Henry Davar IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Wine Educator

Henry Davar was born in Moscow and was raised in Queens, New York. After a five-year career in finance in New York City, Henry enrolled at the Institute of Culinary Education, and studied with the American Sommelier Association. He worked as Sommelier, Wine and Beverage Director, Business Development Manager, and Wine Educator. In April 2011, he went on sabbatical, traveling in Italy and working harvest at Vietti in Barolo. In April 2017, Henry became (at that time) the only candidate to be achieve the Expert level in Vinitaly International Academy’s Italian Wine Ambassador course on the first attempt. He joined the VIA Faculty where he helped develop the expanded VIA course curriculum which premiered in Hong Kong in November 2018 and continues to assist in its ongoing development and implementation.

Thomas Curtius MW

Master of Wine, Written Communications Expert

Francesco Marchio IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Managing Director of VinoVeritas Asia Limited

Francesco has over 10 years of experience in the wine sector. In Italy he worked as a sommelier, and as a manager in a wine shop and in a luxury hotel. In 2009 he moved to the UK: he worked as a sommelier at the 2 Michelin star French Restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, then as a Sales Manager in Oxfordshire. In 2012 he relocated to Hong Kong as Business Development Manager at VinoVeritas Asia Limited, becoming Managing Director in 2018. He holds the WSET Diploma and he is the first and only VIA Italian Wine Expert in Hong Kong. He participated in Vinitaly’s selection 5StarWines as a Judge, and he was awarded “Best Italian Wine Ambassador in China” by D.E.S.A., Deutschland Sommelier Association, during Pro Wein Hong Kong 2019.

Brandon Tebbe MS

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Master Sommelier, Found and Winemaker – Tebbe Wines, Wine & Beverage Director – Aspen Ski Co.

Brandon Tebbe is one of the Founders and Winemaker of Tebbe Wines, crafting Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon from California, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling from Willamette Valley. He also works as Wine & Beverage Director for Aspen Ski Co. in Aspen/Snowmass, CO, overseeing fourteen restaurant beverage programs. Brandon is a Master Sommelier, and one of only fifteen people to have passed all three parts of this rigorous exam on his first attempt. He also holds the designations: WSET Advance with Merit, Advanced Sake Professional, Certified Wine Educator, Certified Spirits Specialist, Certified Beer Server and ISG level 1 & 2 with Distinction. He is also currently studying in the Master of Wine program. Brandon has an extensive background in the hospitality industry, and has worked the floor as a Sommelier or Wine Director for the past fifteen years.

Richard Kershaw MW

Master of Wine, Founder and Winemaker of Richard Kershaw Wines

Born and raised in the UK, Richard travelled extensively before settling in South Africa in 1999 to make wine full time. He established Richard Kershaw Wines in January 2012 to create clonally selected, site-specific, cool climate wines in the Elgin Valley, and now has a stable of award-winning, much in demand wines. One of only 10 Masters of Wine who actively make their own wines and South Africa’s only winemaking Master of Wine, Richard is much in demand when not in the vineyard or cellar. A wine judge for many prestigious competitions around the globe, he is also part of the educational panel for the Institute of Masters of Wine, lectures for the WSET in South Africa, and shares his knowledge with students and consumers via talks, tastings and blogs.

Isao Miyajima

Journalist

After graduating from The University of Tokyo, Isao Miyajima worked in Rome for a Japanese newspaper from 1983 to 1989. During his stay in Rome, he began to taste wines seriously. After his return to Japan, he began to write about food and wine, collaborating with various specialty wine magazines in Japan as well (Winart, The Wine Kingdom, WANDS etc.). In Italy he worked for Espresso Italian Wine Guide and Gambero Rosso Italian Restaurant Guide and today he is responsible for the Japanese edition of Gambero Rosso Italian Wine Guide. He was awarded Best International Journalist prize by Grandi Cru d’Italia 2013. In 2014 he was awarded the Commendatore dell’Ordine della Stella d’Italia by the Italian State President Giorgio Napolitano.

