2025 Program & Schedule

An expert in the wine industry with more than 15 years experience in software-as-a-service (SaaS) and logistics, Jim is WineDirect Fulfillment’s CRO.

Since joining WineDirect Fulfillment, Jim has been instrumental in growing their fulfillment business as well as leading the sales and marketing teams.

Previously, Jim held positions with ShipCompliant and FedEx Services. At FedEx, he was Subject Matter Expert in field sales and earned recognition as a top performer and leader (President’s Club and Five Star). He also created the landmark affinity relationship between the Wine Institute and FedEx. Jim was responsible for sales at ShipCompliant, a leading regulatory compliance SaaS provider. He played an integral part during the early years of their explosive growth.

Jim and his family live in Napa. He loves being a dad and all things outdoors.

Kim Badenfort is the Director of Business Development for Wine Industry Network (WIN) and is dedicated to continually improving the services WIN offers the wine industry, as the business resource, making valuable information, news and educational content more accessible to wine industry professionals as well as helping suppliers communicate their expertise, innovations and practical solutions for the industry.

Kim was the founding editor for the Wine Industry Advisor and Afternoon Brief newsletter, setting the editorial direction for what is now the wine industry’s most popular daily newsletter, and developing wine business focused content. He remains passionate about communicating insights from industry experts and data analysis, and continues to be deeply involved in WIN’s educational programming for both in-person and virtual conferences.

Adam Bird is a marketing strategist dedicated to helping wineries build stronger brands and drive direct-to-consumer sales. As a partner and Director of Strategy at Highway 29 Creative—a Deksia company—he leads branding, messaging, and campaign development, ensuring wineries connect with their ideal customers while standing out in a competitive market.

Adam works closely with clients nationwide on marketing programs that deliver measurable results. His expertise, combined with the full-service capabilities of Highway 29 Creative and the resources of Deksia, helps wineries refine their brands and connect with customers.

Based in Michigan and working with clients across the country, Adam applies a hands-on, results-driven approach to marketing. When he’s not helping brands grow, he’s likely in his garden or workshop—always building something, whether it’s a brand strategy or a weekend project.

Chris Bitter, Ph.D., is Terrain’s senior wine and grape analyst. As a part of the Terrain team of economists, he delivers expert analysis to the customers of American AgCredit, Farm Credit Services of America and Frontier Farm Credit. Chris is responsible for the Winescape™ report series, which shares research and insights for the business of vineyards and wineries.

With more than 20 years of experience as an economist and market analyst, Chris is a former faculty member of the University of Washington’s Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies. In 2016, he left his academic position to launch Vintage Economics, a market research and consulting firm focused on the wine industry. Chris earned his Ph.D. in economic geography with a minor in agricultural and resource economics from the University of Arizona. His research has been published in a variety of national and international publications, including the Journal of Wine Economics, and he has delivered presentations at wine industry conferences around the globe.

Learn more about Chris Bitter, watch Bold Predictions: What to Expect in 2025.

Warner is the Certified Sommelier, wine educator, and content creator behind @ConfidenceUncorked. Based out of Sonoma County, CA, she’s dedicated to making wine education fun, accessible, and approachable. Through creative content, reports on the state of the wine industry, travel resources, and more, she’s on a mission to help everyone enjoy wine without judgement, regardless of your knowledge or bank account. 

Stacy Briscoe is an award winning journalist with 10 years experience writing for and about the wine industry. She’s held multiple roles throughout her career, including managing editor of Wine Enthusiast magazine, managing editor for Wine Industry Network, assistant editor of Wine Business Monthly and staff writer of Wines & Vines magazine. Flying her freelance flag, you can find her byline in notable publications such as Somm Journal, SevenFifty Daily, Sonoma Magazine, Full Pour, GuildSomm and the SF Chronicle, among many others. Briscoe regularly speaks at wine industry events, has completed her WSET Diploma and teaches WSET wine education courses at the Napa Valley Wine Academy. She holds her Bachelor of Arts in English-Language Literature from the University of California Santa Cruz and is often found with a book in hand (and a glass of wine in the other).

