed the esteemed Master Sommelier Diploma Exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers, representing one of 30 women in the world. She received her Higher Certificate of Distinction as well as her Diploma in Wines & Spirits from the British Wine and Spirits Education Trust. In 2016, Ballance became an Approved Education Provider for the WSET Wine and Spirit courses.

Group: Educator

La Sirena Wines
Winemaker

Heidi Barrett has made many of the Napa Valley’s most sought-after and cult classic wines. Known as the “First Lady of Wine”, she was responsible for the creation of Screaming Eagle (from 1992 to 2006), Dalla Valle Maya, and the Dalla Valle Cabernets in the late 80s and early 90s. While she is best known for her perfectly balanced, elegant, and ageworthy Cabs, she has gained an international following for her winemaking skill and artistry across many different varietals. Among a lengthy list of past and present clients, her personal hall of fame includes her own La Sirena wines, Amuse Bouche, Au Sommet, Vin Perdu, Fantesca, Kenzo Estate, Showket, Paradigm, Lamborn, Jones, and Revana. Wine after wine, year after year, Heidi has established herself as a true artist of winemaking who excels in shaping her wines into something extraordinary.

Group: Winemaker

Somm Journal
Los Angeles, CA
Editor

Jessie Birschbach, Senior Wine & Beer Editor at The SOMM Journal magazine, is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers with a background in fine dining (Spago, Beverly Hills; Mastro’s Steakhouse, Beverly Hills), creative marketing (Signature Creative, Protagonist), and comedy (iO West, UCB LA). Also, an avid beer enthusiast, Jessie is a Certified Cicerone®, mediocre homebrewer, and member of the Pacific Gravity Homebrew Club. Her more recent enterprise involves pairing cannabis strains (and their respective terpenes) with wine and beer. Although she is from the island of Kauai, Jessie grew up in San Diego, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Marketing from San Diego State University. She currently resides in Los Angeles with her wife and son, but they also live part-time in the San Bernardino Mountains where she spends her days at “leisure” as a Paid-Call Firefighter.

Group: Journalist

Wine LA
Los Angeles, CA
Founder/Buyer/Winemaker

Ian drinks wine for a living and plans 50-100 public and private events a year. In 2020, Ian started ZoomIntoWine.com as a pivot during the pandemic and ensued a bigger role at Merchantofwine.com his family’s wine store. Ian stays busy with his family’s wine brand Beekeepercellars.com; buying collectible wines for high-profile clients; planning luxury wine trips; and cannot wait to return to planning private and corporate events. He also continues his wine studies, pursuing The Masters of Wine (MW) and other advanced credential offerings to help improve his craft. In total, Ian has hosted over 1,000,000 students and event attendees in the past 20 years and maintains over 50,000 subscribers and followers. In 2021, LearnAboutWine re-launched as a hybrid website offering digital online wine classes, zoom based tastings, as well as local L.A.-based live events. LearnAboutWine believes that the more you know, the more you will enjoy your wine experience…. And the better life you will lead.

Group: Educator

Purdue University
Lafayette, Indiana
Enology Specialist

Jill Blume is an Enology Specialist located in American’s Heartland. With over 25 years of experience in cold-hardy hybrid grape varietals, she is a seasoned wine industry educator responsible for enhancing wine quality through sensory evaluation, quick tips and consultation.

Group: Educator

Jessie’s Grove Winery
Lodi, CA
Winemaker / Proprietor

Greg Burns of Lodi, California is a fifth generation descendent of Jessie’s Grove Vineyards & Winery. Greg is the director of, and Head Winemaker for Jessie’s Grove Winery. His family has been in Lodi since the 1850’s and has been growing grapes in the Lodi area since the 1880’s. He continues that legacy today having returned to manage his family vineyards in 1994. With 280 acres of grapes in full production his selections for Jessie’s Grove Winery have been carefully hand selected. As Greg puts it, “With Lodi’s heritage as an AVA and its rich history of producing high quality grapes, making wine from your own heritage is the perfect balance”. Professional wine judging has been a passion of his for the last 15 years. Greg thoroughly enjoys his time with his wine judging piers and truly feels the passion for being the eternal student of wine

Group: Winemaker

Center of Effort
San Luis Obispo, CA
Winemaker / General Manager

Nathan has completed 25 harvests on the West Coast, from Santa Barbara up to Carneros and Oregon, but primarily in the Central Coast where he makes his home. For the past 13 vintages, he has concentrated on Estate-Grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay winegrowing at Center of Effort in the Edna Valley AVA. In addition, throughout his career he has been involved in custom winemaking in partnership with some of California’s most dynamic grape growers and wine brands, with exposure to winemaking at many scales and from vineyards throughout the state. Nathan works closely with the winemaking program at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo to develop new talent and leaders for the future of the California wine industry.

