San Francisco Bay Area Wine & Food Educators

Check out these great San Francisco Bay Area Educators!

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Tom DiNardo - The Wine Zealot

Tom DiNardo has worked in the wine industry in both California and Washington. With a reverence for the grape, Tom continues his passionate pursuit today as a wine consultant and educator who teaches others about oenology and wine collecting. Mr. DiNardo is a sommelier diplomate with the International Sommelier Guild and a member of the Society of Wine Educators. He is a freelance writer for Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, Santé and Wine Adventure Magazines, and is a regular contributor to Wine Squire.com and WineandSpiritsJobs.com. Tom is a featured auctioneer for Chicago based ERI wine auction gallery, and has sold some of the finest and rarest wines from around the world. Mr. DiNardo is also a certified master appraiser. Through these unique experiences, Tom has gained invaluable knowledge about the wine industry.

Prior to his wine immersion experience, Tom DiNardo founded DiNardo & Lord Auctioneers in 1993. A true entrepreneur and veteran charity auctioneer, Mr. DiNardo now had a unique opportunity to marry both his passion for wine and fund-raising auctions together in pioneering what is today one of the most exciting and newly emerging trends: charity wine auctions. Since its founding, DiNardo & Lord Auctioneers has achieved an outstanding reputation for fund-raising, record setting auction revenues (5 world records), and client satisfaction. Tom has been a featured auctioneer on TLC's "Wrecks to Riches" television program. DiNardo & Lord Auctioneers is ranked as one of the “Top 4 fundraising auction firms" in the nation, and Tom DiNardo has been referred to as "one of the nation’s preeminent charity wine auctioneers.” Tom welcomes the opportunity to serve your organization. Visit my Auction Calendar.

More Info:
PO Box #11
Lynden, WA 98264
888-503-0828

www.DiNardoandLordAuctioneers.com

Liza The Wine Chick

For innovative wine events, from custom blending seminars and wine business etiquette 101 to blind tastings and customized winery visits, Liza The Wine Chick is your go-to educator for corporate and private events in (and outside) of the Bay Area. Her unique approach is down-to-earth, accessible and fun. She strives to demystify wine for people on all levels, so they can enjoy wine and make it a part of their everyday lives. Liza Zimmerman has been writing, educating, and consulting about wine, cocktails and food for more than 15 years. She has published hundreds of stories in the U.S. and abroad in such magazines such as Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Wine & Spirits and The Magazine of La Cucina Italiana. Her wine and cocktail columns are currently featured in Wine Business Monthly, Oakland Magazine, Caviar Affair, In the Mix and Fodor’s. Zimmerman is one of the only career journalists in the wine education field. She spent seven years at the New York offices of M. Shanken Communications, the publisher of Wine Spectator and Cigar Aficionado, among others, where she was promoted to managing editor of Wine Spectator’s trade arm Market Watch. She has visited all the world’s major wine growing and spirits producing regions and is one of less than 100 people in the U.S. to hold the Diploma of Wine & Spirits (D.W.S.), the three-year program that is the precursor to the Master of Wine. She also consults with restaurants to create their wine programs, as well as manage the wines offered at their special dinners and events. Zimmerman graduated from Northwestern University and the University of Florence with a double Bachelor’s degree in American History and Italian Language and Literature. For more info contact Liza Zimmerman 415.994.0130, lizabzimmerman@gmail.com.

More Info:
1720 Pacific Ave. SF, CA 94109
415 994 0130

Lizathewinechick.com (under construction)

Chef Liz Bills, California Table

Chef Liz Bills has been cooked professionally at some of the best restaurants in San Francisco. Her passion for food slowly began along with her awareness in healthy living. These building blocks started while attending architecture school and simultaneously racing marathons and triathlons. She sought out intense education in health and food while dreaming of designing it. After graduating with her Architecture Degree in Design, she fulfilled her dream by moving to San Francisco and attending the California Culinary Academy in order to further her education and start her career. Northern Californians pride themselves on the vastness of local, organic farmland. While Liz worked at Chow, a neighborhood style restaurant, she was first introduced to some local farmers and utilized their resources while ordering to plan the daily specials. While simultaneously working at Chow, Liz worked at The Grand Café with Chef Paul Arenstam to further her pallete in the French cuisine. Zuni Café, with Judy Rodgers, was probably the most influential for the 1-1/2 years she worked there. When available, organic food from local sources topped the menus. Zuni’s French-Italian style utilizes many of the same foods we grow right here in California, making food comparisons easier. After leaving Zuni, Liz helped open the amazing neighborhood restaurant, NOPA. This was especially special to be working with her previous chef of Chow, Laurence Jossel, and also enabled her to meet, one on one, the farmers. She was head of the menu development and the kitchen manager. After working years in the business, she realized serving the masses didn’t fulfill her as it once did. Chef Liz Bills gains serious satisfaction in making a difference in the way people think about and eat food. Her goal is for you to buy and cook whole foods for yourself while enjoying the dining experience in your own home.

More Info:
San Francisco, Ca
415-377-5578

www.californiatable.net

Martin Reyes C.W.E.

Wine Educator/Facilitator: Dynamic, engaging public speaker/wine instructor with 6 years industry experience and 250+ professional tastings organized. I'm available for hosted seminars, private tasting events, corporate team-building, wine & food pairing expertise, and general wine education. Signature tasting themes include "Wine Smarts 101," "Wine Snob Smackdown," "Amazing Wines You've Never Thought Of,"and "Around the World in Eight Wines." Also offered: glassware rentals for small groups, customized wine maps/handouts, and catering referrals. I currently serve as wine & spirits buyer, web manager, and content writer at St. Helena Wine Center in Napa Valley. Though based in the North Bay, I can travel throughout the greater Bay Area, scheduling permitting. Special pricing for Stanford alumni. (C.W.E., WSET Certified, and.... tequila connaisseur.)

More Info:
720 Madison Avenue #1 Redwood City Ca, 94061
650-430-0111

Jim Gallagher's Wine Seminars

Comparative tastings of recently released varietals of the same vintage, frequently of small producers. Occasional vertical comparison of the same vintner and retrospectives of older vintages. Tasting procure is "double-blind". Email listing for notice of events available at wine1035@sbcglobal.net.

More Info:
Jim Gallagher 1671-16th Ave. San Francisco, CA 94122
415-753-0880

www.wineseminar.org

Catherine Fallis MS

Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, aka grape goddess, is your go-to wine host for private and corporate events, bridal showers, and classes. Inquire about Champagne Sabering and Book Signings too.

More Info:
3826 Lawton Street San Francisco, CA 94122
415-425-5828

www.planetgrape.com

Joelle Kurrus

Ms. Kurrus holds a CWP from the Culinary Institute of America and is the Wine Educator for Cuvaison Estate Wines. She is available for informal corporate meeting breaks, teambuilding, receptions, food and wine pairing classes and clonal blending seminars. Cuvaison Estate Wines with Carneros and Mt. Veeder AVA's are poured at all events. Special pricing for Cuvaison Wines. Wine Cave Dinners, Tours and Tastings available. Cuvaison produces Estate Grown wines include Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Over 90 points Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter Magazine. 20 to Watch in Napa Valley Cabernets-Wine Spectator November 07. Ms. Kurrus presents topics in a lively, easy to understand manner and focuses on the History of Napa Valley, history of grape growing in America, and tasting methods that are fun and informative.

More Info:
4550 Silverado Trail North Calistoga,CA 94515
707-942-2464

www.cuvaison.com