JC Viens IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Deputy Wine Editor of Grande Passione

Jean-Charles (alias JC) Viens is a Certified WSET Educator, Vinitaly Academy Ambassador and the Franciacorta Ambassador in Greater China. He is also the CEO of Grande Passione Ltd, a marketing and events firm based in Hong Kong. JC is genuinely passionate about the human stories behind each label. Based in Hong Kong for 25 years, he has experienced the fascinating growth the region has sustained, first as an entrepreneur in the export sector and now as an expert in Wine Communications. He also focuses his activities on Marketing Strategies and Public Relation campaigns for Italian wines in Hong Kong and China. He recently received the honour of Cavaliere della Stella d’Italia for the work he has done on behalf of Italian wines in Hong Kong in the last ten years.

Jinglin Zhang IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert

Jinglin Zhang, based in London and Beijing is the director of Grape Paradise, a boutique importer focusing on innovative family size producers in Italy. She found passion for raising region such as Sicily, Emilia Romagna and North Piedmont. She is Italian Wine Expert certified by VIA and currently a MW student. 

Sue Tolson IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Managing Editor of WineSofa

Based in Budapest, Sue Tolson is a freelance writer, educator, translator and editor, specialising in wine (especially Italian and Hungarian), food and travel. She holds the WSET diploma as well as being a Wein Akademiker and Vinitaly Italian Wine Expert and is currently studying on the Master of Wine programme. She judges at various international wine competitions including IWC, Berlin Wine Trophy and 5StarWinee and is also a member of the prestigious Circle of Wine Writers and the Managing Editor of WineSofa – an online magazine focussing mainly on the wines and culture of Central and Eastern Europe. She is also author of The Italian Wine Job and Budapest Wine Snob blogs.

Vincenzo Donatiello

Head Sommielier, Piazza Duomo – Three Michelin Star Restaurant

Vincenzo Donatiello is Manager and Head Sommelier at Ristorante Piazza Duomo at Alba, a Michelin 3-star restaurant. Lucano, Sommelier, class of 1985, he grows professionally between Apulia, where he has attended the Istituto Alberghiero di Vieste, and Romagna, with his first experiences throughout the Adriatic coast. He has been the student of important sommeliers like Gianfranco Bolognesi, Best Sommelier in Italy in 1974, and Roberto Gardini, Best Sommelier in Italy in 1993. Nowadays he is the Restaurant Manager and Head Sommelier of Ristorante Piazza Duomo in Alba, a Michelin 3-star and sixteenth in the The World’s 50 Best Restaurants. He was awarded Best Junior Sommelier in Italy in 2004 and Best Sommelier in Romagna in 2010, Person of the Year 2013 for Italia a Tavola Magazine, Maître of the Year by the Guida Alberghi e Ristoranti del Touring Club 2016 and Maître of the Year in 2018 by the Guida ai Ristoranti d’Italia de L’Espresso.

Paul Caputo IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, editor-in-chief of Vinorandum

Paul Caputo is a UK based wine writer, judge, critic and entrepreneur. He is a certified Italian Wine Ambassador of the VinItaly International Academy, and writes regularly for various publications. He previously ran an online wine merchant and successful pop up wine bar, located on Chester’s historic rows. He works mainly in the wine space where he combines his passion for travel, technology, sustainability, and marketing. He is now working on Vinorandum, a wine business startup. Vinorandum is a wine search engine and media platform bringing stories and opinion from the world of wine. In 2020 he won a Millesima Award for his writing.

Irving So IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Instructor at Académie du Vin Tokyo

Irving So is a certified Italian Wine Expert (VIA), a DipWSET and a WSET Certified Educator teaching Level 2 and 3 courses based in Tokyo. He is also an Italian Wine Educator (VIA),  a Langhe Wines’ Ambassdor (Barolo & Barbaresco Academy), Valpolicella Wine Specialist (Consorzio Tutela Vini della Valpolicella), an Italian Wine Scholar (Highest Honor, Wine Scholar Guild), as well as a Wine MBA (Kedge) holder. He has conducted masterclasses for various Consortia including Valpolicella and Lugana, as well as several producer associations from Veneto. In addition to this, Irving works as a wine consultant, he helps Tokyo based wineries in exporting their wines.