Group: Winemaker

Burlington Chandler Wines
Lodi, CA
Partner

Mark holds a B.Sc. in Agricultural Business Management from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is also a graduate of the esteemed California Agricultural Leadership Program. His 40-year career in wine includes winemaking, marketing, wine education and association management. He is best known for his 20 years as CEO of the Lodi Winegrape Commission, where he launched Lodi wine into the modern era. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) through the Society of Wine Educators, of which he is past president. He was named Sunset Magazine’s Wine Professional of the Year 2005, was among the “Top 50 California Wine Leaders” by Wine Business Magazine, and was recently picked among the Top 100 Most Influential People in US Wine. He judges at numerous wine competitions, and since 2015 he has served as Chief Judge of the CA State Fair Wine Competition.

“My life in wine has been like a magic carpet ride – great wines, wonderful lands, working with talented, fun people. Now Jan and I are excited to share that world with our customers through wines from our own vineyards.”

Group: Winemaker

The Italian Wine Podcast
Italy
Wine Writer

Cynthia Chaplin is a VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador, a professional sommelier with FIS and the WSA, a member of Le Donne del Vino, and a Professor of Italian wine and culture. Born in the USA, she’s lived in Europe since 1990. Italian wine, in particular rosé, is her passion. She works with embassies, corporations and private clients, creating and presenting tastings, events, seminars and in-depth courses. Cynthia is a wine writer, a judge at international wine and sake competitions, she consults with restaurants and enotecas developing comprehensive wine lists and food pairings, and she advises clients who want to curate an Italian wine collection. She currently works for Vinitaly International in Verona as a Project Manager, Educator, and the host of VOICES Series on The Italian Wine Podcast, focusing on diversity and inclusion in the global wine industry.

Group: Journalist

Trellis Wine Group
Sonoma, CA
Founder

Founder & Chief Everything Officer – Mark is an entrepreneur at heart. He has over 30 years’ experience in on-premise. Mark began his trek into the wine industry helping to develop an advertising campaign for the Wineries of Washington while studying advertising at the University of Washington. Mark has been focused on adult beverages and the On-Premise his whole career. From managing the beverage program at a Southern California restaurant group, to on-premise sales then Wine Manager at Southern Wine & Spirits, to regional sales and moving to manage a team in on-premise corporate accounts at Robert Mondavi Winery, to then helping develop Constellation Wines’ hotel division after they purchased RMW. During the time of the sale of RMW and working with Constellation, Mark had realized there was a need for independent producers in these dynamic on-premise businesses. He say a niche to help guide and grow family-owned wineries, artisan spirit producers, & independent non-alcohol makers, to help expand the offerings in these on-premise companies and to give the family-owned producer greater exposure and share-of-mouth. With this idea he formed the Trellis Wine Group in June 2005 and is happily celebrating the company’s 17th anniversary this year, coming from a team of one to now a full team of industry professionals perpetuating the mission to grow and protect family-owned & independent producers. Mark is a Certified Sommelier.

Group: Marketing

La Competencia Imports
Mexico
Portfolio Manager

Sofia holds a degree in Communication Sciences and has also obtained WSET 3 Level Certification from Florida Wine Academy, qualifying her as a Wine Sommelier. Sofia has worked as a Brand Ambassador and Sommelier at Cava Quintanilla, a Mexican Winery for three years. Currently, she serves as the Portfolio Manager at La Competencia Imports, the largest importer of Mexican wines into the United States. Sofia’s expertise and networking skills makes her a key liaison between Mexico and the United States. Sofia has also earned the certification of Tea Sommelier from the International Tea Masters Association in San Diego.

Group: Winemaker

Wine Access
Napa Valley, CA
Vice President

Born in Mexico, wine brought him to the Napa Valley in the United States where he spent a number of years in the hospitality industry and studying wine. He fell in love with sake about 15 years ago and started learning about it at a personal level. In 2010 he was hired as the Beverage Director for Morimoto Napa and later became theGlobal Corporate Beverage Director for the Morimoto Restaurant Group. During this time, he received his Court of Master Sommelier Certificate and Certified Sake Professional Diploma.

He fell deeply in love with Japan and the culture traveling several times a year researching Sake, Shochu, Beer and Spirits. He is an International Sake, Wine and Spirits Judge taking part in The San Francisco World Spirits Competition, San Francisco International Wine Competition, Japan Wine and Sake Challenge and Las Vegas Global Spirits Competition on a yearly basis.

Eduardo is also an Independent Journalist contributing to a number of publications covering Food and Beverage like The Napa Valley Register, Decanter Magazine, WANDS, Tasting Panel, Somm Journal and Sake Tips Blog.

He is currently Vice President of Wine for Wine Access Company and a sake educator and Ambassador

Group: Sommelier / Journalist / Buyer

Château de Bonhoste
Bordeaux, France
Winemaker

Juliette Doat, residing in Bordeaux, France, embarked on her journey in the wine industry nearly a decade ago at Château de Bonhoste. Having studied viticulture and oenology, she further honed her expertise by pursuing a master’s degree in wines and spirits from a prestigious business school.

Initially joining Château de Bonhoste for a brief 5-week grape harvest internship, Juliette’s passion and dedication quickly transformed this experience into a decade-long adventure. Today, she holds a pivotal role in the company, overseeing marketing and communications with a keen eye on production, a realm she remains deeply passionate about.

