Claudia Callegari   Italy Celebrating the Journey of Claudia Callegari: A Connoisseur in the World of WineClaudia Callegari’s foray into the enchanting world of wines began with an academic foundation. Holding a master’s degree in Gastronomical Sciences from the prestigious Slow Food University, she seamlessly merged her passion for food and wine. This…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Christine Marsiglio Christine Marsiglio Masters of Wine Christine is a Canadian residing in London, and became a Master of Wine in 2019. She was awarded the Bollinger Medal for excellence in tasting and outstanding achievement in the Institute of Masters of Wine practical examinations.…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Sophie Parker Thomson Sophie Parker Thomson Masters of Wine Sophie is a wine producer and wine industry consultant based in Marlborough. Raised in the New Zealand wine regions of Gisborne and Central Otago, winemaking and hospitality were endemic to Sophie’s upbringing. She grew up…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Almudena Alberca Almudena Alberca Masters of Wine Almudena Alberca is the first woman in Spain to achieve the title of Master of Wine. After graduating in agriculture engineering, she continued her studies gaining a degree in oenology and a master in viticulture. Her first…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Sarah Jane Evans Sarah Jane Evans Masters of Wine Sarah Jane Evans is a Master of Wine based in the United Kingdom, although is more often travelling the world on epicurean adventures. She obtained the Masters of Wine Diploma in 2006. She is a…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Elizabeth Gabay Elizabeth Gabay Masters of Wine Elizabeth Gabay has been in the wine trade since 1986, promoting the wines of Provence in the UK. In 1998, she passed the rigorous Master of Wine exams and became a specialist in the South of France,…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Robin Kick Robin Kick Masters of Wine Originally from the Chicago area, she has spent most of her adult life living in France, the UK and now Lugano, Switzerland. For over 20 years, she has been fortunate to call the wine world her work…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS MW & DIPWSET Sarah Heller Sarah Heller DipWSET & Masters of Wine Sarah Heller is a wine expert, visual artist and content creator based in Hong Kong. She is a partner and buyer for the Almásy Collection, a Central European wine brand, and a brand ambassador and…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Sarah Knowles Sarah Knowles Masters of Wine Sarah really got into wine when she joined a blind-tasting club at Oxford University. There she made some great friends, who taught her how to identify key characteristics in wines blind. Once she started getting the classics…

< WOMEN WINE LEADERS < WOMEN MW Masters of Wine Anne Krebiehl Anne Krebiehl Masters of Wine Anne Krebiehl is a highly accomplished wine writer and Master of Wine based in London. Originally from Germany, Anne is a sought-after lecturer, judge, and consultant in the wine industry. She is known…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Heidi Mäkinen Heidi Mäkinen Masters of Wine Heidi is Portfolio Manager and Partner of a Finnish wine importing company Viinitie. After gaining her Bachelor of Arts with theatre and drama research as her major, she followed her bigger passion to work in hospitality and…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Madeleine Stenwreth Madeleine Stenwreth Masters of Wine Madeleine is an international wine consultant based in Sweden. She consults globally to high profile wine producers on product development, blending, quality and style strategy, also in relation to the requirements of specific target markets. Madeleine is…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee Jeannie Cho Lee Masters of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee is an award-winning author, television host, editor, wine critic, judge and educator. She became the first Asian Master of Wine in 2008. She is a professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS Masters of Wine Christy Canterbury Christy Canterbury Masters of Wine Christy is a Master of Wine who lives between Brooklyn and the vineyards of the world. She was the 7th woman in the US to earn the MW title and there are just over 50 Masters of…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS MW & DIPWSET Agnese Gintere Agnese Gintere DipWSET & Masters of Wine Agnese graduated from the world’s leading wine education organisation Wine & Spirit Education Trust in Austria with a Wine & Spirit Diploma Level 4, and graduated as well from the Masters of Wine institution. In…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Xingyu Xingyu DipWSET Xingyu hass always loved wine but seriously got into it in 2015, when she decided to pursue WSET to get better educated. As she started to taste more, it became difficult to remember what they each tasted like, so she started to write…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Julie Albin Julie Albin DipWSET Julie is a California native with 15 years of international experience in wine and spirits. She’s worked in retail, distribution, and education, and is a WSET Certified Educator. Julie designs education courses to educate consumers on how to love what they…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Alyssa Taylor Alyssa Taylor DipWSET Alyssa the Director of Wine Education and Customer Experience at Argaux, a wine company. Her mission is to ensure her customers have an outstanding overall experience & impression, stripping away the curtain behind wine in a fun, educational & approachable style.…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Chiara Mattiello Chiara Matterello DipWSET Born above a vat, she spent the first years of her life breathing the vineyard and, above all, the winemaking, with the room above the fermenting vat. Graduated in International Economics and Commerce in 2007, in 2008 she decided to embark…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Amaia Soto Ortega Amaia Soto Ortega DipWSET Amaia has more than 11 years of experience working internationally in wine marketing, sales, and business management, spanning across Colombia, China, and Spain. Her work was linked to creative strategy, and in 2014 her desire to continue learning took…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Cristina Mercuri Cristina Mercuri DipWSET Cristina Mercuri is a wine educator with over 10 years of experience in the wine sector. Her very first experience with wine dates back to when she was relatively small because her mother made her play with a drop of Moscato…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Jana Kreilein Jana Kreilein DipWSET Jana Kreilein, also known as @the.wine.girl, is recognized by collectors and wine enthusiasts worldwide for her exceptional social media presence and wine communication skills. After quitting her job as a waitress in downtown Toronto in 2015, she moved to Europe and…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Valeria Tenison Valeria Tenison DipWSET Valeria Tenison began her professional career as a bartender, working with drinks in general. However, wine always interested her as it allowed her to travel and discover new places without leaving her working place. She was awarded Best Russia’s Female Sommelier…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Michelle Bouffard Michelle Bouffard DipWSET Michelle is a highly accomplished sommelier and wine educator. She graduated with honors from the International Sommelier Guild in 2003 and completed the WSET Diploma in 2005.  She co-owned House Wine and was president of the British Columbia chapter of the…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS DIPWSET Kathleen Smith Kathleen Smith DipWSET Kathleen has always had a passion for food and wine. After spending ten years in the NYC financial industry, she was looking for a new adventure and signed up for a WSET class at International Wine Center in 2006. It was…