Hayley Black IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Pacific NW Territory Manager,  LLS – Winebow Imports

Hayley believes a passion for wine paired with a desire to learn creates a never ending journey. After 10 years of working in restaurants she is now working in sales and distribution. She is responsible for guiding sales and education in all aspects of the upper end wine category for one of the largest family owned distribution companies in the Pacific Northwest. Her ability to inspire, educate and connect people through wine has been the driving force behind her career.

Niklas Bergqvist IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Head Sommelier and Wine Educator Vinkällaren Grappe and Restaurangakademien

Niklas Bergqvist started out in the kitchens of various restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden. A deep interest in wine drove him to take a sommelier course to understand the concepts of matching wine and food.After a serious skiing accident that left him unable to walk due to a badly broken leg, he used his rehabilitation time focusing on the WSET Diploma; he finished the programme as the best Continental European student in 2012. Since then he has been working with wine full time as head sommelier in a private wine club for wine collectors. Bergqvist is also a WSET educator and Italian Wine Expert through the Vinitaly International Academy.    

Melissa M. Sutherland IWA

Senior Sales Advisor at Panebianco Wines

Melissa has devoted 11 years to the selling, promotion, and study of Italian wine. She has unique insight into the business due to her experience, from opening NYC’s first dual wine bar/wine shop, to rebranding NYC’s legendary Italian Wine Merchants; as well as becoming a buyer & marketer at one of NYC’s oldest and largest wine retailers. She was recruited by The Winebow Group as National Import Brand Manager, focusing on the premier Italian wines of Leonardo LoCascio Selections and most recently, she concluded two years of strategic advising for winery clients in Italy. In the fall of 2018, Melissa returned to NYC full-time, signing on with the importer/distributor Panebianco Wines as Senior Sales Advisor, representing some of the smaller wineries of Italy. Melissa’s work has been featured in many national publications and sites, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Civiltà del Bere, and Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews. Melissa is also the author of the forthcoming book, Bianchista Forever: Drinking and Appreciating Italy’s White Wines.

Yannick Benjamin

Proprietor of Contento Restaurant in NYC

Yannick is the Head Sommelier for the University Club as well as the owner of Contento Restaurant in NYC. In 2003, a car accident left Benjamin paralyzed below the waist: he quickly adapted, equipping his wheelchair with a table that allows him to continue to work as a sommelier. Yannick was among the “Top 40 under 40” wine lovers and was named “Person of the Year” by New Mobility Magazine in 2017. He was the resident sommelier on the successful radio show: On The Town, and has made numerous appearances on ABC, NBC and CBS. Yannick created Wine on Wheels, a major wine event that brings together hundreds of esteemed sommeliers who volunteer to pour wine for charity. Yannick is also a para-athlete and participates in marathons to raise money for Wheeling Forward. 

Tushar Borah

Sommelier at Jumeirah Group of Hotels

Sommelier at Burj Al Arab, the world most luxurious Hotel, Jumeirah Group in Dubai. Taking care part of the beverage program for the hotel and service operation of the award winning fine dining restaurant ‘Al Mahara’ by Michelin Star Chef Nathan Outlaw from London. Prior to Dubai, I have worked with different wine markets in Hong Kong, Maldives, India under hotel chain of Shangri-La, Kempinski, Sheraton etc. My current wine list has over 1000 reference from around the globe and received Wine Spectator Best Award of Excellent consecutively for the last 3 years. I am currently pursuing diploma courses from WSET and Court of Master Sommelier.

Hugh Preece IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Operating Partner at Salt Creek Grille

Restaurant leader and owner with 30 years of restaurant management, community leadership and philanthropic experience. During his college years he worked in a bar, and the owner took him under his wing educating him on wine and the restaurant industry: it was his influence that determined his career. Later in his life he formally studied wine with Court of Master Sommeliers and Vinitaly International Academy, becoming an Italian Wine Ambassador. He has been featured on WPST 94.3 Radio, ABC NY, ESPN Television, NY Daily News, Buck’s Life Magazine, Princeton Magazine, Univision.com and US News and World Report. Recipient of the Walt Disney Delivering the Difference Award, Operator of the Year, Most Profitable Region of the Year, Culinary Operations of the Year.

