10/27 DEBORAH CAHN, NAVARRO WINES, KATRIN NAELAPAA, WINES FROM SPAIN, SPAIN'S GREAT MATCH EVENT IN L.A.

DEBORAH CAHN - NAVARRO WINES

Navarro bottled its first wine in 1974. A surprise gift for our fortieth birthday was being named the 2014 Winery of the Year at the California State Fair. Accolades are nice but what is even better is the long-standing support of our mailing list customers which allows us to continue to produce exciting wines at reasonable prices. Navarro has eleven new wines this release: four dry whites, four vigorous reds, two luscious late harvest nectars and a sparkling Brut as a special holiday treat. Three yummy varietal grape juices are also available, so the whole family can celebrate. The case special on the 2013 Chardonnay Table Wine works out to only $12.42 per bottle, which explains why it will grace the holiday tables of so many of Navarro's friends. Pennyroyal's six cheeses, from our sister farm, can enhance your celebrations even further. One-Cent ground freightand reduced air freight for all case orders, as well as bargain prices on case specials and samplers, will be available until December 31, but some wines may sell out sooner.

Navarro Vineyards has been growing grapes sustainably and bottling wine in Mendocino's Anderson Valley since 1974. For almost 40 years our family has produced value-driven wines that have received numerous accolades in wine books & magazines, and wine competitions. You won't find Navarro wines in stores as we prefer to sell our hand-crafted wines directly to the people who enjoy them and welcome our "farm-direct" prices.

WWW.NAVARROWINE.COM


KATRIN NAELAPAA – DIRECTOR, WINES FROM SPAIN - SPAIN'S GREAT MATCH EVENT IN L.A. ON 11/10/14 AT THE BAZAAR BY JOSÉ ANDRÉS

THE TRADE COMMISSION OF SPAIN ANNOUNCES SPAIN’S GREAT MATCH 2014 IN LOS ANGELES

Prominent Spanish Wine and Food event to be held at Renowned Restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés

The Trade Commission of Spain announces the Spain’s Great Match event will take place on November 10th in Los Angeles at the renowned restaurant, The Bazaar by José Andrés. This collaborative extravaganza of Spanish culture celebrates the distinctive wines, food and design of Spain. Over 200 wines representing the varietals and wine regions of Spain will be featured in a walk-around tasting format. American importers and distributors of Spanish wines will present their best products, including new wines and the latest vintages, to wine industry professionals and consumers.  Earlier in the day, members of the wine trade and press will also be invited to a tutored tasting seminar, showcasing Spain’s new power couple, D.O. Rueda and D.O. Ribera del Duero. In the evening, the event will open to the public as a ticketed lifestyle event and will feature, along with the wine stations, a selection of tapas by The Bazaar by José Andrés. A portion of event proceeds will benefit a Los Angeles charitable organization.

About Wines from Spain
The Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade (Instituto Español de Comercio Exterior, ICEX) is the authorized governmental platform for the promotion of Spanish exports and Spanish companies' international growth. Vinos de España - or Wines from Spain - is ICEX's brand for a wide range of promotional activities designed to inform trade and consumers abroad about quality Spanish wines. Wines from Spain has been promoting Spanish wines in walk-around tastings to press, trade and consumers in New York and the United States for nearly 30 years.  Each year, Wines from Spain hosts “Spain's Great Match”- an opportunity to sample and learn about a variety of the world’s most sought-after Spanish wines paired with tapas from the top rated area Spanish restaurants.

BIO:
Katrin Naelapaa was raised in Mexico City and studied at Georgetown University, which included a study-abroad stint in Madrid. After a successful finance career, Naelapaa decided to study wine and food, and enrolled at ICE. In her close to nearly 15 years at the trade group Wines from Spain, Naelapaa has developed a multitude of educational and promotional programs to increase American awareness of Spanish wines. She has expanded Wines from Spain’s presence in national food and wine events, and has launched stand-alone programs like Great Match: Wine & Tapas. Naelapaa also spearheaded the publication of Wines from Spain: Far from Ordinary Wine Guide. When she is not busy throwing one of her celebrated dinners, she practices her other passion and sings with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall.