Learn more about Stacy Briscoe, read their interview.

George Christie, a New Jersey native, settled in Sonoma County after college in 1991 where he quickly realized that the wine industry was where he wanted to concentrate his efforts. Since that time, he has been involved in nearly every aspect of the wine industry, from vineyard operations and grower relations to distributor realignments and national marketing campaigns. Always an active member in the wine community, Christie has also held board positions with the Russian River Wine Road, Winegrowers of Dry Creek Valley and the Sonoma County Vintners. In 2008, George and his wife Tami, along with the Saini Family, partnered to create Saini Vineyards, a winery specializing on Old Vine Zinfandel from Dry Creek Valley.

In 2009, with Elizabeth ‘E’ Slater, George launched the Wine Industry Network (WIN). What began as an online directory has evolved over the years into one of the leading B2B marketing and media companies serving the wine industry. WIN works with over 600 industry product and service providers and produces the Wine Industry Expo (WIN Expo), the 2nd largest trade show for the wine industry, along with the Wine & Weed Symposium, the Wine Industry Advisor news site and the Afternoon Brief daily news email with over 35,000 industry subscribers.

Brianne Cohen, certified sommelier, is the principal in a lifestyle brand and business based out of Los Angeles, offering her services as a wine educator, wine writer, and event producer. Since COVID hit, Brianne has educated and entertained over 6,000 people through her “Virtual Vino” online wine classes, both public and private. Brianne regularly judges at international wine competitions and holds the WSET Diploma certificate, which is one of the most coveted and difficult wine certifications. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University.

Learn more about Brianne Cohen, read their interview.

As Vice President of International Marketing for California Wines, Honore draws on her more than 20+ years of experience in international wine marketing, brand strategy, and association management to build the global brand for California wines and promote export sales. Prior to joining Wine Institute, Honore held several senior leadership positions in the wine sector including Executive Director of the Sonoma County Vintners, President of Brack Mountain Wine Company, and North American Brand Director for Penfolds and Rosemount Estate with Foster’s Wine Estates (now Treasury Wine Estates). Before joining the wine industry, Ms. Comfort worked in marketing and advertising in both public and private sector roles and holds post-graduate degrees in both Business and Arts administration. She lives in Healdsburg, California with her husband, where they grow and make their own wines in the heart of Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley.

In her 8 years in DTC wine sales, Megan Currie has overseen every stage of the sales funnel, from email marketing to tasting room to inventory and sales operations. In her current role as Executive Director of Membership and Fulfillment for Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Ink Grade, Burgess, Haynes, and Trailside, she oversees wine club sales and guest service, devising new benefits and initiatives to drive engagement through a strong sense of community, belonging, and brand purpose. Through a combination of feedback surveys, targeted pilot programs, and obsessive data gathering and analysis, she has refined the benefits and offerings of the wine club programs she oversees to focus on the initiatives that make the biggest impact.

Megan’s mission is to help wineries reform their systems to run more smoothly, from overcoming complex inventory challenges to optimizing internal processes like setting up products and promotions so that everyone on the team can spend less time on fire drills and more time on revenue generation. She can be reached for advice and support at info@thewinelass.com.

With nearly two decades in the international wine industry, Barbara is a dynamic and results-driven marketing and business development expert. Her career has spanned roles from entry-level to senior executive, consistently driving revenue growth and elevating brand recognition for the wineries she serves. Known for her keen analytical skills, creative storytelling, and strategic approach, she develops impactful marketing campaigns that resonate with both trade and consumers.

Barbara holds a BS from Syracuse University and is an MBA candidate at SDA Bocconi, one of the world’s leading business schools. Her expertise spans marketing, distribution, and hospitality, allowing her to craft comprehensive, omnichannel strategies that build brand awareness, foster growth, and strengthen team synergies.

As the founder of Apri La Creative Consulting, Barbara specializes in DTC strategy and international brand development, guiding wineries through the complexities of expanding into new markets. She also serves as the project manager for Come Over October and Share & Pair Sundays, global campaigns founded by Karen MacNeil, Kimberly Charles, and Gino Colangelo, aimed at reshaping the conversation around wine and fostering meaningful connections through shared experiences.