Luiz André Batistello IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador,  Sommelier at Wine Tours Paris

Tara-Maria Jabbour IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassadors, Export Manager at Agriment Italia

Jingjing Sui IWA

Luzia Schrampf IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Wine Writer for Der Standard et. al. and Wine Educator

Luzia Schrampf is an Austrian journalist and wine educator for Wine Academy Austria (Rust). She passed the Diploma WSET in 2003. Since December 2015 she is Italian Wine Ambassador of Vinitaly International Academy, Verona. Her articles appear in wine publications in Austria and Germany, but also internationally in „Civiltà del Bere“ or „Decanter“.  From 2007 to 2015 she was wine columnist for the Austrian quality daily „Der Standard“. She is author of several books, her latest „111 österreichischer Weine, die man getrunken haben muss“ (emons Verlag, Cologne) co-written with Austrian wine writer Daniela Dejnega, was published in October 2019.  She was technical consultant for a TV programme on Austrian wine (2012) and she also reports on Austria for Jancis Robinson’s World Atlas of Wine, 7th & 8th edition.

Jennifer Russo Delaloca IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador

Restaurateur, wine promoter and educator, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, wine and lifestyle blogger at Blogly.dk & Bloggersdelight.dk

Rodrigo Sepúlveda Schulz

Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Expon Capital

André Ribeirinho

Co-Founder, CEO and Digital Strategist of Adegga and WineSpots

André Ribeirinho wears many hats, he is an award-winning food, wine and travel entrepreneur, a Portuguese wine expert and a Certified Port Educator. As a wine writer André contributes to Decanter Magazine and the Hugh Johnson’s Pocket Wine Book. Often known as a Digital Strategist, André is also known as a marketing specialist, a businessman, an ambassador, an evangelist, an influencer, a traveler, a contributor and a (Port) Knight. Furthermore, he is a wine judge at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. Co-founder and CEO at Adegga, Reiberinho is also the head pilot at innovative projects like WineSpots, SmartWineGlass, Portugal Wine Week and Fine Portugal.

Tommasella Perniciaro IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Director/ Wine Educator at The Good Wine Habit

Emilia Marinig IWED

Italian Wine Educator, VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Head of Marketing at Agricola Querciabella

Alexandra Alexandrova IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Deputy Managing Director at Gourmet Alliance Group

David Furka IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Freelance Wine Consultant and Wine Journalist

Valeria Tenison IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Wine blogger and journalist for Winegossips.com

Valeria Tenison, a sommelier, a wine blogger and a wine journalist from Saint Petersburg, Russia, is now based in Bordeaux, France. Valeria has been working in the hospitality industry for more than 10 years, steadily growing in the food and beverage department, reaching the Food & Beverage Manager position in Marriott hotels. Having completed the WSET Level 3 course and obtained an ASI Gold Certification, she participates in several professional competitions, which culminates in winning the Russian Female Sommelier Competition in August 2018. At the peak of her career, Valeria turns a new page and moves to Bordeaux to continue her wine education with a WSET DIploma course.

Kevin Gagnon IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Chief Editor and Content Manager at SnarkyWine.com

Anna Baranova IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Wine Educator at Millesime School

Anna Baranova is from St. Petersburg, Russia. She graduated as a Human Resources Manager from the Higher School of Business Administration; this is when she realised her love of wine, she especially identified with the phrase “in vino veritas”. She dove into the wine business in 2005, working as both a sommelier and a wine-seller in different companies within St. Petersburg. In 2018 Baranova finished her studies at the Weinakademie Österreich earning her WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits. Now she is a Weinakademiker (wine academic) and WSET Diploma holder. Baranova also attended and completed the Vinitaly International Academy, Italian Wine Ambassador course twice, in 2017 and in 2018. Her website can be viewed at www.winecode.ru. Currently she is lecturing at wine schools’ “Millesime” and “Marine Express”. She is also the chief-sommelier at “Caffe Italia”, an authentic Italian restaurant in St. Petersburg.