WWW.WINESFROMSPAINUSA.COM

10/20 JASON PUGACH, NATASHA SWORDS, CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS EVENTS, VINFORT 2014, KATRINA FREY. FREY VINEYARDS

JASON PUGACH  & NATASHA SWORDS - CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS EVENT - VINFORT 11/7/14

THE CALIFORNIA WINEMASTERS launches vinfort 2014 for cognac, port and late harvest wine fans  a Charity Event Raising Money for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation!

California Winemasters is launching the inaugural VinFort event for those who appreciate Cognacs, ports and late harvest wines, this November 7th.

“The California Winemasters is excited to offer something a little new and different to wine-tasters who enjoy fortified wines as much as they do a bottle of wine. The timing is perfect too! Just before holiday season.” – says Barbara Balik, Director of Special Giving at Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

VinFort will pour Cognacs, ports and late harvest wine brands within the Jeanie Madsen and Hamilton Galleries on Ocean Boulevard in Santa Monica, on November 7th, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“ From Norton Late Harvest Wines to Ye Olde King’s Head Shoppe Christmas pies – there will be an array of Cognacs and other fortified wine brands, as well holiday inspired foods to get us all in the mood,” says Natasha Swords of Swords PR, who is responsible for the event’s logistics. “Art for the eyes, fortified wines for the palate, and live jazz for the ears too! Local restaurants will be there too to keep our tummies satisfied with their signature holiday fare. It’s set to be an exceptionally unique evening!”

Tickets are available at www.vinfortsantamonica.com. Only three hundred will go on sale today and will likely sell out during September.

The California Winemasters is a perennial Wine Spectator Top 10 Charity Wine Auction set for May 16, 2015 at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  This extraordinary event showcases 50 international chefs and 75 of California’s Finest Wineries.  “Winemasters” has raised over $27 million in support of the mission of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
2014 marks the first year for its VinFort event.

The CF Foundation is a nonprofit donor-supported organization dedicated to attacking cystic fibrosis from every angle.  Its focus is to support the development of new drugs to fight the disease, improve the quality of life for those with CF and ultimately, to find a cure.

CALIFORNIAWINEMASTERS.ORG


KATRINA FREY - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, FREY VINEYARDS            

Frey Vineyards – A History of America's First Organic Winery

Paul Sr. and Beba Frey grew up a few blocks apart in the gritty New York City of the 1930's and 40's. Paul relished his summer escapes to the Poconos Mountains, Pennsylvania. And Beba found bliss each summer on a Catskill Mountains dairy farm (see photo above). Each vowed to escape the city permanently. They later met and married in medical school. While their family grew, they longed for a life closer to nature and finally settled down in Northern California in the early 1960's on their ranch in Redwood Valley, Mendocino County. The 12 children grew up instilled with love and respect for the natural environment, and picked up gardening, farming, and agricultural skills, as their parents had dreamed.  Paul Sr. and Beba rounded out their children’s education by schooling them in the sciences, history, literature, classical arts and music, as well as appreciation for world cuisines paired with wine.

In the late 1960's, Paul and Beba and the older kids planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Gray Riesling on the ranch's old pastureland and sold the fruit to nearby wineries. A decade later, brothers Jonathan and Matthew realized the vineyards' potential when a Cabernet Sauvignon grown by Frey's grapes won a gold medal for a Santa Cruz winery. Frey Vineyards was bonded the next year, in 1980, and soon after became the first organic winery in U.S.

The eldest brother Jonathan and his wife Katrina studied organic agriculture under the tutorship of Alan Chadwick, a green-thumb guru of the California 70's. At the winery's inception, Jonathan introduced high integrity organic practices that are still in place today.  Brother Matthew, learned the mechanical and technical skills of the wine business when working at nearby wineries. A final touch to the new winery's credo was that the wine would be made not only from organically grown grapes, but without any added sulfites. In the late 1980's, Paul Frey Jr. returned from the University of California at Santa Cruz to help perfect the techniques for making wine without the synthetic sulfite preservative, and is today our main winemaker. In 1996, Luke Frey spearheaded the conversion of our estate vineyards to biodynamic cultivation, making Frey Vineyards the first producer of certified Demeter Biodynamic wines in North America.