WOMEN WINE LEADERS MW & DIPWSET Melissa Worrall Melissa Worrall DipWSET & Masters of Wine Beginning her career in her native Barossa Valley, Melissa experienced all facets of winery life from Cellar Door to pruning to pump overs. Now based in London with a Diploma of Wine & Spirits and…

Michelle Carlín WIA Ambassador Mexico Wine Educator Michelle Carlín is a Wine Writer and Wine Content Creator for Social Media. She is an IWC Mexico Ambassador, Judge at Global Wine El Conocedor Magazine, Board Member and Member of the Mexican Sommelier Association, Sommelier at DO Ribera del Duero and Wine…

Francisca Marzá WIA Ambassador Chile Francisca Marzá discovered her vocation for wine in 2014. Graduated in Business Administration of the Wine Industry and a post degree in Chilean Wine at the Catholic University of Chile and additional studies as a sommelier at the Wine Institute. Content creator, communicator, and…

Mary John WIA Ambassador Australia Mary John, the face behind @perthwinegirl, is a wine enthusiast from Perth, Australia, who loves sharing simple, fun and inclusive forms of wine communication outside the box. She is a Latin American Aussie with local and international experience traveling to many wine regions and writing…

Lucia Palm WIA Ambassador USA Lucia Palm is a certified sommelier and wine educator who runs her successful social media brand Lucialoveswine on both Instagram and TikTok, where she recommends quality wines on a budget in tandem with providing wine education to her over 170,000 followers. . Lucia first fell…

Christina Nikiticheva WIA Ambassador Russia Christina Nikiticheva is a certified wine specialist. Wine has been her passion for a long time, and in 2017 she decided to make it a profession. She is a WSET level 3 advanced sommelier with merit. She attended the WineQ school and the Moscow Academy…

 Laura Donadoni   WIA Ambassador    Italy & USA  Hailing from Bergamo, Italy, Laura was born and bred on classic Italian wine and creative cuisine. She 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…

Laury Rzepka WIA Ambassador France Laury is from Corsica and had a brilliant career in physiotherapy, then she decided to change her life and join the wine sector. Now she is a sommelière now and it is so much more fun. She started at N5 Wine Bar in Toulouse. After…

Francesca Piemontese WIA Ambassador Italy Francesca Piemontese is an Italian living in France (Cannes) since 2015. She is a sommelier with the diploma Sommelier Caviste Ambassador in Gastronomie and diploma Sommelier Coach one. She is also a top wine-influencer on Instagram and TikTok. . Francesca’s life is divided between the…

Claudia Maremonti WIA Ambassador Italy Claudia Maremonti, born and raised in Cosenza, has a great passion for wine that over time led her to accumulate experiences, complete a sommelier course, and open her Instagram page by collaborating with some blogs. In 2020, after a series of introduction courses…

Susan R Lin WIA Ambassador USA Susan is a Master of Wine, her joy is to create memorable experiences through wine and the performing arts. Susan is the Head of Wine Expertise for online fine wine retailer Belmont Wine Exchange in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she collaborates with…

Judith Ramírez WIA Ambassador Chile Judith is a sommelier expert in Wine Tourism. She is a communicator and professor of Chilean wine giving classes to Chilean and foreign students with her own teaching methodology called: “̈Sensorial Wine Workshop ̈ with the goal to show the art of pairing wine in…