Beyond her consultancy work, Barbara is the co-host of Masterclass US Wine Market, a series on the Italian Wine Podcast that unpacks essential insights for wine producers, exporters, and industry professionals looking to navigate the complexities of the U.S. market. Her passion for education, strategic vision, and deep industry knowledge make her a trusted voice in the global wine business.

Carl Giavanti is a winery publicist in his 16th year of consulting. Carl has been in business marketing and public relations for over 30 years; his background in tech, marketing and project management informs his role as a publicist and wine writer. Clients are or have been in Willamette Valley, Napa Valley, and Columbia Valley https://carlgiavanticonsulting.com/. 

He is the author of “Turning The Tables”, a wine writer interview column on Wine Industry Advisor, and recently launched Wine Characters, a winemaker interview series. He also writes for several wine and travel publications https://linktr.ee/carlgiavanti.

Learn more about Carl Giavanti, read their interview.

As a Founder of RedChirp, Jennie is obsessed with helping businesses meet consumers’ newly expanded expectations for virtual interactions. Calling and emailing may have been enough before, but now 89% of consumers want to text with businesses. RedChirp makes business texting easy: compliance, web chat, payments, marketing campaigns, club communications, automation, and wine industry-specific integrations to tie it all together.

A true nerd at heart, Jennie loves spreadsheets and a good data set to dig into, is a frequent speaker at business conferences, and the co-author of two books. When not in the office, Jennie spends time cooking with her husband and chasing her preschool-aged son. Her most prized possession is their well-worn – and heavily stained – wine-tasting notebook.

Learn more about Jennie Gilbert, watch their interview.

Adam is a seasoned e-commerce and digital marketing professional with a strong background in the wine industry. With expertise in DTC sales and digital strategy, he has successfully driven revenue growth and enhanced customer engagement for top wine brands by optimizing e-commerce platforms, developing targeted email and text marketing campaigns, and leveraging data-driven insights.

Passionate about innovation, Adam stays at the forefront of emerging technologies and digital trends to elevate online sales and brand engagement. His expertise in website management, CRM automation, A/B testing, and SEO ensures seamless shopping experiences that drive conversions and customer retention, helping wineries maximize their digital potential.

Cyrus Hazzard joined Crocker & Starr Winery in April 2021 as Executive Vice President.  Originally from the Bay Area, Cyrus grew up in Humboldt County and started his career with Safeway.  He later moved on to Dean & Deluca in Napa Valley, where his deep love with the valley and wine took root. As the General Manager of Dean & Deluca, he had the good fortune of being mentored by a great team in the wine hall there, tasting wine several days per week.  Prior to that, he was focused primarily on learning how to run a successful business: driving sales, managing costs, and cultivating a successful tight knit team.  Wine became a passion and hobby, along with being the focus for his career.  Cyrus moved around pursuing wine in various states and has always come back to Napa annually to visit friends.

In 2006, Cyrus met his wife and moved to the DC metro area, where he joined Total Wine & More as a Wine Manager in Northern Virginia. Rising through the ranks, he ultimately founded the Concierge Sales division, surpassing expectations and redefining success for the company. However, the dream of living and working in Napa Valley remained strong. After 12 years of building lasting relationships and driving business growth at Total Wine & More, Cyrus accepted a newly created role as Executive Vice President at Crocker & Starr Winery, dedicated to promoting, preserving, and strengthening loyalty for its wines. His leadership and contributions have been instrumental to the winery’s success, and in January 2025, Cyrus joined Pam & Charlie as a Partner and President of Crocker & Starr, shaping the future of the estate.

Cyrus has many past times, but his friends sing his praises for his culinary skills. He and his wife Andrea and happily settled into Napa and are enjoying the beauty of the valley and their friends who live nearby

Andrew Kamphuis is the Founder and President of Commerce7, the leading direct-to-consumer commerce platform built for the wine industry. With over a decade of experience in the DTC wine space, Andrew has been instrumental in modernizing how wineries use data and digital tools, building a platform that enables them to better connect with today’s consumer. His vision and expertise have helped Commerce7 power over 3,000 wineries globally, empowering them to create exceptional shopping experiences across all direct-to-consumer sales channels.

