Mel and Rose

The Mel and Rose private events programs are designed for maximum flexibility and an eye towards the creative. The in-store events can consist of anything from an informal wine tasting seminar to fun and entertaining wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. It can be a great way to re-motivate your team of employees or throw a bridal shower for a champagne connoisseur. All instruction is conducted by staff trained at Mel and Rose and backed by 15 years of experience in the business. Mel & Rose does it all for you by providng, not only the instructor, but also the wines/champagnes, food, glassware and either the outdoor Tuscan patio or plush wine tasting room. For more information, please call Michelle at 323-655-5557 or email at michelle@melandrose.com.

More info:

8344 Melrose Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90069

• michelle@melandrose.com
• www.melandrose.com
• 323-655-5557

Ian Blackburn, Founder, LearnAboutWine.com

Bio Ian Blackburn, CSW Founder of LearnAboutWine Certified Wine Professional and innovative wine industry spokesperson, Ian Blackburn drinks wine for a living. For the past 10 years, Ian Blackburn has built LearnAboutWine into the leading source for wine education and events. LearnAboutWine is the first business of its kind—dedicated to the education, service, and enjoyment of wine. His passion for all things food and wine sparked at an early age. “My parents were always hosting dinner parties. I watched in awe as their guests sipped and swirled older vintage wines and I caught the bug,” says Ian. Ian has instructed over 20,000 students (both consumers and trade) at such noted centers including The Cordon Bleu, Cal Poly Pomona, UCLA, The Learning Annex, and others. Ian’s passion for wine and entertaining approach has made him one of the top spokespersons in the United States. He maintains a busy schedule creating large scale wine socials and unique wine lifestyle events that get more people involved in spreading the love and appreciation of wine. Ian’s known for his tireless approach to business ask anyone on his staff of five and they will tell you – “A normal day for Ian is up at the crack of dawn, filter through about 200 daily emails and taste anywhere from 30-40 wines a night to keep his senses active.” Commissioned by Wiley Publications to write The Pleasure of Wine in 2004, Ian is currently working on his second book at his home office in Santa Monica, Ca. For more information about Ian Blackburn and the services, classes, and schedule of LearnAboutWine please visit www.LearnAboutWine.com. Media contact: Libby Butler-Gluck Genesis PR 323.644.5536 libby@genesispr.net

More info:

2118 Wilshire Blvd. #462
Santa Monica, Ca 90403

• Ian@learnaboutwine.com
• www.LearnAboutWine.com
• 310-451-7600

The Wine House

The Wine House Staff of Instructors have presented classes both on-site and off for over 30 years. We conduct events for private groups ranging in size from 2 to 600. Take advantage of the extensive wealth of knowledge and information gleaned by our staff through many years as retail wine professionals. Remember for your next birthday, anniversary, wedding shower, office/club event, or any other gathering that needs a little extra zing, that we can take the Wine House Classes on the road. Our experienced entertaining teaching staff is available for any type of tasting occasion, be it in your home, office or other venue of your choice. We conduct events ranging from Beginning Wine Appreciation Classes, to Scotch, Tequila or other spirit events (Including our very popular Mixology 101/Bartending class) to extravagant Wine and Food pairing dinners. Call JB at extension 227 for information about leasing your own Wine House expert for your next event.

More info:

2311 Cotner Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064

• jbs@winehouse.com
• www.winehouse.com
• 310 479 3731

Wine Divas

Wine enthusiast? Wine lover? Enjoy throwing first-class parties and being the envy of all your friends?

INVITE US OVER!

With an entertaining approach, catering to both novice and connoisseur alike, WINE DIVAS will come to your home or business and orchestrate an event that is both fun and informative and promises to leave you and your guests with a newfound appreciation of wine and its lifestyle.

Clients can choose from a list of dynamic and interactive events that will sharpen your tasting skills and passion for wine and include:

Principles of wine tasting/wine terminology

Great wines for under $20

Old world vs. new world wines

Varietal tours around the world

Vintage tastings of premium wines

Art and fine wine pairing

WINE DIVAS can also provide customized events for any occasion. Call or email for more information.