Juliette’s journey epitomizes her unwavering commitment to the art and science of winemaking, blending her academic prowess with hands-on experience to drive success at Château de Bonhoste. Her multifaceted approach underscores her dedication to excellence in every aspect of the wine business.

Group: Winemaker

The Wine Dodd Consulting
Modesto, CA
Founder

Pat is a native of the state of Illinois, but moved to California in 1985 to work for the E. & J. Gallo Winery after earning a degree in political science and business from the University of Notre Dame. On June 30th, 2020—the date of his 35th anniversary—after a career spanning stints in Sales, Luxury Marketing, Trade Hospitality, Shareholder Relations, and Wine and Spirits Education; Pat retired from Gallo and launched a boutique Wine/Spirits Industry consulting company under his alter ego, “The Wine Dodd”. His true passion continues to be Eno/Gastro Tourism and on-location “Edutainment” of people—from novices to experts—in the creation and enjoyment of wine and spirits products of every origin, type, and price point.

For the past 37 years, Pat has extensively studied the science and art of wine and spirits making in wineries, distilleries, and vineyards around the world; and at the University of California at Davis School of Viticulture and Enology. In 2001, he applied for and was accepted as a candidate for the Institute of Masters of Wine credential program (MW). In 2002, Pat tested for and passed both the Society of Wine Educator’s (SWE) prestigious Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) exams, becoming one of fewer than 250 CWE’s worldwide. In 2009, Pat passed the SWE’s Certified Specialist in Spirits (CSS) exam; and in 2010 he passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier (CS) exam.

Group: Marketing

Eberle Wines
Paso Robles, CA
Winemaker

Chris graduated from Cal Poly in 2005 with a degree in agricultural business with a focus on marketing, as well as a minor in viticulture. Concurrently, he earned a diploma in enology from Washington State University. So why not put those talents to use close to home? Chris accepted a position at Eberle Winery as assistant winemaker in 2006. But by 2009 his wanderlust enticed him away from the Central Coast to look for opportunities in other winemaking regions…many of them. For fifteen vintages, Chris spent time expanding his winemaking knowledge in South Africa, Germany, New Zealand, Australia and France. That knowledge base would come in handy. In 2015 Gary Eberle, in his search for a new winemaker, contacted Chris in Australia and offered him the head winemaking job in Paso Robles.

Group: Winemaker

Left Coast Wine
Rickreall, Oregon
Director of Sales

Group: Marketing

Goldschmidt Vineyards
Winemaker / Quality Technician

Growing up in Sonoma county, son to an international winemaker gave me an opportunity to see the world of wine in a global sense. After receiving a BS in Enology and Chemistry from Fresno State University the following 3 years were spent studying and working in premium wineries in California, France, Spain, Chile, Argentina and Australia as well as working in New Zealand and Italy in the low seasons. This has led me back to California, currently to work with my family’s vineyards in the production of elegant red wines as well as working in the laboratory and quality at Sonoma-Cutrer Vineyards. With tasting experience spanning many countries, styles and varietals I have developed a recognition for quality in the large diversity of different wines around the world.

Group: Winemaker

Vignalta Wines
Veneto, Italy
Winemaker

Lucio Gomiero, a winemaker, was born in Padua (Veneto-Italy). In 1980 Lucio planted his first vineyard in the volcanic soil of the Colli Euganei and established the Vignalta winery. Vignalta is recognized as a leader winery in the region for producing the fine claret. Since 1988 Lucio spends his time between Italy, where he continues to make wine, and in California, where he works on various agricultural projects.

Group: Winemaker

Kara Marie Wines
Winemaker

Growing up immersed in the wine industry of Sonoma County instilled Kara with a deep appreciation for wine and food. After completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies at Loyola Marymount University, Kara was encouraged (or as she says tricked!) by her winemaker father (Daryl Groom) to travel to Australia to work a wine harvest. Kara never intended to follow a career in the wine industry, but after one harvest, she was hooked. Gaining knowledge through experience, Kara completed six harvests, both at home and abroad, before returning to California to found her namesake brand, Kara Marie Wines. During this time, she also received a Certificate of Culinary Arts from San Francisco Cooking School. Through her travels, experiences, and education, Kara has emerged as an intuitive winemaker and adept chef, whose affinity for flavor allows her to craft award-winning wines. Her brand focuses on high quality wines designed to celebrate the everyday. She currently resides in California’s famed Dry Creek Valley with her eight-pet quail.