As the President and CEO of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Steve Lohr combines a big picture view of the wine industry with a hands-on work ethic. Steve is responsible for the overall management and strategic planning of J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, with a particular focus on sales and finance.

In 1972, at the age of 10, Steve helped his father Jerry plant the family’s first vineyards in Greenfield, in what was to become the Arroyo Seco appellation of Monterey County. From that point through high school, he often spent weekends working with his father in the vineyards and learning about winegrowing, which fostered his lifelong passion for the industry.

After graduating from Stanford University with degrees in civil engineering and economics, Steve split his time between winegrowing, and designing and building high-end custom homes on the San Francisco Peninsula. During his two decades in the home building business, Steve refined a detail-oriented, relationship-driven style of management, while also honing his approach to finance, sales, and marketing. During this period, he developed an expertise working with all levels of local and state government—a skill set that has proven invaluable to his work with J. Lohr. At the same time, Steve emphasized a personal approach to home building. “For me, building custom homes was about establishing authentic relationships with clients, understanding their tastes and dreams, and finding realistic ways to achieve what were often lofty aspirations. That mix of hard work, creativity, and artisan values is also at the core of great winegrowing and winemaking.”

In 2003, Steve wrapped up his flourishing custom home building career at the height of the building boom to devote his full energy to J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines as the company’s VP of planning & development. During six years in this key position, Steve expanded his already intimate understanding of operations, delving deeply into the management of J. Lohr’s 4,000-acre estate vineyard program, and working alongside J. Lohr’s veteran team to support and enhance all areas of the business.

In 2009, Steve was named EVP/COO for J. Lohr Vineyards, and for the next four years oversaw the management and development of J. Lohr’s vineyards in Paso Robles, Monterey County, and St. Helena. In 2013, he was promoted to CEO of J. Lohr Winery and added the title of company President in 2021. Steve continues to champion J. Lohr’s position as an industry leader. From the winery’s pioneering work in the area of viticultural research to its unveiling of the largest photovoltaic solar tracking array in the wine industry and its many industry and appellation-based policy initiatives, Steve works locally, nationally, and internationally on behalf of his family’s winery and the broader wine industry.

Steve completed a three-term chairmanship of the Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance in 2009 and continues to advocate on behalf of the appellation and its 200+ wineries; in 2018, the Alliance named him its Wine Industry Person of the Year. Recognizing the importance of sustainability to a multigenerational family business, Steve chairs J. Lohr’s internal Sustainability Committee, and sits on the Board (and was the Chairman from 2016-18) of the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance, which promotes the adoption of sustainable practices throughout California’s vineyards and wineries. A longtime Board member of Wine Institute, he served as an officer of the organization for five years, and was its Chairman in 2017-18, bringing together the resources of 1,000 wineries and affiliated businesses to support legislative and regulatory advocacy, international market development, media relations, scientific research, and education programs that benefit the entire California wine industry.

Dave Moore is the General Manager and Partner at Schug Winery in Sonoma, California. With over two decades of wine industry expertise spanning all three tiers of the distribution system, Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his leadership role at the winery.

Throughout his career, Dave has held strategic positions at major distributors including Southern Glazers and Republic National Distributing Company. These roles, combined with his current position at Schug Winery, have given him a unique perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing wineries in today’s market.

A Certified Specialist of Wine with WSET Level 2 certification, Dave is passionate about building strong relationships across the industry and empowering brands to thrive in a competitive landscape. He recently authored a book sharing his insights and expertise from his years in the business.

Andrea Myers is a graduate of Syracuse University and has spent over 15 years in the Napa wine industry, exclusively focused on luxury winery DTC sales and marketing. Currently she oversees all aspects of Marketing and DTC sales and operations at Round Pond Estate. She’s previously held roles at Boisset Collection, overseeing DTC sales for five luxury wine brands – Raymond Vineyards, JCB by Jean-Charles Boisset, Buena Vista Winery, DeLoach Vineyards and Wattle Creek — and Chatterbox Wine Marketing, overseeing a sales team of eight. Andrea is a senior leader with demonstrated success in driving profitability and producing high-level results across multiple business channels through omni-channel sales initiatives, process refinement and elevated team performance.