We are pleased that many local wineries and grape growers have become certified organic and biodynamic as well, for the health of our common environment as well as our customers. Today, a third of all organic grapes in California are grown in Mendocino County, and 15 wineries making wines from organically grown grapes are located here – more than any county in the U.S. The trend of organic grape growing is rapidly spreading in Napa and Sonoma Counties, and across the U.S. Frey Vineyards is the largest of the very few wineries to have taken on the challenge of producing a true organic wine, made with no added sulfites – a practice that is now tradition for our family.

Today, more than 30 years since the founding of Frey Vineyards, many of the 12 children and spouses work for the family business. As organic food production is reaching new heights in the U.S., we hope the trend never stops, benefiting taste buds, planet, and the future generations.

About Katrina Frey:
There aren't many jobs Katrina hasn't worked at Frey Vineyards. She has worn the hat of grape-picker, bottler, saleswoman – you name it! Katrina developed our sales and marketing branch and acts as our office manager. In addition to her work at the winery Katrina is the President of the Board of Demeter USA (our national Biodynamic certification agency). She gives her time generously to organic issues such as non-GMO activism and food safety, as well as Mendocino County's local Phoenix Hospice.

Under Katrina's community minded guidance Frey Vineyards has generously donated product and funds to local and national environmental and social justice charities and non-profits. As a leader in the organic industry since day one, Katrina has been a featured speaker at Natural Products Expo East, the All Things Organic trade show and the Sustainable Brands conference.

WWW.FREYWINE.COM

10/13 STU SMITH, SMITH-MADRONE, GARY PISONI, PISONI VINEYARDS

STU SMITH - GENERAL PARTNER & ENOLOGIST, SMITH-MADRONE

Brothers Stuart and Charles Smith are the vineyard managers and winemakers of Smith-Madrone Winery.  Also in the family attic is the Fetherolf family, German farmers from the Palatinate region, who came to America on the Good Ship Thistle in 1730.  The name for the winery came as a tribute to the Smith brothers who pursued their dream and to the Madrone trees which distinguish the property.

In May 1971, with a partnership of family and friends, Stuart Smith bought the ‘terroir’ which today is Smith-Madrone Vineyards & winery. He was 22 years old and had just received his B.A. in Economics from UC Berkeley and was taking classes towards his Master’s in Viticulture at UC Davis. In trying to find land to plant vineyard in the Napa Valley, through a family friend he explored a forest on the remotest and highest part of Spring Mountain and discovered that the land had been a vineyard in the 1880s and in fact had been part of the wagon trail route between Napa and Santa Rosa. Today he is respected for his expertise and leadership as a mountain vineyardist.

Stuart was born and raised in Santa Monica.  While pursuing his master’s at UC Davis, Stuart was the first teaching assistant for wine industry pioneers Maynard Amerine and Vernon Singleton in 1970-1971. He taught enology at Santa Rosa Junior College and Napa Valley College; he has chaired the 1986 and 2006 Napa Valley Wine Auctions.  He is an active member of the G.O.N.A.D.S. (the Gastronomical Order for Nonsensical and Dissipatory Society), a group of Napa Valley vintners who started getting together for monthly lunches in the 1980s. He served on Napa County’s Watershed Task Force for several years, appointed by the Board of Supervisors; in 2006 he was appointed again by the Board of Supervisors to sit on Napa County General Plan Steering Committee, responsible for updating Napa’s General Plan, a three year project. Stu also serves as auctioneer for an Omaha (NB) charity auction every year.