Group: Winemaker

CRN Digital Radio
Host of “What’s Cookin”
Los Angeles, CA
President

Michael Horn is President/CEO of CRN Digital Talk Radio, the nation’s largest radio syndicator to multiple platforms. CRN is heard on AM/FM Radio, Satellite Radio, Cable TV, Internet, Mobile and streaming Applications, via podcast and end even on ROKU and Apple TV. Michael is the host of the daily “What’s Cookin’ Today” show, the nation’s food, wine, travel, health, wealth and entertainment show and “The What’s Cookin On Wine” show. Michael has reported and covered major wine events around the world including Auction Napa Valley, The Sonoma Showcase Of Wine and Food, Kaanapali Fresh, the Hawaii Food and Wine Fest and many more. He produced “Brown Bag Wine Tasting” with William Shatner and is proud to return to judge the Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

Group: Journalist

Splash Productions
Los Angeles, CA
Founder / Sommelier

“Stacie is a Certified Silver Pin Sommelier, AIS and Co-founder of SPLASH Productions, producers of Wine, Cuisine & Art exhibitions and video documentaries and producing/hosting live streaming shows for wineries and regions.* As an Emmy-Award winning journalist, she contributes her column to the award-winning online magazine, MY LA Lifestyle and other publications. Additionally, she is an international wine judge and, a taster for Wine & Spirits Magazine.

Stacie serves as Vice President on the board of the National Association of Wine Retailers and is an adjunct professor at Cal Poly and UCLA. In this capacity Stacie co-created the Certified American Wine Specialist course for the North American Sommelier Association.

Stacie is producer of the one-hour award-winning documentary for Wine Spectator magazine and producer of dozens of Satellite Media Tours featuring wineries. She is an Emmy and Belding Award winner for her news and journalism work with NBC. As a product/brand spokesperson she has conducted international webcasts and shows for Bertolli Foods and Saeco and spokesperson for the Baja Winemakers.”

Group: Marketing

Club 33 at Disneyland
Anaheim, CA
Sommelier

Angela Jabour has worked for the Walt Disney Company for over 45 years. Angela began her fine dining career as a food server at Walt Disney’s Club 33, a private membership club located inside Disneyland’s New Orleans Square. In 2013 Angela became a Certified Sommelier with the Guild of Sommeliers. She studied under the direction of Peter Neptune, a Master Sommelier and Master of Wine, becoming a French Wine Scholar and a WSET Level III Advanced Sommelier. She is continuing her WSET education and is currently completing the WSET IV Diploma program. In 2018 Angela was nominated and inducted into the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, the oldest and largest food and wine society in the world. Currently Angela is a server/sommelier at Club 33 providing members and their guest’s premier wine pairing experiences. Angela treasures her years at Club 33 not only for her love of food and wine, but because of the lifetime of magical memories she’s made with the Club 33 members and their guests. Angela is also involved in Disneyland’s annual Food and Wine Festival where she participates as a speaker for the festival’s champagne class. Although champagne has been the emphasis of her studies, Angela has enjoyed extensive travel to the wine regions of France, Italy, Spain, and the United States. The study of world cultural wine traditions and wine theory are two things Angela will continue to enjoy and study for a lifetime.

Group: Sommelier / Buyer

Wahoo’s Fish & Tacos
Orange County, California
Founder, Chef & Buyer

Wing Lam is the eldest of the three founding brothers and the enigmatic character widely recognized as the face of the iconic Wahoo’s Fish Taco brand. A 30-plus-year restaurant industry veteran, he is often in the public eye participating as a panelist and speaker at global events such as the IEG Conference and guest lecturing for MBA programs at Yale, UCLA and USC. In addition to being featured on the ABC hit show “The Secret Millionaire,” Lam also starred in a national Merrill Lynch commercial and two Food Network shows, “Unwrapped” and “Beach Eats USA,” he actively supports and attends many national and local community-based events. Wing and his brothers have been named among the 500 Most Influential by the Orange County Business Journal, with Wahoo’s Fish Taco the recipient of the Golden Foodie Award and Best OC Brand by OC Weekly. Wing graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S in science and a minor in Spanish. Wing has been a long-time wine judge at LA Wine and Spirits competition

Group: Chef

Lazarre Wines
Wine Hooligans
Paso Robles, CA
Winemaker

Adam LaZarre is a veteran winemaker with nearly 20 years of experience behind him. Previously, he was the Vice President of Winemaking for Hahn Estates winery in Monterey County and was part of the team that created such superstar wines as Rex-Goliath and Cycles-Gladiator. Prior to that, Adam produced wines for a number of Central Coast and North Coast wineries as well as participated in the production of wines in Chile and in Spain.

Adam first fell in love with wine while serving honorably in the U.S. Navy. Rather than continue his military service, he chose to enroll in Fresno State’s highly acclaimed Enology program where he graduated, despite all the wine he drank while in school. During his studies, he fell in love with and subsequently relocated to the Central Coast of California where he produced wines for Elliston Vineyards, Jekel Winery, and Constellation Wine Company.

Adam is one of the most accoladed winemakers in California, with Best-of-Show wins at the most prestigious wine competitions in the world including the L.A. International Wine Competition where he is the only three time winner of this respected wine competition. In 2005, Adam was named “Winemaker of the Year” in the Sacramento Bee and was also named “One of the Top Five Winemakers” in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2006. Earlier in 2012, Adam was ranked #69 on IntoWine.com’s “100 Most Influential People in the US Wine Industry”.