Susan J Owen fell in love with wine 15 years ago while living in Valparaiso, Chile near Casablanca Valley. It was there that her passion for combining travel and all things wine began. Today, Susan is the Sr. Director of Sales at G3 Enterprises leading a team of wine & spirits packaging experts across North America as well as serving as the 2025 & 2026 Unified Wine and Grape Symposium Program Development Co-Chair. Prior to joining G3 she was the General Manager of Juclas USA, the California based subsidiary of the Vason Group headquartered in Italy, specializing in enological ingredients and membrane technology equipment. She has her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in International Business from Fresno State. When not out exploring new wine brands and regions Susan can be found either reading a good book or spending time with her horses, dogs, chickens, and cats. Apart from being an avid lover of animals she is also an active long-time member of Rotary International attempting to embody their slogan of “Service Above Self”.

Deborah Parker Wong, DipWSET is an opinion-leading journalist, educator and author who has been writing about the beverage alcohol industry since 2004. As Global Wine Editor for SOMM Journal and contributor to The Tasting Panel magazines, she writes monthly industry columns and reports on the global wine and spirits industries with an emphasis on sensory science, producers and trends.

In 2020 Deborah was appointed National Editor for the Slow Wine Guide USA, the nation’s only annual guide to eco-friendly wineries in California, Oregon, Washington and New York states.

Deborah teaches wine studies as an associate instructor at San Jose State University, Santa Rosa Junior College and Cabrillo College and owns a Wine & Spirit Education Trust school offering Level 2 and Level 3 certifications.

In addition to writing and speaking about wine, she is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Viticulture and Enology at California State University, Fresno.  Her motto is: To learn, read. To know, write. To master, teach.

Learn more about Deborah Parker Wong, read their interview.

Jordan Rudy has spent over 20 years in the wine industry, focusing on sales, marketing, and direct-to-consumer (DTC) growth. He began his career working at wineries, where he developed a strong foundation in consumer engagement and personalized sales. Seeking a broader perspective, he spent several years managing wholesale accounts in Sonoma County before shifting his focus to DTC sales. As Vice President of Business Strategy at VinoPRO, he refined sales strategies, implemented data-driven marketing, and helped wineries increase customer engagement and profitability.

Now the Founder and Lead Consultant of Peak Wine Solutions, Jordan partners with wineries to develop and expand their DTC programs, specializing in marketing, customer acquisition, and outbound sales. He also shares his expertise as a coach and instructor with WISE, helping industry professionals optimize their sales techniques. Based in Santa Rosa, he enjoys time with his wife and two sons and staying connected to the community.

Karin Strykowski has been in the wine industry for over 18 years where her journey began in Navarro Vineyards’s tasting room and evolved into management where she developed a passion for DtC wine sales and customer success. From Navarro, Karin joined VinoPRO as the Director of Operations where she helped wineries achieve their DtC sales goals. In April 2022, Karin joined Wineshipping and is now the Director of Client Change Management. She works to keep the client at the heart of Wineshipping and is passionate about helping them succeed. When she is not leading in-person or virtual training on ACP, she enjoys walking her dog Yogi, spending time with her family, hiking, going to see live music, and traveling the world.

Dr. Liz Thach, MW is the President of Wine Market Council, a non-profit firm that provides research on U.S. wine consumer purchasing habits, attitudes and trends.  She also works as a Professor, Wine Writer and Consultant based in Napa and Sonoma, California. She is an award-winning author and educator, specializing in wine business strategy, marketing, leadership/executive development, and wine lifestyle. 

Liz is considered to be one of the nation’s leading wine experts, and has visited most of the major wine regions of the world and over 75 countries. She teaches wine classes at Stanford Continuing Education, Burgundy School of Business, and Sonoma State University, and has published over 300 articles and 9 books, including Call of the Vine, Best Practices in Global Wine Tourism and Wine Marketing & Sales. She frequently publishes in Forbes, Wine Business Monthly, Wine Spectator, and The Somm Journal, amongst others. In addition, she serves as a wine judge and on several non-profit boards.