Laura Donadoni IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Wine Communicator, winexine.sg

Hailing from Bergamo, Italy, Laura Donadoni was born and bred on classic Italian wine and creative cuisine. Her career started as a columnist and wine and food reporter for several prestigious Italian magazines and anchor woman on the radio news for local and national radio networks; she also had her own food and wine show on the Italian broadcasting network Mediapason (second largest private tv network in Italy). Upon moving to the U.S., she translated her passion into The Italian Wine Girl blog and Instagram channel, spreading wine education and wine culture and becoming one of the most trusted Italian wine influencer in the US. She founded LA COM Wine Agency, a strategic P.R. and communications firm focused on wine and food industry. Laura is a certified professional journalist and editor with a summa cum laude PhD in Communication Sciences, a professional speaker, a certified Sommelier with merit with the North American Sommelier Association and the World Sommelier Association; she is one of the few Vinitaly International Italian Wine Ambassadors a certified wine educator and wine taster; a certified Italian and Spanish Wine Specialist; an official judge at the largest American wines competition, the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition; a member of the Los Angeles Wine Writers Association and an official Zipkick influencer. Most recently Laura Donadoni is U.S. Brand Ambassador for Franciacorta and an honorable Knight of the Order of the Truffle and the Wines of Alba , a prestigious historic order of ambassadors of authentic Piedmont typical products and wines in the world.

Catherine Stratton IWA

Educator 

Catherine Stratton was raised in her family’s restaurant business, in Los Angeles. A first trip to Italy in 2001 led to her moving there at age 19 to pursue a degree in Art Restoration in Florence. He got a Certificate in Wine Education and Management from UCLA; she is also an Italian Wine Specialist from the North American Sommelier Association and a certified Yoga Instructor. She founded two companies. Vino and Vinyasa Tours (2016) is a boutique travel company focused solely on Italy with winery visits and personal yoga instruction. CS Selections (2018) is a wine brokerage working with several small importers in Southern California. In 2019 she finished second in her course at the Vinitaly International Academy in Los Angeles, becoming Italian Wine Ambassador.

Elise Vandenberg IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador

Elise Vandenberg is an Italian Wine Ambassador and a Certified Sommelier. She is the Lead Sommelier at Estiatorio Milos in the Cosmopolitan hotel in Las Vegas, NV. Elise enjoys wine from around the world, but is particularly passionate about wines made from native Italian grapes. She writes about Italian wine at elisevino.wordpress.com

Christopher Barnes

Founder and Publisher at Grape Collective

Christopher Barnes is currently Editor and Publisher of Grape Collective an online wine magazine that combines high quality wine journalism with a seamless eCommerce experience. Grape Collective has produced over 300 video interviews on location with winemakers around the world and features writing by some of wine journalism’s top stars including former Wall Street Journal wine critic Dorothy J. Gaiter. Prior to starting Grape Collective Barnes was President of The Observer Media Group, publisher of The New York Observer. Barnes was co-founder and Publisher of amNewYork newspaper, New York’s largest free daily newspaper which was eventually sold to the Tribune Company. Amongst other media start-ups he was also involved in the co-founding of the Cocoa Beach/Cape Canaveral Press weekly newspaper and The London Monthly magazine. He has an MBA from Babson College in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Niklas Bergqvist IWE

VIA Italian Wine Expert, Head Sommelier and Wine Educator Vinkällaren Grappe and Restaurangakademien

Niklas Bergqvist started out in the kitchens of various restaurants in Stockholm, Sweden. A deep interest in wine drove him to take a sommelier course to understand the concepts of matching wine and food.After a serious skiing accident that left him unable to walk due to a badly broken leg, he used his rehabilitation time focusing on the WSET Diploma; he finished the programme as the best Continental European student in 2012. Since then he has been working with wine full time as head sommelier in a private wine club for wine collectors. Bergqvist is also a WSET educator and Italian Wine Expert through the Vinitaly International Academy.    