Stuart served as Scout Master for St. Helena’s (Boy Scout) Troop One for many years. He is an avid canoeist, having canoed through the Quetico Wilderness in Canada many times and often canoes the Klamath and Trinity Rivers in California. He has five children and one grand-child; the family includes a photographer, beekeeper/artist, management information specialist, up-and-coming winemaker, distributor salesman and high school sophomore.

WWW.SMITHMADRONE.COM


GARY PISONI – PISONI VINEYARDS                                                    

A special place, Pisoni Vineyards expresses the land and climate of the Santa Lucia Highlands and the spirit of the Pisoni Family. The site is a source of exceptional Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah.

First planted by Gary Pisoni in 1982, Pisoni Vineyards consists of small vineyard blocks arranged on and around the ridges of the mountainous landscape. Ranging in size from one-half to seventeen acres, the vineyard blocks perch at an altitude of 1,300 feet in the granite-laced mountains of the coastal Santa Lucia Range.

Inspired by the Burgundy tradition of having several wineries source fruit from the same vineyard, Gary Pisoni has formed relationships with some of the most prestigious Pinot Noir producers in California. With agreements based on handshake alone, these wineries are guaranteed specific rows and blocks each year. They purchase grapes at a per-acre price rather than a per-ton price, which maintains the focus on quality and not yields.

In addition to supplying fruit to artisan producers of vineyard-designated wines, the Pisoni Family retains a portion of the vineyard for the production of Pisoni Estate wine.

THE PRACTICE
Vineyard management is meticulous. Under Mark Pisoni's leadership, a long-time permanent crew of 18 skilled individuals perform all the work by hand. Every decision implements sustainable farming practices and long-term considerations. This commitment, combined with the rocky soils and cold Monterey Bay weather, produce serious and compelling wines.

THE FAMILY
In 1952 Jane and Eddie Pisoni began farming vegetables in the fertile Salinas Valley. A celery-crop profit in 1979 provided the down payment for the Santa Lucia Highlands property that became Pisoni Vineyards. Their love for the land provided the place where their son Gary could realize his dreams. Gary developed a love of wine while attending college. He started collecting fine French and German wines, and he made his first wine in his garage in 1978 at the age of twenty-five. In 1982, Gary broke ground and planted the first vines at Pisoni Vineyards. He was up against many obstacles, including not having a water source at the time.

Mark Pisoni, the vineyard manager, completed a B.S. in Agricultural Economics at the University of California, Davis, and an M.S. in Farm Business Management at Cornell University. He oversees the meticulous care of both Pisoni Vineyards and Pisoni Farms.  Jeff Pisoni is the winemaker. He earned a B.S. in Enology at California State University, Fresno, and got hands-on experience at premium wineries before becoming the Pisoni Estate and Lucia winemaker in 2002.

THE WINE
The Pisoni Family produces one wine each year under the label bearing its name: Pisoni Estate Pinot Noir. Although actual quantities vary with fruit yields, typical production is a mere 500 cases annually. Often noted for their deep color and intensity, wines from Pisoni Vineyards offer complex flavors and layers of undulating texture. The rocky mountain soil and the long, cool growing season provide the fundamental character of the wine, and the tannin and acid structure contribute to the age-worthiness.

LUCIA
Lucia vineyard designated Santa Lucia Highlands AVA wines. Lucia is the sister label of the Pisoni Estate wines. Whereas Pisoni Estate is committed to a single expression of the Pisoni Vineyards, Lucia represents the collection of vineyards that the Pisoni Family farms: Pisoni Vineyards, Soberanes Vineyard and Garys' Vineyard (the latter two farmed in partnership with Gary Franscioni).

The wines of Lucia are vineyard designated Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Syrah from these vineyards and eponymous Santa Lucia Highlands AVA cuvées with varying percentages of each vineyard blended together. Lucia wines are made alongside the Pisoni Estate wines using the same exacting standards for quality. They are sold via mailing list and high-end restaurants and retailers. If you are on the mailing list for Pisoni Estate wines, you will automatically have the opportunity to purchase the Lucia offerings.