A fifth generation Californian, Liz finished her Ph.D. at Texas A&M and now lives on Sonoma Mountain. Liz obtained the distinction of Master of Wine (MW) in May of 2011, becoming the first female MW from California. Website: https://lizthachmw.com/, Email: Liz@lizthach.com.

Learn more about Liz Thach, watch their Wine Industry Insiders Interview or read their interview here.

Caine Thompson, Head of Sustainability at O’Neill Vintners & Distillers, has cemented his industry leadership in sustainable winegrowing and operations throughout his wine industry career. Since joining O’Neill Vintners & Distillers in 2020, he has led the company to the forefront of regenerative organic innovation and global sustainability networking.

For more than 15 years, Caine has been a leading force in viticultural sustainability. In 2020, He initiated a pioneering three-year regenerative viticulture case study across a 40-acre block of O’Neill’s estate vineyards in Paso Robles. In 2024, all 140 acres of the Paso Robles estate officially became Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC), the most prestigious certification of its kind. Caine also led O’Neill Vintners & Distillers to becoming both the largest B-Corp Certified beverage company and the largest Zero Waste Certified beverage company in the world. Caine was also named by Wine Enthusiast as a “Future 40 Tastemaker” in 2023. The award noted that Caine is
“constantly searching for new or forgotten forms of farming to ‘farm softer,’ working to be more transparent in viticultural practices and helping the industry at large become more resilient to climate change.”

Caine’s passion for sustainability extends beyond the company and into the realms of global organizations and think tanks that are setting the pace for the worldwide wine industry. He is one of eight board members on the Regenerative Viticulture Foundation and one of 12 board members on the Sustainable Wine Roundtable. Caine also supports the wine community through board positions with the Wine Institute, Cal Poly University Wine & Viticulture, the Organic Trade Association, and the Paso Robles CAB Collective, where he is Chairman of Viticulture & Wine Research. In 2024, he helped lead a Paso Robles CAB Collective team to a summit in Bordeaux, where they connected with local vintners to discuss climate mitigation strategies and observe future-forward vineyard practices, such as polyculture and agroforestry.

Caine was born and raised in Tauranga, New Zealand and grew up on a family orchard which led to his interest and studies in horticulture (BSC) at Massey University in New Zealand. He holds an MBA and has multifaceted wine industry experience in executive management, viticultural operations and technical research. His ascent in the wine industry was rapid. He was named New Zealand’s “Young Viticulturist of the Year” in 2009 and earned “Horticulturist of the year” in 2010.

Caine later worked in viticulture and executive leadership at New Zealand and California wineries before joining O’Neill Vintners & Distillers in October 2020, where he has evolved his regenerative viticulture case study to 800 acres in conversion to regenerative farming. He also initiates and implements green practices, leading the charge for sustainable certification for more than 200 growers across 15,000 acres on behalf of the entire O’Neill organization. Working with top stakeholders worldwide, Caine continues to embark on innovations that promise to combat climate change, regenerate soil health and conserve natural resources for generations to come.

Jennifer is an industry professional with 24 years of experience, including 12 years with WISE. She began her career in the wine industry working for Lesley Berglund (Co-Founder & Chairman of WISE) at Ambrosia Wine Catalog/The Winetasting Network shortly after completing her BA in English Literature. Over the course of her career, she has developed expertise in project and account management, market research, copywriting, and editing. Today, in her role as The Glue, Jennifer oversees WISE Operations which includes spearheading the WISE Mystery Shopping Program (now over 5,000 shops); overseeing content development; coaching; account management of WISE wineries; overseeing marketing programs; moderating WISE Cabinets; coordinating, scheduling, and communicating with coaches, attendees and winery partners for a robust class schedule of 20+ courses and onsite training programs throughout California, Oregon, Washington, New York and more.

Learn more about Jennifer Warrington, watch their interview.