Veronika Denisova IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Deputy Director and Educator of Enotria Wine School

Veronika Denisova graduated from Timiryazev Moscow Agricultural Academy in 2000, she received a Diploma in Agronomy, Viticulture and Winemaking Basics. Veronika practiced as a winemaker’s assistant at Vinselekt Michlovský, in the Czech Republic, in 1999 and at La Biòca Winery, Piedmont in 2016. Since 2006, she’s been a Member of the Russian Association of Sommeliers (RAS). Veronika has also been working as a wine educator and a freelance journalist for the past 12 years.

Vladislav Markin IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador

Carrie Wong IWA

Stefan Metzner IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Owner at Seminare & Beratung

Alice Wong IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador

Jermaine Stone

Founder of Cru Luv
Cru Luv Wine’s Founder, Jermaine Stone, was raised worlds away from wine country with plans to become a rapper. By age 19, he had already made appearances on XM Radio and BET. A temporary job at Zachys Wine Auctions quickly turned him into a lover of fine wine. In his nine years there, he became an auctioneer and member of Zachys senior leadership before becoming one of the founding directors of Wally’s Wine Auctions in 2013 in partnership with Los Angeles’ top wine merchant. He now runs Cru Luv Wine, a New York-based firm dedicated to blending the best elements of wine and hip hop culture.

Kirk Peterson IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Freelance Journalist and Wine Consultant at Whetstone LLC

Kirk Peterson is an experienced wine and food professional, wine educator, and award-winning writer and Symposium for Professional Wine Writers fellowship recipient who enjoys a life and career dedicated to food, wine, and hospitality. Peterson is often seen and heard on Las Vegas’ ABC-affiliate daytime television talk show, FOX5 Las Vegas, KNPR Nevada Public Radio in addition to being a regular contributor to The Tasting Panel, Vegas Seven, and David Magazine.

Tomislav Tuđen

Executive Director of Miva & Mohor Trgovina
Tomislav Tuđen comes from Zagreb, he works as the executive director of Miva & Mohor Trgovina, the leading wine distributor company in Croatia. Always keen to improve his education, he is currently attending WSET Diploma classes. In the wine business for the last 18 years, his goal is to promote and present Croatian wines to the world. Since 2016 he has been officially designated as Riedel’s ambassador.

Angelo Sabbadin

Sommelier at Ferrowine

Angelo Sabbadin was born and raised in Padua. After years of working in well-known restaurants in the city, in 2006 he started working at the three-starred restaurant Le Calandre (Rubano) as a sommelier and purchasing manager. This experience, which lasted 7 years, allowed Angelo to taste the excellence of food and wine. In 2010 he was in charge of renewing Le Calandre’s wine list, and organised it based on grape variety rather than region as well as presenting it on iPad rather than paper.  In 2011 he was awarded Sommelier of the Year for the Guida de l’Espresso. Since 2012, he has been on the jury of the Decanter World Wine Award, a competition organised by Decanter magazine involving 220 judges from 20 different countries. For 4 years Angelo collaborated with the Ian d’Agata/Comparini Wine Guide and for the last 4 years he has been part of the Guida de l’Espresso Vini as regional delegate for Veneto and Friuli. In 2019, he was a judge at WOW, an Italian wine competition organised by Civiltà del Bere magazine. Currently, Angelo is a professional ASPI sommelier and works at Ferrowine (Castelfranco Veneto) as a sommelier and selector. For Angelo, wine is an articulate and complex subject, a passion, a captivating element. Before telling about wine, according to him, it is necessary to listen to it and understand it, in order to convey emotions.