WWW.PISONIVINEYARDS.COM

10/06 DAVID HUNT, HUNT CELLARS, FR. BILL NICHOLAS, THE 2014 SIMI VALLEY DREAM CUISINE

DAVID HUNT – OWNER & WINEMAKER, HUNT CELLARS

Our Story
It started over 20 years ago as a fantasy: living on a lush beautiful vineyard, producing your own style of favorite premium varietal wines that are well received and appreciated by those who have discovered the wines and shared them amongst friends.

Now, drive along the scenic Highway 46 West, about three miles west of the 101 Fwy at Oakdale Road, you will find this dream has become reality for David Hunt, Winemaker and owner of Hunt Cellars, a winery committed to producing “Memorable Wines”. We believe that great wines leave indelible impressions when poured with wonderful meals and great friends and scintillating conversations. Hunt Cellars was founded on the philosophy of producing wines that you will look forward to simply sipping by a cozy fireplace or pairing with your favorite meals to enhance that special event or moment in time.

How It Began
When The Hunt Family decided to pursue their dream they were uncertain where they would choose to build their vineyard. The Hunts spent exhaustive days and weekends traveling to various premium wine regions from Oregon, Washington, and throughout the State of California. They finally narrowed their decision down to the Central coast to San Luis Obispo County. Paso Robles was selected because of its rich diversity in soils, superb growing climate and unique styles of wine making along with the spirit of graciousness and traditional American values.

Eventually after looking at numerous parcels of vineyard potential property, they settled on uniquely beautiful property containing over 550 acres on Highway 41 in Creston. This unique property met their criteria in topography, soil composition and unparralled beauty. Within the 550 acres there are four terrior’s with varying elevations containing soil composites that mirror the great wine regions of the world. They were convinced that they could grow wonderful exciting intense fruit here on this property.

Destiny Hunt
The Hunt Family decided to name their vineyard, “Destiny Vineyards,” in honor of their new baby girl they named Destiny who was born in 1996. Just ask Destiny who has the best wines today and she will certainly tell you.

Destiny Vineyard’s first planting consisted of: Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Syrah, Petite Syrah, Cab Franc, Viognier and Zinfandel. The Hunts decided to build a tasting room for their premium wines, which opened in October of 1999.

In 1997 they began producing their first releases of memorable wines… Experience has taught Hunts that in order to make great wines you must simply have the best fruit. At Hunt Cellars, we believe passion, hard work and never giving up until we have put together all the components and structure that will give our wine the varietal character, flavor and velvet finish that will become a trademark of our wines.

View of Destiny Vineyards
As you enter The Hunt Cellars Tasting room, the fun wine experience begins, as you are greeted with either live music or our white grand player piano, which can play any song. Stroll up to our Cabernet Bar, where our warm and friendly staff are eager to lead you through a light hearted and fun sampling of our wines. You may also choose to sip your wines on our spacious 1200 foot veranda, smoke your favorite cigar under our pavilion or simply stroll through our lush inviting landscaped lawns. We want you and your guest to simply have a wonderful time at Hunt Cellars and bring your friends and family back on your next visit to the Paso Robles Wine Country.

How Hunt Cellars Wines Differ from Others
There are many different wineries in the Paso Robles area; few compare to the quality of Hunt Cellars. Hunt uses only the best and rarest mountain grown fruit to produce the best harvest of grapes. Their vineyard’s location has been specifically chosen for its composition and diversity – every step of the production process is designed so Hunt Cellars produces the highest caliber of wine for you to enjoy.

HUNTCELLARS.COM


FR. BILL NICHOLAS - THE 2014 SIMI VALLEY DREAM CUISINE - OCTOBER 12, 5PM

Welcome to The 2014 Simi Valley Dream Cuisine. Sunday, Oct. 12, 2014 | 5 PM

Enjoy an exciting evening of delicious gourmet foods and beverages from many of the area’s finest restaurants, bakeries, wineries and breweries. Dine under the stars on a wide range of fine foods and beverages from the best restaurants in Simi Valley, Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, and the San Fernando Valley. And dance the night away to musical performances by wonderful live bands.