Other Services
Wine consulting (restaurant or personal)
Cellar acquisitions
Guided wine country tours

More info:

13753 Burbank Blvd #A
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401

• lawinedivas@yahoo.com
• www.lawinediva.com
• 310-923-2561

Shelby Ledgerwood, Savant Wines LLC

Shelby Ledgerwood is a wine educator and consultant based in Southern California. She has worked in the food and wine industries for the past 20 years in Honolulu, San Francisco and Los Angeles. She has worked exclusively in the wine industry since she began teaching and writing about wine in 1999. In 2005, Shelby founded Savant Wines, a wine education and consulting company whose notable clients include Vinesse Wine Clubs, Sopexa and The Namale Resort in Fiji. As an event speaker, Shelby has been retained to conduct wine education seminars for such notable audiences as Costco, Gelson’s Markets, Whole Foods Market, The Patina Restaurant Group, Sur La Table and Wyndham Hotels. In September 2008 Shelby joined the highly acclaimed UCLA Extension wine studies program as an instructor of wine. She is a former Academic Instructor of Wine at The California School of Culinary Arts (Le Cordon Bleu) in Pasadena and over the years has taught wine appreciation classes for the public at Pierce and Glendale Community Colleges. Shelby holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Hawaii and is a certified instructor by the California Bureau of Private Post Secondary Schools and Vocational Education. Shelby Ledgerwood is a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) and a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) with the Society of Wine Educators. Shelby became a candidate for the Master of Wine in 2005, writing her first exams in 2008. She holds credentials from numerous wine organizations such as: The Court of Master Sommeliers (Certificate), The Wine and Spirits Education Trust (Advanced with Distinction), The Wine Academy of Spain (Spanish Wine Educator) and The Napa Valley Vintners Wine Educators Academy. Shelby is a certified International Bordeaux Wine Educator with L’Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB) and a licensed instructor with The French Wine Academy.

More info:

6520 Platt Ave #695
West Hills, CA 91307

• info@savantwines.com
• www.savantwines.com
• 818-884-4309

Peter Nelson, Nelson Wine Co.

Peter Nelson has worked among the vines in France, at the retail level in Southern California, and has hosted wine events and seminars in Pasadena, California. His love of wine shows in his informative and fun presentations. He is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), has credentials at the Court of Master Sommeliers, and has visited every major wine growing region in Italy and France. If you are looking for someone to host a private wine tasting event, or an event for retail promotion, Mr. Nelson can be of service. For an e-mail describing services and charges, please send a request. Also speaks French and Italian. A votre sante!

More info:

1609 W. Valley Blvd., Ste. 111
Alhambra, CA 91803

• pnelson11@charter.net
• www.nelsonwinecompany.com
• 626 593-4329

Wine Muse

The Wine Muse. Annette Hanami, AIWS, is a Certified Wine Educator based in the Napa Valley. She holds the Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and the Certified Wine Professional certification from the Culinary Institute of America. She is an accredited instructor for the Bordeaux and Rhone Wine Councils and is also a licensed instructor for the French Wine Academy, a program endorsed by Wines of France. She is certified by The Wine Academy of Spain as a Spanish Wine Educator. The Wine Muse will inspire and educate your audience about international wines whether they be consumer seminars, corporate and team-building events, or retail, hotel and restaurant staff training. Available for local tutored tastings and private groups.

More info:

PO Box 6266
Napa, CA 94559

• annette@wine-muse.com
• www.wine-muse.com
• 707-694-8293

Chef Zadi

Chef Instructor Farid Zadi was born in Lyon, the gastronomic heart of France. He spent his childhood in the idyllic village of Montmerle in the Beaujolais where the Rhone and the Burgundy converge. Like so many chefs he first learned to cook at his mother's apron strings. He went on to apprentice the old fashioned French way and eventually earned his culinary degrees in Paris. Besides his professional work he has years of experience teaching the home cook at venues such as Whole Foods Market, Sur La Table, Central Market and at public schools through the LAUSD's nutrition network. Chef Zadi teaches classes in English or French. He is on the board of Slow Food Pan-Arab a division of Slow Food International. He is currently writing an Algerian Cuisine book, after which he will write a French regional cookbook. Industry insiders recognize him as a rising star in the world of Mediterranean culinary literature. He has been quoted in The New York Times and Gastronomica Magazine. He is a chef instructor at The California School of Culinary Arts, Le Cordon Bleu Program.