Giuseppe Rosati

Owner and CEO of G&Partners

Born 1969 ( a bad vintage!) in Italy. Grown in a family restaurant in Gubbio (Umbria). In 1997 open a his own restaurant and after 5 years was one of the top wine list in Italy. In 2010 moved to NYC invited by Lidia Bastianich to manage the wine list of her flagship restaurant Felidia. In 2015 began Vinitaly International Ambassador, same year began his current role with Falesco- Famiglia Cotarella as Brand Ambassador. Owner of G&Partners a NYC based company for market strategy and brand positioning. Spent 6 months in Italy traveling in a vineyard and 6 months in USA traveling the country. 80 domestic flights a year between hotels, restaurants, sales office and Starbucks. Wine columnist for Lidia’s magazine and Accademia del Tartufo. Keep Calm and Drink Italian.

Pietro Russo

Winemaker at Donnafugata

Pietro Russo35 y.o., born in Marsala from a family dedicated to wine for a long time, both my grandfathers had their own vineyards and used to make base wine for Marsala.
I graduated in viticulture and winemaking at the University of Conegliano Veneto,then I perceived a European Master Vigne et Vin in Bordeaux.
This year I’m approaching my 20th harvest, with a career including working periods spent in France (Bordeaux and Languedoc), Spain (Andalusia) and New Zealand (Marlborough), where I’ve developed a long hand experience and an insatiable passion for wine. I’ve been working for Donnafugata as a winemaker since 2010, and today I have the chance to produce wines from the most compelling appellations of Sicily, from the island of Pantelleria to the Mt Etna, from the inland terroirs of Contessa Entellina to the drying South Eastern corners of Vittoria. Last year, together with Andrea and Gabriele we have entirely revised the Italy chapter for the new edition of Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopedia. In the meanwhile I’m involved in the program of the Institute of Masters of Wine, I’ve passed the tasting part of the exams in 2019 and I study to reach the famous two letters MW.

Ciro Pirone IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Company

Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines for Horizon Beverage Company, is a graduate of the Istituto Alberghiero (Hotel and Restaurant Management school) of Salerno, Italy and a Vinitaly Wine Ambassador (Vinitaly Wine Academy). Traveling and working in Italy, England and the US, Ciro developed an incredible passion for wine, food and culture. After all, growing up in Italy, wine was always a very important part of his family’s lifestyle and traditions. In 1999, Ciro moved to the US permanently. He landed in Boston, where he continued his wine studies at Boston University, the International Sommelier Guild, the London –based Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (WSET), as well as he completed and passed with Honors the Italian Wine Specialist Certification by the North American Sommelier Association (part of the worldwide recognized Italian Sommelier Association). In June of 2017 (and again in 2019) he completed the Vinitaly Wine Academy and received the prestigious Vinitaly Wine Ambassador certification. In 2019 also passed with Honors the Italian Wine Scholar program by the Wine Scholar Guild. In 2007, Ciro accepted the position of Italian Wine Specialist for Horizon Beverage. After successful growth at HBC, Ciro accepted on a new challenge as the US Brand Manager for the Arnaldo Caprai Winery of Montefalco (Umbria), the top producer of worldwide recognized Sagrantino di Montefalco. In June 2011, Ciro returned to Horizon Beverage with a new position of Director of Italian Wines in support of their expanding presence in the New England marketplace. Ciro is happy to share his passion for Italian wine and culture in an effort to give the American wine consumer a better understanding and appreciation for Italian wine!

Dongmyung Hong IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, CEO of Vinovino co., ltd

Hong Dongmyung runs Vinovino, a company that imports only Italian wines to South Korea. This company was established in 2002 as a family business. Now, Hong is the CEO and works with over 50 producers from Italy. After graduating from the Korea National University of Arts, he immediately joined the family business. Hong has also owned an Italian restaurant, and so discovered early on that he can communicate with wine people. Hong has garnered certifications such as the WSET advanced and VIA Italian Wine Ambassador. After many years of dedication to the wine industry, a desire to express his experience and teaching about Italian wine developed and He joined a wine school to share his knowledge with other professionals.