Group: Winemaker

Theopolis Vineyards
Yorkville, CA
Winemaker / Proprietor

Ms. Theodora Lee, a San Francisco law firm senior partner and trial lawyer, is the founder and owner of Theopolis Vineyards. Her passion for wine began upon her arrival to San Francisco from Texas in 1987, primarily due to the influence of her law firm mentors, many of whom owned vineyards. This led Ms. Lee to take several viticulture classes at UC Davis, before deciding to develop her own vineyard. In 2001, Ms. Lee purchased sheep land in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley, and began developing her vineyard. Finally, in 2003, Ms. Lee planted her vineyard, and adopted her Greek name, from pledging Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and established Theopolis Vineyards.

In the wine world, Ms. Lee is known as Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards. Wine Critic Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points, a spectacular showing for the vintner’s first harvest in 2006. Emboldened by the great fruit produced by the land, Ms. Lee, a bold and dynamic Texan, decided to bottle her own wines in 2014. In addition to bottling the richly intense and flavorful Petite Sirah, Theopolis Vineyards strikes a lighter note by bottling a Symphony, a white wine grape, which is a crossing of Muscat and Grenache Gris. Ms. Lee also bottles the unique Rosé of Petite Sirah, a Yorkville Highlands Pinot Noir, and a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir. Recently, Theopolis Vineyards has expanded its production and is now bottling Theo-patra’s Cuvée Cerise and Theo-patra’s Cuvée Blanc series.

Group: Winemaker

K&L Wine Merchants
Los Angeles, CA
Import Director

Keith Mabry graduated from the Collins School of Hospitality Management at CSU Cal Poly Pomona. During a wine class, he tasted a wine that changed his life forever, a German Riesling from the Mosel. After completing the course, Keith knew his passion had become wine and he became the teaching assistant for the wine course several times. While finishing his degree he began working at Wally’s, one of Los Angeles’s top retail stores. There he quickly worked up through the ranks of salespeople and became the Sales Manager and Spirits Buyer. After a few years, he moved over to Los Angeles Wine Company where he became the General Manager. In 2007, Keith was recruited by K&L Wine Merchants, one of California’s largest independent wine retailers, to help launch their newest location in Hollywood. He came on board as the Sales Manager and ultimately has become the Import Director for the Hollywood location.

Group: Wine Buyer

Champagne Marcoult
Champagne, France
Sales Manager

Florence was born and raised in the Paris Region, she has always been drawn to the world of hospitality and fine dining. Her journey began with a degree in hotel management from Thonon-les-Bains and Paris, where she honed her skills and developed a deep appreciation for the art of gastronomy and wines. Her love for human interaction led her to explore various roles within the hospitality industry, but it was her passion for wine that truly captured her heart.

In 2005, she embarked on a new chapter of her life, joining her husband in managing their family’s vineyard. From the vineyards to the winery, she immersed herself in every aspect of winemaking, learning the intricacies of the craft and refining her palate through tastings and blendings. Over the years, she has become deeply involved in the Champagne World, participating in tastings, joining the youth group of the “Syndicat Général des Vignerons de la Champagne,” and collaborating with other Champagne producers.

In 2018, she became a member of the Feminalise jury, furthering her commitment to the wine industry and expanding her knowledge through tasting competitions. Her thirst for knowledge has led her to pursue certifications, including the WSET Level 2, with plans to achieve WSET Level 3. She is constantly seeking new experiences and opportunities to grow, traveling extensively to visit wineries both in France and abroad.

As the Sales Manager for their family domain, she is dedicated to building relationships with wine professionals worldwide and participating in wine events whenever possible. Her journey in the wine industry has been a rewarding one, and she is excited to continue exploring and sharing her passion for wine with others.

Group: Marketing

Wine House
Los Angeles, CA
Educator

WSET Diploma/French Wine Scholar Instructor/Spanish Wine Scholar Instructor/Bordeaux Ecole du Vin Instructor/Napa Valley Educator/ German Wine Academy Certified / WSET Intermediate, Advanced & Diploma Instructor/Sherry Wine Educator/Rioja Certified Educator/ MW Candidate/2019 WSET Best Educator of the year Nominee/Winner of the Worldwide Best French Wine Scholar Instructor 2019. Monica was born and raised in Madrid, Spain. She attended the Complutense University of Madrid, where she graduated with a B.A. in communications, advertising, and public relations. She then moved to London where she held several executive positions at marketing and hospitality companies. Her numerous celebrity clients demanded the best wine and cuisine. To meet the expectations of her famous clientele, Monica enrolled in the Wine and Spirits Education Trust where she successfully completed all the wine certification levels and earned the WSET Diploma. She is currently enrolled in the Master of Wine program.

Throughout her career, Monica has visited the best wine regions of Italy, Spain, and France, falling in love with the culture, wine and gastronomy in Toscana, Bordeaux, Champagne, Jerez, Rioja and Ribera del Duero. She has also traveled extensively in Germany, California, Chile and Uruguay.