My love of wine and enthusiasm to teach others inspired me to pursue a career in the Wine Industry. I have been fortunate to have built a life-long career doing what I love most. And now, as a wine industry career coach, I am helping others join the industry as well.

As an experienced Wine Educator and Guest Experience Specialist, I have earned a highly regarded reputation for dynamic, creative presentations that educate and inspire tasting room staff, trade partners, and consumers.

San Francisco Magazine has called Alder Yarrow “The Wine World’s Brightest Cyberstar” and he is widely accepted as a pioneer of wine blogging. He has been publishing Vinography.Com daily since 2004 and was nominated for a James Beard Award in 2013. In addition to writing for outlets as diverse as the World of Fine Wine and Fine Cooking Magazine, he is currently a monthly columnist for Jancis Robinson, and the author of The Essence of Wine, named one of the best wine books of 2014 by The New York Times and Wine & Spirits Magazine among others. In 2013 Alder was inducted into the Wine Media Guild of New York’s Wine Writers’ Hall of Fame, an honor he shares with only 24 other living wine writers. Alder was born in the heart of the western Sonoma Coast, and currently lives with his family in Oakland.

Learn more about Alder Yarrow, read their interview.

By day, I’m the Agent Crush, VP of Growth at Wine Spies, optimizing the customer experience from, “Hmm, that looks good”, to full-blown wine fanatic. I’m newish to the wine world, having started in 2023, but I bring 20+ years of marketing and e-commerce experience to the table—because selling great wine online is both an art and a science.

My claim to fame? I can sing with my mouth closed, a talent that’s both impressive and slightly unsettling. When I’m not at Wine Spies HQ or belting out muffled tunes, I’m usually adventuring in nature, navigating the multiverse of youth sports, or working to preserve the historic charm of buildings in Petaluma. 

Whether it’s a bold Napa Cab after a long day or hunting down the perfect glass of Chablis, my quest for great wine is never-ending.

Debbie Zachareas is the Proprietor and Managing Partner at the Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant in San Francisco’s restored Ferry Building, Mission Bay Wine & Cheese in San Francisco, and the Oxbow Cheese & Wine Merchant in downtown Napa. She was the consulting wine director to the Warriors at the Chase Center and has recently opened her latest wine bar at Chase Center’s Thrive City, the Mission Bay Wine Bar. She is the wine consultant to Izzy’s Steak House in the Bay Area, and the Madrona in Healdsburg. She is also a well-known wine judge, lecturer, sommelier, and guest speaker throughout the country.

Zachareas has served as a trustee for the French American International School and International High School, as well as Family House, San Francisco. She chairs and volunteers for a number of fundraisers close to her heart, including Make a Wish, Meals on Wheels and the Food Bank, just to name a few.

Zachareas’ past includes developing some of the most innovative wine programs that have helped to shape the city’s wine culture. She was the founder of one of San Francisco’s most extensive wine programs at the Bacar Restaurant, the wine buyer for the Ashbury Market, EOS Restaurant and Wine Bar, the opening sommelier at Rubicon Restaurant, and the opening wine director at Vertigo in the TransAmerica Building. She won the inaugural Wine Director of the year award for San Francisco Magazine and was the only sommelier ever to have won the award twice. Nationally recognized by Food and Wine Magazine, Market Watch, Wine Spectator and Saveur Magazines, Bloomberg, Women in Wine Leadership, The California Wine Institute and she remains a renowned international wine judge and brings a passion and expertise for wine to her profession.

Alisha is the Digital Director at top agency Colangelo & Partners, where she leads her team in developing cutting-edge digital strategies for wine and spirits clients, boosting e-commerce sales and creating buzz through influencer collaborations. Her career includes work with big names like Quaker Oats, Dannon Yogurt, and renowned chefs such as Guy Fieri and Jacques Torres. Alisha’s campaigns have earned prestigious awards like the PRSA Big Apple Award and the PR Bulldog Award. Alisha holds a Double Masters in Global Media and Communication Management from The London School of Economics and the University of Southern California, along with a Media, Culture & Communications degree from NYU.