Teri Wheeler van Aalst WIA Ambassador Australia Teri Wheeler is a seasoned storyteller with a profound connection to the world of wine, embarking on remarkable journeys through her narratives. Hailing from Adelaide, the heart of Australia’s wine culture, Teri blends her deep passion for wines with her accomplished background in…

Daniella Romano WIA Ambassador Brazil Daniella Romano is a sommelier, wine-hunter, wine journalist, and wine educator. She has been evaluating and teaching about wines for almost twenty years! Journalist and wine educator, member of FIJEV-Fr,(International Federation of Wine and Spirit Journalist and Writers). . A Wset level 3 advanced wine…

Simona Geri WIA Ambassador Italy Simona Geri lives in Tuscany, near Bolgheri. She is a Sommelier and founder of “The Winesetter.” She is a judge for wine competitions and also a content creator, wine communicator and wine taster. Simona collaborates with wineries, press offices, wine events as a media partner.…

Isis Daniel  WIA Ambassador USA  Isis Daniel, known as The Millennial Somm (TMS), is a certified Level 3, with Merit, Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) sommelier from Washington, DC. While dedicating 5 years to the Hospitality Industry, she fell in love with wine and decided to refocus her career.. During her vino journey,…

Elisa Fiore Gubellini WIA Ambassador Italy Elisa was born in Turin (Piedmont), vintage 1985, Sommelier and, first of all, passionate wine lover. She started her career in the wine business in 2015 working as a fine wine merchant in a very famous Italian Company. . From 2018 Elisa runs Wine…

Fabiana Aguinsky WIA Ambassador Brazil Fabiana Aguinsky is a wife and mother of two daughters, born in Uruguay, but residing in Brazil since 2002. She currently lives in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul and is one of the most experienced wine professionals in the country. In addition…

Olga Sofia Schiaffino WIA Ambassador Italy Olga was elected the Best Sommelier of Liguria and received the WSET level 3. Her story with wine started in 2011 when she enrolled in a course to become a sommelier, because she wanted to understand what was in her glass: she is curious…

Mariana Gil Juncal WIA Ambassador Argentina Mariana Gil Juncal is a Spaniard born in Argentina who lives in Buenos Aires, the daughter of a Galician father and a Buenos Aires mother. She is a specialist in social communication, journalist, and Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.…

Karen Kraakevik WIA Ambassador   USA Karen, AKA The Napa Cowgirl, is a 5th generation rancher from Oklahoma bringing a mix of wine and country together that offers a relaxed western vibe into wine. She truly believes wine should be enjoyable for any lifestyle.. Karen is a wine representative helping wineries in the United…

Lea Gatinois WIA Ambassador France Lea Gatinois is a 28 years old wine entrepreneur. She grew up in Bordeaux and moved to Switzerland at 18 to complete a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management from the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. After working for two years in marketing for a retailer company…

Etiene Carvalho WIA Ambassador Brazil Etiene holds several sommelier certifications like the WSET Level 3, Sommelier Fisar, French Wine Specialist and others. She is an International Wine Judge, Wine Blogger and Wine Influencer. She is also a Cigar Sommelier. Etiene has always liked wine naturally. She found it tasty,…

Zelda Molenaar WIA Ambassador Netherlands Zelda’s goal is to share the knowledge and joy of wine. Connect beautiful stories to beautiful wines. After working in the restaurant business for 10 years, she wanted to share her passion and knowledge with the world. In this day and age, we can…

Kristy Wenz WIA Ambassador USA Kristy Wenz is a wine and travel writer, educator, and communicator currently based in Chicago. She holds a Level 3 certification from the Wines & Spirits Education Trust. Kristy combines her communications skills with her passion and expertise for wine, travel and culture. She focuses…

Martha Cisneros WIA Ambassador USA Martha Cisneros is the Wine Blogger, Content Creator, and Sommelier in the works behind WineDivaa.com. She earned her nickname ‘WineDivaa’ in College, where her friends used to ask for wine recommendations. She graduated from Tec de Monterrey, one of only 45 universities in the World…

Elisa Nardi WIA Ambassador Italy Elisa Nardi is a sommelier and daughter of the wine producer Tenute Silvio Nardi Montalcino. She is an expert in wine marketing and a brand ambassador. Her passion for wine began a few years ago when she visited il Carapace in Montefalco (Umbria). . Elisa…

Kirsty Woodgate WIA Ambassador UK Kirsty Woodgate DipWSET is a wine expert and communications professional from England, UK. She works as a Wine Writer, Wine Judge and Content Creator, and regularly hosts interactive wine tastings in her home county. . Wine ties together her passions, skills, qualifications and abilities. Her…