The Simi Valley Dream Cuisine gives you the opportunity to dine on gourmet foods from the finest restaurants in the Conejo and San Fernando Valleys—all in one place in one night! You can enjoy food from many different restaurants, sip on fine wines from some the most prestigious wineries, drink beer from well-known breweries and taste desserts, coffees and teas from outstanding bakeries, coffee houses and eateries.  The event offers just about any kind of food you can imagine.

“The Simi Valley Dream Cuisine is quickly becoming the premiere wine & food festival in Ventura County. Where else can you eat and drink to your heart’s content, plus enjoy entertainment, a silent auction and raffle drawing, all for one low price?” says Father Shea, pastor of St. Rose of Lima Church.

Guests enjoy the fact that they can sit and enjoy the food, drinks and entertainment while sampling food from the many vendors. Live music and entertainment is also provided throughout the evening, and a dance floor is available if the mood strikes you.

Contact St. Rose of Lima today to see how your restaurant, brewery, winery, coffee house, bakery or eatery can be featured at this year’s event.

This is a great way to attract new customers! Opportunities are also available for sponsorship and advertising in the full-color program, which is seen by the audience of almost 2,000+ people.
Amazing raffle prizes includes a large cash lump sum or a luxury automobile, a Hawaiian vacation and a flat-screen television.

A free shuttle service makes getting there a breeze. Special packages are also offered at local hotels. For more information, call (805) 526-1732.

Late Nite Catechism
Join us this year as we bring everyone's favorite nuns to the stage with the popular Late Nite Catechism show! This is part catechism class, part stand-up routine. It’s an interactive comedy, one of the longest running shows in Chicago and U.S. theater history. The New York Times calls it, "hilarious, well-written and inspired." Jeffrey Lyons from TV’s Sneak Previews calls Late Nite Catechism "something to savor and enjoy....one of the most intimate, rewarding shows in town." You, the audience member, are part of Sister’s class. She’ll take you back to the days of the Latin Mass, meatless Fridays, and remind you about that good old ruler across the knuckles!

Be True to Your School!
This year we're celebrating the 50th Anniversary of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School and are honoring all those who have joined in making it one of the finest educational institutions in the area. The school mission is to nurture students to discover their God-given gifts, to encourage them to use these gifts in the service of others, and to empower them to be models of integrity. With the help of gifted educators throughout the years, they continue to do just that!

WWW.SVDREAM.COM

9/29 BRIAN BRAKESMAN, SUMMIT LAKE VINEYARDS & WINERY, ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR

BRIAN BRAKESMAN – WINEMAKER, SUMMIT LAKE VINEYARDS & WINERY

Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery is a small, family owned and operated winery located high above the Napa Valley on Howell Mountain, established in 1971 by Bob and Sue Brakesman. The distinctive red soils and micro-climate produce distinctive and outstanding red varietals such as Zinfandel, Petite Sirah and of course Cabernet Sauvignon.

Brian was born and raised on Howell Mountain at Summit Lake Vineyards, a boutique family winery famous for its Zinfandel. Working alongside his parents and siblings, Brian developed an appreciation for the art and culture of winemaking, learning every step of the process from vine to bottle.

To formalize his education, Brian studied agricultural engineering at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Here, he learned of his exceptional aptitude for identifying the intricate details of wine composition and terrior, and further developed his intuitive grasp of the elements essential to winemaking.

After graduation, Brian spent a year traveling the world to broaden and develop his knowledge of wine, stopping for a season of wine and rugby in New Zealand. Wanderlust abated, and palate for worldly wines temporarily satiated, Brian returned home to Napa Valley. He immediately began working with acclaimed consulting winemaker John Gibson, formally of Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Vine Cliff Winery. Here, Brian helped John make wines for celebrated clients including Snowden Vineyards, Andrew Geoffrey, and Salexis.