Group: Educator

Napa Valley Wine Academy
Napa Valley, CA
Instructor
Master of Wine

Peter Marks, Master of Wine, is a Partner and Instructor with the Napa Valley Wine Academy in Napa, California. Peter is an internationally respected wine industry consultant and educator with 40+ years of industry experience. Marks is one of only 58 Masters of Wine residing in the United States and one of 417 in the world. Marks received his MW designation in 1995 when he became the 10th American to pass. He also became the first American to receive the Madame Bollinger Foundation Award, which is bestowed annually to the MW candidate with the highest blind tasting score.

From 2008 to 2019 Marks was Vice President of Education for Constellation Brands, overseeing programs such as the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) for employees and customers.

Before joining Constellation Wines, he was the Senior Vice President of Wine at Copia: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa, where he was responsible for all wine sales and education programs.

Previous to working at Copia Marks was the Chief Wine Merchant at Wine.com, a wine Internet retailer. For 15 years prior, Marks was Director of Wine for the upscale Draeger’s Supermarkets located in Northern California.

Marks graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1976 with a B.S. degree with highest honors in Food Service Management. His personal interest in wine led him to the wine trade in 1981.

Marks is Panel Chair of the Practical (Tasting) Exam for the Institute of Masters of Wine and he judges many international wine competitions. He is also a member of the Society of Wine Educators and he assists with many charitable fundraisers throughout the year. Marks enjoys riding his bike in the Napa Valley, especially up Mt. Veeder and through the beautiful vineyards.

Group: Educator

McPherson Cellars
Texas
Winemaker / Proprietor

The McPherson’s have been a pioneering family in grape growing and winemaking in Texas for over 50 years. The family patriarch, Dr. Clinton A. “Doc” McPherson, was one of the “Fathers” of the modern Texas wine industry. In 1976 “Doc,” a Chemistry professor and Bob Reed, a Horticulture professor at Texas Tech University founded Llano Estacado Winery in Lubbock, the first post-Prohibition Texas winery. Until his passing in January, 2014, “Doc” remained one of the state’s prime grape growers and was the first in Texas to plant Sangiovese in his Sagmor Vineyard. Kim’s mother, Clara, while a professor in Texas Tech’s Department of Food Nutrition Science, established the university’s Hotel Restaurant Management degree program. His younger brother, Jon, has been a winemaker in Temecula near San Diego, CA, for over twenty years and has twice won the prestigious “Golden Bear” award for the most medals won in a single year in CA. Kim graduated from Texas Tech with a degree in Food Nutrition Science and then completed the Enology and Viticulture program at the University of California at Davis. He worked at Trefethen in Napa Valley before returning to Lubbock as winemaker for Llano Estacado from 1979 until 1985 and for Cap*Rock Winery from 1990 until 2007 where he also made McPherson Cellars. Kim and Jon produced wines together in California under several labels including Il Fratello and Cucamonga Cellars. Kim’s Texas wines have won over 500 medals in state, national and international wine competitions including several Double Gold Medals at the prestigious San Francisco International Wine Competition and numerous Best of Class awards. Kim and “Doc” were inducted into the Who’s Who in Food and Wine in Texas Hall of Fame in 1999 and Kim created the McPherson Cellars label in 2000 to honor his father. He converted the historic 1930’s era Coca Cola bottling plant in downtown Lubbock into a winery and McPherson Cellars opened in the fall of 2008. It is one of the most beautiful, modern and efficient wine facilities in Texas and one of the most unique wineries in the country. In 2013 Kim was ranked # 20 on a list of the Top 100 Most Influential U.S. Winemakers and McPherson Cellars was # 87 on the Top 101 Wineries for 2014 and moved up to # 83 in 2015. He continues to play an innovative and dynamic role in the development of the Texas wine industry.

South Coast Winery
Temecula, CA
Winemaker

Raised in Lubbock, Texas, Master Winemaker Jon McPherson comes from an extensive winemaking background. His father, ‘Doc’ McPherson was instrumental in the growth of the wine industry in the state of Texas. Jon remembers helping his father plant grapes at Llano Estacado Winery while his mother, Clara, was a professor of Food and Nutrition at Texas Tech.

In 1985, armed with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Food & Technology with a minor in Chemistry from Texas Tech University, McPherson came to Southern California determined to make his mark in the sparkling wine industry. Named winemaker at Culbertson Winery in 1986, McPherson’s leadership and expertise resulted in a record number of medals and catapulted the winery (now known as Thornton Winery) to the distinguished position of “America’s Most Honored Sparkling Wine” producer from the California Wine Winners publication.
Jon McPherson came to South Coast Winery in the Spring 2003 with the opportunity to work with grapes from an amazing vineyard at the base of Mount Palomar called Wild Horse Peak. McPherson also serves as judge for numerous noted national and international wine competitions. McPherson is not only a true craftsman of wine, he enjoys hiking, biking, and is an articulate writer and artist. He has been married to his wife, Anna, for 34 years and is father to his two sons, James and Matthew.

Group: Winemaker

Les Bourgeois Vineyards
Missouri
Director of Marketing

Ann Miller works with Les Bourgeois Vineyards, a top producer of regional varietal wines in the Midwest. Ann has served as a wine judge for several national and international wine competitions including the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the Florida State Fair International Wine Competition, and the Los Angeles International Wine Competition.