More info:

www.chefzadi.com
www.bookofrai.com

• chefzadi@gmail.com
• www.mediterraneantable.com
• 310-266-1357

Chez Cherie Los Angeles Cooking School

Cherie Twohy, CCP, is the owner of Chez Cherie Cooking School in La Canada, California. She encourages her students to "touch the food" and to relax with cooking as therapy. In addition to teaching cooking classes, Cherie develops hands-on culinary team building programs and provides culinary consulting services for corporate clients in Southern California.

More info:

1401 Foothill Blvd.
La Canada, CA 91011

• cherie@chezcherie.com
• www.chezcherie.com
• 818-952-7217

Adu Jahmal

Adu Jahmal IF....FRANK SINATRA WAS EVER IN THE WINE BUSINESS In 2003 Adu followed his heart to the Tri-Cities Washington where he developed a passion for the wine industry. Today his work can be found on wine labels, in wineries, retailers and art collection throughout the Northwest. In his efforts to promote his entrepreneurial spirit, Adu developed wearwine.com an apparel based website geared toward the emerging culture of wine enthusiast and recently release his proprietary brand wine, “Mis En Bouteille” Vin Rouge. Adu is a 2006 roster speaker and member of the Society of Wine Educators and in January 2007, completed his certification with the International Sommelier Guild. Currently Adu serves as the Negociant for Negociant Wines LLC. where he travels to various wine regions and develop wine programs for their brands. JULY 2007 Adu was a guest for the VIN EXPO BORDEAUX, FRANCE More Info: 510.825.6013 adu@wearwine.com www.wearwine.com www.aduart.com www.misenbouteillewine.com

More info:

1043 4th Street Ste.,D
Santa Monica, Ca 90403

• adu@wearwine.com
• www.wearwine.com
• 510.825.6013

Amy Reiley

Did you know that wine is considered one of the world's mot potent aphrodisiacs? Amy Reiley, the second American awarded a Master of Gastronomy from Le Cordon Bleu would love to tell all of wine's sensual secrets. Considered an authority on the power of aphrodisiac foods, Reiley is a passionate speaker and writer on wine's sensual side. She was also named one of the 5 top women wine professionals by the 2005 international Wine Women Awards.

More info:

9101 W Sahara #105c25
LV, NV 89117

• info@lifeofreiley.com
• www.lifeofreiley.com
• 323.571.3561

Tim Robertson

Restaurant Consulting: Do you want to increase your wine sales? I can critique, and help develop, with the sole purpose of maximizing wine sales. • Your wine by the glass program: selections, pricing, merchandising. • Wine list: selections, layout & design, number of wines. • Server wine training: content, organization, implementation. • Wine selection: menu compatibility, price points, brands, caliber of selections. • Wine promotions & merchandising: programs, rollout, profitability, guest satisfaction. • Wine pricing: strategy, profitability, adjustments. • Wine purchasing & inventory: monitoring, systems & guidelines. Wine Seminars and Wine Training: • How to taste wine • Wines of California • How to order wine in a restaurant • Matching wine & food: it's all in good taste

More info:

2010 Hillgate way #L
Simi Valley Ca 93065

• tim@wine-sommelier.com
• www.wine-sommelier.com
• 805-404-6620

Chantel Kilmer

Chantel Kilmer, Director of Marketing & Events for Cameo Vineyards, in Lancaster Ca. holds a Certificate for passing the Introductory Sommelier Course for the Court of Master Sommeliers, and is going to take the certification Exam in Dec. 2006. Our area is in the process of establishing our own Winegrowers Assocaition,and begin the steps to have our own AVA. Would you like to learn food and wine pairing, Wine Appreciation,wine making and grape growing techniques in the Antelope Valley area, How to host a wine tasting party? Any Companies or organizations planning an event or fundraiser?, let me help you out.

More info:

43536 Gadsden Avenue
Lancaster, California, 93534

• chantel@cameovineyards.com
• 661-547-1934

Chez Cherie Los Angeles Cooking School

Cherie Twohy, CCP, is the owner of Chez Cherie Cooking School in La Canada, California. She encourages her students to "touch the food" and to relax with cooking as therapy. In addition to teaching cooking classes, Cherie develops hands-on culinary team building programs and provides culinary consulting services for corporate clients in Southern California.