Artem Lebedev IWA

VIA Italian Wine Ambassador

Artem Lebedev is a 30 year old wine professional who has been working in the wine industry for over 8 years now. Born in St.Petersburg, he worked in Europe for two years before settling down in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Artem is an ASI certified sommelier, a WSET Diploma student, a Sherry ambassador, a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, the President of the Kazakhstan Sommelier Association, CEO of the annual contest of the best sommelier of Kazakhstan, co-owner and main lecturer at the sommelier school in Almaty.

Gianluca Queiroli IWA

Owner of Wine Empire

After being an international tax consultant for almost 20 years, Gianluca made a career switch and joined the wine industry 5 years ago. Originally from Italy, he is now based in the Boston area where he owns and runs Wine Empire, a fine wine retailer. Gianluca holds a law degree, a Master in Accounting & International Tax, and speaks fluently three languages. He also dedicated himself to many aspects of the wine world: tasting events, writing, wine education. He became an Italian Wine Ambassador & Educator (through Vinitaly International Academy) in 2019 and is a certified French Wine Scholar, American Wine Expert, Bordeaux & Burgundy Specialist, Sherry Wine Specialist, holds the WSET Diploma & currently a MW candidate. In 2021, he launched in the U.S. the Italian Wine Maestro Certification.

Jodie Hellman

Regional Sales Manager – Western Region at The Sorting Table, LLC

Jodie started her career in wine on the hospitality end of things. In Las Vegas, she began as a Floor Captain and worked her way up to Sommelier. She formed part of some of the top teams in the restaurant community, working with world renowned chefs such as Tom Collichio, Bobby Flay, Paul Bartolotta, Charlie Palmer and Daniel Boulud. Looking to broaden her knowledge base in the world of wine, she moved to the distribution side. Jodie began to sell wine and spirits to/from the local buyers, as well as participated in educational events for consumers. She eventually found herself working for an importer, learning about another fascinating side of the business; you can still find her there today, covering 9 states in the western part of the USA.

Patti Robison

Sales Representative at Lyra Wine

Patti started her career in wine from the restaurant side of the industry, starting as a cellar master and working her way up to Beverage Manager for a number of great chefs and restaurateurs such as Danny Meyer, Charlie Palmer, Walter Manzke and Evan Funke. She chose to focus on Italian wine and soon after took steps to take Vinitaly International Academy’s Italian Wine Ambassador Course. She made the decision to move into the sales side of the wine industry; working for an Italian importer-distributor on the East side of Los Angeles. Patti loves to travel and soak up Italian culture, she particularly enjoys the museums and art history. 

Cecilia Alarcón Salinas

Cecilia Alarcón Salinas is a Chilean geographer, with experience of projects for small and medium-sized enterprises in the Chilean wine sector. Her passion for the wine world and travelling led her to move to Italy in 1999, where she continued her studies in International Economy at the Tor Vergata University, and also graduated as Sommelier (AIS) in 2004. Cecilia works in Wine Tourism and is an enthusiastic leader and organizer of wine & food study tours for professionals & wine lovers, mainly in Italy and Chile. As juror in international wine contests, including Les Mondial des Vins Blancs (Strasbourg), VINARIUM (Bucharest), International Wine City Challenge (Italy), and designated Chilean Wine Ambassador, she bridges the wine sectors in Chile and Europe. Cecilia is also member of the International Network Associations for Women and Wine, Le Donne del Vino in Italy & Mujeres del Vino in Chile (MUV).

Jochen Erler

Freelance Wine Writer

Jochen Erler was born in Dresden, Germany. He spent 12 years in Academia and 20 years in the international civil service (UN, OECD in Paris, ECMWF in UK). Since 1989 he has been a freelance writer on wine and spirts, collaborating with Harpers, Spirits Int’l, Weinwirtschaft. He is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers, of FIJEV and of Tiroler Sommelierverin. For 15 years he has been a foreign correspondent for the Austrian wine journal Weinbau. Since 2010 he has been a speaker at the annual International Wine Conference, and since 2014 a wine lecturer on cruise ships. From 1991 to 2013 he was a permanent member of the jury for wine & spirits at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) in England, for 15 years he participated as a jury member at the Austrian Wine Challenge (AWC) and for more than 25 years he has intermittently been a jury member in other contests.