Group: Marketing

Master Sommelier
Educator

Sally Mohr earned the title of Master Sommelier in 1995 and was the second woman in the United States to achieve that distinction. There are less than 300 professionals worldwide that have earned this distinguished title.

She began her wine career as an employee at The Boulder Wine Merchant in 1983 and became a co-owner of this prestigious specialty retail wine shop in 1986. In 2010, The Boulder Wine Merchant sold allowing Sally to pursue other avenues in the beverage trade.

Sally is a Master level examiner and educator with the Court of Master Sommeliers.

In 2009, Sally passed the Advanced Sake Professional course conducted by John Gauntner in Japan. And in 2018, she earned the distinction of Level 3 Sake Educator from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. She is a board member of the Sake Education Council.

She has been a featured speaker at the Los Angeles County Fair Wine Education, Steamboat Wine Festival, TexSom Wine Conference and Telluride Wine Festival and numerous others around the country.

She continues to put her palate to the test by judging wine and sake in several regional and international wine competitions.

Her enthusiasm for Colorado wines brought her the opportunity to consult with Bookcliff Vineyards for over a decade.

Sally continues to provide Boulder and Denver area restaurants with staff training and wine list development. With her assistance, Restaurant Kevin Taylor received the Wine Spectator Best of Excellence Award in 1999.

Group: Educator

Johnson Estate
NY
Winemaker

Jeff is a graduate of Penn State with a degree in Food Science. Jeff has been Johnson Estate’s winemaker in New York since 2003 and has introduced eight new wines during his tenure there, including Port and Sherry, fruit wines and sparkling wines. Many of these wines have won gold medals in international competitions along with numerous silver and bronze medals. Jeff enjoys making wines that are approachable, food-friendly and elegant. He has a distinct Germanic tilt to his preferences and style of winemaking, eschewing excessive oak and permitting the terroir of the grapes to be revealed in our wines. He regularly attends Pro Wein, held annually in Dusseldorf, Germany, and visits equipment suppliers and wineries elsewhere in Europe.

Group: Winemaker

ACCOLADE BRANDS
Studio City, CA
CEO

Mark A. Newman of Studio City, California has been Chairman and CEO of three wine & spirits industry companies and has spent a lifetime in the industry. Mark is currently consulting for wineries in the south of France, Bordeaux, Italy, Spain and California. In his over 35 years in the wine industry, he has owned the largest per unit wine & spirits retail chain in Arizona, held key California winery positions as well as senior level executive positions in the wine distributing business. Mark has also produced wine in both California and France. He received his education at the University of Southern California in Business (Marketing & Finance) and is a member of several wine industry trade groups. Mark was inducted into the prestigious Commanderie de Bontemps du Medoc et Graves recognizing his years of dedication to the wine industry, and is Maitre Consiels of Gastronomy, an honor bestowed by the French Minister of Agriculture, and he has previously had his palate insured for one million dollars.

Mastro’s Restaurants
Los Angeles, CA
Senior Director of Wine & Spirits

Sr Director Wine & Spirits /Training – Mastro’s Restaurants
Robbi Jo has been working with Mastro’s for over 22 years. She started as a bartender at the first Mastro’s Now she heads all 18 Mastro’s Wine & Spirits programs. Robbi Jo also works on all training including new store openings. She believes she has a true dream job because she gets to learn and teach wine and service and it all revolves training great hospitality. Her favorite mantra is “Wine is Fun!”

Group: Buyer

Pacific Club
Newport Beach, CA
Beverage Director

Tim’s wine journey began in the spice souks of the Middle East, taking an interest in food and exotic aromatics from a young age. Earl Grey & Jasmine Tea were the next step, along with diluted wine on family trips to Biarritz. The weekly British Sunday Roast with it’s omnipresent wine gave a broad exposure to the classic wines of the world. Things really became serious after a year spent in Bordeaux, as part of a four year French degree. Full immersion in Bordeaux food & wine culture lit a fire that is still burning brightly to this day. With spells in restaurants, resorts, retail and clubs Tim has an extremely broad level of industry experience and is currently the Director of Wines for The Pacific Club, Newport Beach.

Group: Sommelier / Buyer

Freixenet Mexico & Finca Sala Vive
Queretaro, Mexico
Winemaker

Lluis is an Agronomical Engineer with a Bachelor’s in Oenology and is Certified in Oenology. He holds various Diplomas in finance and senior management, accumulating over 30 years of experience in the wine industry. Since 2012, Lluis has served as the General Director and Winemaker for Freixenet Mexico, specializing in crafting white, rosé, and red wines, with a particular focus on sparkling wines made using traditional methods. He has actively contributed to the Tasting Committee of the Regulatory Council D.O. Penedés and has held positions at Chandón (LUMH Group) and Emendis, a winery in the Penedés region. From 2018 to 2020, he held the presidency of the CVQ (Querétaro Wine Cluster) and currently serves as a Member of its Board of Directors and Director of the Technical Committee. Lluis is also the National President of the Wine Committee at the CMV (Mexican Wine Council) and a Member of the Wine School of the Altiplano (EVA Querétaro). Passionate about promoting wine tourism and educating about wine consumption and production in Mexico, he actively participates in various Academic and Governmental activities. His dedication to sustainability in winemaking underscores his commitment to the industry.