After apprenticing with Gibson for 3 years, Brian became the Assistant Winemaker for Duckhorn Wine Company's Paraduxx Winery. Under famed winemaker Bill Nancarrow’s tutelage, Brian learned to balance the complexities of large-scale winemaking with the high standards and intricacies associated with top-notch, legacy brands.

4 years later, Brian was hungry to run the show and accepted the Winemaker position at Ledson Winery in Sonoma. Employing the skills and unique enological insights developed over his lifetime, Brian made over 82 wines per vintage from a catalog of diverse growing regions over his 4-year tenure at Ledson, and significantly elevated the quality of wines and brand. .

Today Brian is the Winemaker at Summit Lake Vineyards & Winery, Consulting Winemaker, Owner at burgeoning Red Thread Wine Company, and lives with his wife and children just around the corner from his family winery on Howell Mountain.

WWW.SUMMITLAKEVINEYARDS.COM


ROBIN KELLEY O'CONNOR - WINE EDUCATOR, INTERNATIONAL WINE JUDGE, WINE WRITER, AND SOMMELIER

A leading wine educator, international wine judge, wine writer, and sommelier, Robin Kelley O’Connor joined Italian Wine Merchants (IWM), and its dynamic team where he has been adding his thirty years of experience, authority and passion to seminars, dinner events, sales, offerings and wine education. IWM is the leading purveyor of fine Italian wines in the country, as well as a specialist in providing great, rare and collectable wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, California and Rioja In his role at IWM, he has the occasion to offer an unparalleled spectrum of wine and collector services such as cellar management, IWM’s proprietary online wine cellar tracking tool, wine appraisal and consignment assistance--and more.

He was Head of Wine & Lead Specialist, Americas, for Christie’s Auction House. In his role at Christie’s, Robin was responsible for wine auctions and private sales of fine and rare wines for the Americas, and had the role as the department's lead business-getter in securing consignments for sale.  Mr. O’Connor is a Christie’s trained charity auctioneer. Prior to Christie’s, he was Director of Sales and Education for Manhattan wine and spirits retailer Sherry-Lehmann, winner of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2010 Wine Retailer of the Year Award.  Preceding Sherry-Lehmann, he was Trade Liaison and director of trade and consumer education in the Americas for the Bordeaux Wine Bureau (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux) for 20 years. As a Bordeaux International Educator he remains very active in teaching Bordeaux.

A native of Maryland, Mr. O’Connor began studying wine while still a student at the University of Maryland. He started his wine career in London as sommelier at Le Chateaubriand Restaurant in the prestigious May Fair Hotel and went on to earn a diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (DWS). He holds Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier exam. As a popular wine educator and spokesperson, he has conducted over 2500 seminars around the world on a variety of topics within the world of wine. He has written for the Trenton Times, Santé Magazine, Wine & Spirit Magazine and was senior editor for Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Complete Wine Course 25th Anniversary Edition. For over a year during 2008-2009 he traveled around the world with Kevin visiting over 20 Countries, 80 wine regions, and 500 appellations and tasted more than 7,000 wines.

O'Connor served as president of the Society of Wine Educators from 2003-2007, is on the board of directors of the New York Chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food, and has been a regular panelist at the Food and Wine Magazine Classic in Aspen for 20 years. He has put his palate to test as an International Wine Judge in Australia, Chile, France, and Italy. For many years he judged at the prestigious Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition; San Francisco International Wine Competition and The Dallas Morning News Competition among countless others. For the past 16 years he has been a frequent lecturer on Crystal Cruises sharing his passion about wine and food. For the last four years he has been coaching DeVinimus-Columbia University Law School Wine Club competition team for international contests. In addition he is a regular lecturer at the International Culinary Center (formerly known as the French Culinary Institute). Among his many professional honors, Mr. O’Connor bears the distinction of having been inducted into the wine world’s most prestigious institutions, including the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc- des Graves et de Sauternes-Barsac, the Jurade de Saint-Emilion and Les Hospitaliers de Pomerol.

WWW.RKOVINE.COM   
WWW.ITALIANWINEMERCHANTS.COM