More info:

1401 Foothill Blvd.
La Canada, Calif 91011

• cherie@chezcherie.com
• www.chezcherie.bigstep.com
• 818-952-7217

Mike Farwell

Wine Training Wine Classes Wine Tastings

More info:

307 Elmwood Drive
Pasadena, CA 91105

• mike@mikefarwell.com
• www.mikefarwell.com
• 323-257-4395

Chef Annette Gallardo South Bay School of Cooking

Take a professional chef who cooked around the greater Los Angeles area for a dozen years. Mix it with a dash of dancing with verbs as a former restaurant reviewer. Then just for the heck of it, add a splash of merry steel drum music making. There you have it -- Annette Gallardo’s approach has been to capture all the senses for an exemplary hands-on experience. She just doesn’t sit by the sidelines and delegate; her cooking style and infectious energy are hands-on. And so it makes absolute sense that the South Bay School of Cooking would take a personalized hands-on approach. Annette believes in making your cooking experience fun, easy, and efficient as possible. Through professional experience, her techniques and tips make prepping effortless; cooking and entertaining becomes recreational and less of a chore. Her style is a colorful approach to cooking and having fun at the same time

More info:

Mailing address only:
2110 Artesia Blvd #155
Redondo Beach, CA 90278

• annette@southbayschoolofcooking.com
• www.southbayschoolofcooking.com

Christopher P. Lavin

Christopher P. Lavin, C.W.E. (Certified Wine Educator - Society of Wine Educators) and Advanced Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers), is a renowned wine expert and professional wine taster. For the last eight years, he has been the General Manager and Wine Director of L'Opera Ristorante in Long Beach, California. Prior to that, Chris has worked as sommelier in northern Nevada (Eldorado Hotel & Casino and The Peppermill Hotel & Casino) that served as a training ground and launching point. A globe trotter - having lived in Chile, Singapore, and Brazil prior to moving to the United States - Chris' international background creates a unique perspective in his approach to wine. A sommelier since the age of 23, Chris has an encyclopedic knowledge of wine and the global wine industry. His wine lists have won numerous awards and he has frequently been profiled in wine and food magazines. He is a master of the wine-and-food pairing art. Chris, along with his brother Sean, has recently started a wine consultant company, C&S WINE SPECIALISTS, with a focus on the international market. Together, the brothers Lavin have contacts in the wine industry in countries as far ranging as Brazil, Ukraine, France, Spain, Germany, South Korea, and Paraguay.

More info:

65 Pine Ave., Suite#705
Long Beach, CA 90802

• chris.lavin@cswinespecialists.com
• www.cswinespecialists.com
• 562-761-5500

Toshio Ueno

Certified Sake & Shochu Sommelier, Jizake Educator. Born in Japan where his family has grown wine grapes for generations, Toshio grew up helping the business from a young age. Following his college education in the US and employment at an international trading company in Tokyo, Toshio joined Chateraise, a pastry and wine company as Director of Sales. There, he was put in charge of overseeing the personal wine collection of the company's president, which intrigued him to enter the world of wine stewardship and research. Toshio joined Mutual Trading Company in 2002, where he is Manger of the Business Development Department in marketing Japanese foods, Jizake, and Shochu to the mainstream American trade. In early 2009 he was certified by John Gauntner as a Sake Advanced Specialist, and later expanded knowledge to earn a Shochu Advisor status. With his passion and expertise in Jizake, Shochu, and Wine, Toshio aims to further promote Japanese food and Sake cultures to new, international audiences. He has hosted "The Science of Sake" VIP Sake Pairing in 2007, "Mystery of Sake" VIP Sake Investigation Lecture, "LA Sake Festival" Sake Education Class, and "Japanese Food Festival" Jiake Seminar in 2009.