Group: Winemaker

Total Wine & More
San Bernardino, CA
West Coast Regional Business Partner

Shawn Richcreek is passionate about people, passionate about wine education and most importantly, he is passionate about providing amazing customer experiences! He is currently the West Coast Regional Business Partner for Total Wine & More, supporting 65+ locations. Shawn also teaches wine education classes for California State University San Bernardino’s Osher Institute in Palm Desert. Prior to Joining Total Wine & More, Shawn worked for 13 years for Beverages & More where he was the Director of Training for their retail stores. Prior to that, Shawn was the Southern California wine buyer for Cost Plus World Market and has worked on the retail side of the Wine and Spirits business in Southern California for more than 25 years. Shawn is a Certified Sommelier and a Certified Specialist of Spirits

Group: Sommelier / Buyer

Cal Poly Pomona, School of Hospitality
Pomona, CA
Professor Emeritus

Robert Small, Ph.D., is professor emeritus and former dean of Cal Poly Pomona’s Collins College of Hospitality Management. In addition to serving as dean twice, he taught management, wine and beverage courses in his 30-year career. He completed a university textbook, with his wife Michelle Couturier, Beverage Basics: Understanding and Appreciating Wine, Beer, and Spirits released by John Wiley in fall 2011. For 14 years he chaired the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition and continues to judge wine at several international competitions throughout the country. Bob also leads food, wine and culture trips to Europe sponsored by the Collins College and Cal Poly Pomona University twice a year and was the proprietor of Dr. Bob’s HandCrafted IceCreams from 1999 to 2016.

Trentadue & Miro Wines
Sonoma, CA
Winemaker

Miro Tcholakov is Vice President and Director of Winemaking Operations for Trentadue Winery LLC in Geyserville, Sonoma County, overseeing all aspects of winemaking; including custom crush and bottling. Chiefly responsible for reinvigorating the Trentadue brand when he came aboard in 1999, Miro has worked tirelessly to take our wines to a new level of quality and prestige. “Making wine has been a lifelong dream of mine. After completing my studies in 1990 at the higher Institute of Agriculture in Bulgaria in Agronomy/Viticulture, I traveled to California on an Exchange program in wine business. I continued my education by attending Santa Rosa Junior College and UC Davis, focusing on specific courses in Winemaking and management. My internship started at Dry Creek Vineyards in the summer of 1990 and in nine years of employment, I transitioned through the ranks of Cellar Master and Assistant Winemaker. It was during this time that I fell in love with two distinctively California varietals; Zinfandel and especially Petite Sirah. In 1999 I took over the winemaking operations at Trentadue Winery. That new opportunity added to my excitement about Zinfandel and Petite Sirah, which have been two long standing staple varietals at Trentadue. My passionate love affair with Zin and Petite Sirah lead to my election to the Board of Directors of ZAP (Zinfandel Advocates and Producers) and also to the Board of Directors of PS(Petite Sirah) I Love you-a nonprofit organization that I helped establish 19 years ago.” Miro is also a Judge at several other prestigious wine competitions.

Group: Winemaker

Acquiesce Winery
Lodi, CA
Winemaker

Susan Tipton is the owner and founding winemaker of Acquiesce Winery & Vineyards in Acampo, California. Acquiesce is Lodi’s only all white wine winery with 9 unique estate grown Rhône varietals on their 18-acre property featuring a tasting room in a refurbished 120-year-old barn surrounded by wine grapes.

Inspired after trying white Châteauneuf-du-Pape wines, Susan began planting her white estate grapes in 2008. The combination of Lodi’s fertile soils and these select white Rhone grapes which are hand-picked, whole cluster pressed and fermented in stainless steel have created quite a buzz; her wines have garnered numerous Double Gold, Gold and Best of Class awards along with Best Viognier in California. Susan was awarded Best Woman Winemaker in the 2022 International Women’s Wine Competition; she won Best White Wine in the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition along with 4 Best of Class awards and in 2023 Acquiesce Winery won Visit Lodi’s Winery of the Year.

Susan has served as a board member for the Rhône Rangers, on the Lodi Winegrape Marketing Committee, as board member for the California Wine Education Foundation (CWEF) and was a founding board member for the Lodi Association of Wineries (LAW) and Founding Chair of Slow Food Lodi.

Group: Winemaker

WineAmerica
New York, NY
President

Jim Trezise is President of WineAmerica, the National Association of American Wineries based in Washington, DC. He also created and for 30 years was President of the New York Wine & Grape Foundation; created and was President for 10 years of the International Riesling Foundation; and has served on Boards of Directors of many national and international wine industry organizations. He has received several national awards for his contributions to the American wine industry, and judges in about 10 major wine competitions each year. He lives on Keuka Lake in New York’s Finger Lakes region.

Group: Marketing