Paige Comrie WIA Ambassador USA Paige Comrie is a wine photographer & writer based in the heart of American wine country… Napa. Her mission is to connect wine lovers with great wines from across the world through her blog & Instagram @winewithpaige. As a believer in everyday magic, her selections…

Mariella Sánchez WIA Ambassador Peru Mariella is a wine enthusiast. Her love for wine (possibly) began with small wine tastings that she did at College while she was studying to become a Food and Beverage specialist, where every aroma and flavor of red fruits and cherries on Cabernet passed unnoticed…

 Marisol de la Fuente    WIA Ambassador    Argentina Marisol de la Fuente is an International Sommelier of the EAS graduated from the Argentine School of Sommeliers and Bartender at the International Center for Cocktail bar. She communicates about the world of wine and drinks with the aim of bringing it closer to…

Natalie Hazel WIA Ambassador   Australia Natalie is a wine enthusiast and Champagne content creator living on the shores of sparkling Sydney Harbour – her goal is to discover and share special Champagnes and wines, presenting them in a beautiful and inspiring way, with her audience.. Natalie’s first foray into the world of wine…

Vanessa Fabiani WIA Ambassador Italy Vanessa Fabiani is a wine content creator for social media. She is a certified international sommelier, member of the Italian Sommelier Association and official certified technical wine taster. She lives in Rome and she loves Italian wine such as Barolo and Barbera and especially Sicilian…

Renée Sferrazza   WIA Ambassador Canada   Renée Sferrazza has dedicated her life to grapes. As a Court of the Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier, she has made wine her life’s work, and her entrepreneurial spirit has driven her to be a curator of wine experiences. In her work as a Wine Communicator,…

Veronica Accossato WIA Ambassador France & Italy Veronica Accossato is a 26 years-old sommelier and wine enthusiast from Piedmont, Italy. She graduated in linguistic mediation before starting the AIS (Italian Sommeliers Association), where she obtained the 2nd level. At that time Veronica was working at the Michelin starred restaurant Combal.Zero…

Emma Brajkovic WIA Ambassador Spain Emma Brajkovic’s first introduction to the world of wine, was when she was a child, through the eyes of her parents, who owned and managed a restaurant in Paris specialized in Wines and Champagnes. She was regularly attending wine auctions at l’Hôtel Drouot while her…

Joanna Vallejo WIA Ambassador Mexico Joanna Vallejo is 36 year old sommelier from Mexico who describes herself as a Non Uniform Sommelier. Proud Mexican from a Small town called Uruapan Michoacán, where the food culture is really deep and old. With family inheritance of four generations in the avocado business,…

Han Lian WIA Ambassador UK Han Lian is a wine enthusiast from the UK. Going back in history for a moment, Han once didn’t mind drinking low quality wine when she was a student. However, after her first trip to France with her now partner from Burgundy, she felt the…

Bubbles Hyland WIA Ambassador South Africa Bubbles Hyland was destined for the wine industry with the nickname she was given from birth! British born but now living in Cape Town for the past 17 years she has become an avid ambassador of South African wine. She formed Well Red Wine…

Alexia Hupin WIA Ambassador France Alexia Hupin DipWSET is a French wine educator, blogger, community manager and copywriter living in Provence, the land of rosé. She has always been passionate about wine, memorizing regions and appellations during family gatherings. She worked in hospitality events for 5 years but she decided…

Carla Urrunaga WIA Ambassador Chile Carla Urrunaga, although mostly known as @chezcarlita, is a food engineer, wine taster, communicator, educator and simply a great wine lover. She was born in Lima, Peru but fourteen years ago she came to Chile out of love and that love extended to one of…

Claudia Riva di Sanseverino WIA Ambassador Italy Claudia Riva di Sanseverino is originally from Bologna, raised in the old town part near the Due Torri, symbol of this city. Growing up in an important family she developed an innate talent for good food, taste and wine. She’s an AIS (Italian…

Madalena Vidigal WIA Ambassador  Portugal   Madalena Vidigal has a degree in Hotel Management and a postgraduate degree in Wine Tourism, Digital Marketing and Viticulture. She is a wine producer in Alentejo, the south of Portugal. She has two great passions that are present in everything she does: wine and travel!. For 10…

Kathleen Willcox WIA Ambassador USA Kathleen Willcox is an award-winning food and drinks journalist, features writer and co-founder of Thinking Outside the Bottle. After graduating with a degree in English literature from Providence College, she took a job as a general beat reporter at the Lewisboro Ledger. From there, she…

Daria Kholodilina WIA Ambassador Georgia Daria Kholodilina is a Georgia-based wine tourism specialist, and a big friend and promoter of Georgian wine – with a WSET 2 certificate. Being born in Ukraine, Daria moved to Georgia in 2013 because she fell in love with the country. She participated in developing…