More info:

431 Crocker St.
Los Angeles, CA 90013

• toshio.ueno@lamtc.com
• www.lamtc.com
• 213-830-9570

Denise Lowe

In-home wine tastings, with wine basics, food pairing suggestions, stemware selection, and general fun! www.denisemlowe.com http://goddessofvino.blogspot.com/

More info:

Burbank, California

• dml14@att.net
• goddessofvino.blogspot.com/
• 8189036397

Anthony Dias Blue

Anthony Dias Blue is the recipient of a 2001 James Beard Foundation Award as well as the 1997 Communicator of the Year Award from the prestigious International Wine & Spirits Competition in London. He is one of the most influential food and wine personalities in the United States. His work in various media is circulated to more than 50,000,000 global consumers each month. He can be found in print periodicals, on radio, in bookstores and in cyberspace. For more than two decades Mr. Blue has been associated with BON APPETIT, the largest circulation food publication in the United States,serving previously as Wine and Spirits Editor and currently as Director of the Bon Appétit Tasting Panel, an important wine industry advisory group. Mr. Blue's influential consumer-oriented "Blue Lifestyle Minute" on WCBS radio in New York is broadcast several times each weekday and can also be heard daily on Infinity's KFWB radio in Los Angeles. Mr. Blue also contributes regularly to THE ROBB REPORT, DECANTER, DRINKS, ORIENT-EXPRESS, C MAGAZINE, PRIVATE CLUBS, BEL-AIR, GREENWICH, and SOCIAL AFFAIRS, as well as making occasional contributions to the American Airlines in-flight magazines AMERICAN WAY and CELEBRATED LIVING. He also serves as Wine & Spirits Editor of Patterson's Beverage Journal, an important beverage industry trade monthy. In the past, Mr. Blue was West Coast Contributing Editor of FOOD & WINE magazine and a Contributing Editor of DIVERSION, CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO, DELTA AIR LINES' SKY and NEW JERSEY MONTHLY magazines. His words have also appeared in THE WINE SPECTATOR, GQ, HOUSE & GARDEN, TRAVEL & LEISURE, FAMILY CIRCLE, AVENUE, CONNOISSEUR, ELLE, FORBES, THE NEW YORK SUNDAY NEWS, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE, THE SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, GASTRONOME, WINE COUNTRY LIVING, GREAT CHEFS, PLEASURES OF COOKING and CIGAR AFICIONADO. The inaugural edition of ANTHONY DIAS BLUE'S POCKET GUIDE TO WINE 2006, a yearly guide to wines and wine

More info:

1030 Amalfi Drive
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

• allison@bluelifestyle.com
• www.BlueLifestyle.com
• 310-459-7570

Yuji Matsumoto

Sake Sommelier, world sake competition finalist in 2006

More info:

6510 Ocean Crest Dr.105
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA90275

• ymatsumoto001@gmail.com
• www.learnaboutsake.com
• 310-936-4649

Wine Valet at Two Rodeo Drive

Our wine concierge service specializes in matching your wine wishes - education, tastings, travel or cellar services with the right member of our team. Our roster of experience sommeliers, wine educators and travel professionals are available on short notice in Los Angeles as well as 17 other cities in the U.S. No event to large or small.

More info:

204 N. Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

• julie@womenwine.com
• www.womenwine.com
• 310-274-9224

Jean-Baptiste Dhalluin

After 2 years spent in Bordeaux, France, Jean-Baptiste worked for 5 years in Europe for prestigious companies from the universe of Wines & Spirits: Champagne Piper & Charles Heidsieck, Hennessy Cognac, ChateauOnline... For more than a year, he now hosts educational wine events around Southern California and is a wine consultant for a distributor targeting upscale hotels & restaurants around L.A. and Orange Cty.

More info:

• wineaficio@yahoo.com
• 310 402 1570

JOEL M. FISHER, PHD

INSTRUCTOR OF WINE AT ART INSTITUTE OF CALIFORNIA-LOS ANGELES; PARTNER OF WINEVINEANDDINE, WINE CLASSES FOR ENTHUSIASTS AND INDUSTRY THROUGHOUT CALIFORNIA

More info:

4358 MAMMOTH AVE.,UNIT26
SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91423

• JMFISHER@AOL.COM
• WWW.WINEVINEANDDINE.COM
• 818-429-6770

Your Sommelier

Alessia Botturi is a professionally qualified sommelier, with an additional master in professional wine tasting techniques. She translated the course book for the Italian Sommelier Association into English and she has her own Italian Wine Selection. She provides personalized food&wine services both private and corporate. Specific events include: guided tastings, seminars, workshops, private sommelier(s), wine tours...

More info:

• alessia@yoursommelier.net
• www.yoursommelier.net
• 323 304 4807