Ron Kapon- The Peripatetic Oenophile

Ron Kapon is a Professor at the International School of Hospitality Management at Fairleigh Dickinson University & has been teaching their wine courses for the past 12 years. He has established the Ron Kapon Wine Library at FDU with a donation of over 2,000 books, magazines and articles. He was recently honored by the James Beard Foundation for his educational efforts. He also teaches the wine class at Hudson County Community College Culinary Arts Center in downtown Jersey City. His radio show is heard in 4 states & his internet show with Sally Jessy Raphael is broadcast world-wide. He writes over 40 wine, spirits, food & travel stories a year. Professor Kapon is President of Profit Plus Marketing & Management Company and has been coordinating private wine classes, wine and spirits dinners & corporate presentations for over 35 years. Recent clients include P&G, Accenture, Rutgers University, the Italian Trade Commission, Apcor, the Cyprus Trade Commission and Vinoelite. Available venues for corporate and private clients are located on East 34th Street and West 72nd Street. "You will learn & have fun and have fun & learn"

More info:

230 West 79 St- #42N- NYC 10024-6210

• vinoron@yahoo.com
• www.ronkapon.com
• (212) 799-6311

Sur Lees

"Sur Lees" - Wine Tastings & Consulting With Lee Corpening. Old World vs New World, 'Big Six', Blind and various other focused tastings that will broaden your wine appreciation and enhance your enjoyment! Lee is a Certified Specialist in Wine from the Wine Educators Society, Washington & holds an Advanced Certificate w/ distinction from the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust, London.

More info:

Basking Ridge, NJ

• leecorp@optonline.net
• 908-326-6290

ALL I DO IS WINE- Zita Keeley

All I Do is Wine was created by Zita Keeley to provide wine education in an easy and relaxed manner. Zita is thrilled to be able to use her past travel business experience combined with her wine knowledge to bring her passion for food and wine to you. She has worked with major wine retailers and importers as well as creating specialized tastings for individuals and organizations. Zita Keeley, born in New York City, NY now resides in both the USA and Europe. Her extensive background in media planning and events management along with her passion for wine, food and travel have naturally, brought her to this profession. She is presently working with her colleague in France on creating a new series of wine education tours. Her website is updated regularly to share wine experiences, news and events. She is planning on starting a wine school in or around Hoboken, NJ. Zita is also President of the New Jersey Chapter of Women for Winesense, a national non-profit wine organization. www.womenforwinesense.com

More info:

Hoboken, NJ

• zita@allidoiswine.com
• www.allidoiswine.com
• 201-963-4986

CookAppeal Wine & Food Experience

CookAppeal, LLC a Princeton-based catering and personal chef business as well as CookAppeal Wine & Food Experience are creations of Chef Elizabeth Stelling. With nearly 20 years of experience in food and restaurant industry and wine pairing, chef Elizabeth brings together people who enjoy tasting new culinary creations and perfect varietals to accompany them. The CookAppeal Wine & Food Experience is a group representing a cross-section of ages (21 and over), backgrounds and cultures, combined with varying levels of knowledge about food and wine. Visit www.cookappeal.com, or www.wine.cookappeal.com for more information about chef Elizabeth and her endeavors.

More info:

• info@cookappeal.com
• wine.cookappeal.com
• 609.356.3186

Debbie Miller Nelson

Want to learn more about wine or just have a great party? Have your own wine tasting party! Debbie Miller Nelson is a Wine Consultant certified by the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, holds a diploma from the Bordeaux School of Wine and has studied with the International School of Culinary Education. Debbie has studied with sommeliers, wine writers, restaurant owners and editors of prestigious magazines. She has traveled to many vineyards in the U.S. and Europe and attended countless wine dinners and tastings. Debbie has written for The Courier News and currently writes Wine Goddess for NJ.com. Debbie conducts private in-home wine-tastings for special occasions, wine dinners, corporate parties, wine-tasting clubs or just because. Debbie’s specialty is food and wine pairing and will help you learn more about wine while having a great time!

More info:

• info@wine-tastingparty.com
• www.wine-tastingparty.com
• 732-208-0300

LIQUID LEARNING CENTER

The LIQUID LEARNING CENTER is a wine school located within the confines of two giant retail stores, the JOE CANAL’S of LAWRENCEVILLE and WOODBRIDGE. With a state-of-the-art audio-visual system for PowerPoint presentations, our wine laboratory is a combination of classroom and wine bar. Each semester we will arrange a series of wine events conducted by members or our own staff as well as distinguished educators and members of the wine industry. These wine tastings and classes will cover all knowledge levels, wine regions, and price categories of wine. Each evening is a rigorous portrayal of that subject, tasting about 16 wines to cover a specific topic and lasting 2 hours or more. Events are targeted for connoisseurs as well as for beginners, and utilize a variety of teaching activities, from seminars, to walk-arounds, to thematic wine dinners. We are committed to wine education, being the NJ sponsor for the Society of Wine Educators. Our Director of Wine & Education, Walter A. Kotrba, CWE, is one of 250 “Certified Wine Educators” in the world and the founding President of the NJ Chapter of the SWE. His staff includes three CSWs (Certified Wine Specialists), and guest lecturers include visiting CWEs from around the country, as well as visiting dignitaries from the wine industry. Corporate team-building and entertainment events can also be arranged in our facility, including outside catering. For further information, keep an eye on www.localwineevents.com, or check out the link on our website for the Liquid Learning Center at www.UltimateWineShop.com. Discover the excitement of learning about wine in a professional and lively environment!

More info:

3375 US 1 South
Lawrenceville, NJ

• wkotrba@bottlesmart.com
• www.UltimateWineShop.com
• 609-520-0208

Wine Educator at Mercer County College

I have been teaching introduction and advanced specialized wine classes at MCCC since 2005. I try to take a practical approach in discussing the subject such as understanding geography and why a specific varietal differs from various wine regions; I give recommendation of the best producers, descriptions of the wine tasted, food compliments; The classes are interactive and education and fun. I am a member of the American Wine Society since 1990, Society of Wine Educators since 2002 and German Wine Society since 2005. I am a Certified Specialist of Wine, and Intermediate and Advanced Certificate holders sponsored the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. I also teach the same type of classes at Camden County College.

More info:

21 Foxwood Drive
Moorestown, NJ 08057

• winesmith@comcast.net
• 856 222.0809

Wine Country of North Plainfield

Wine Country of North Plainfield Wine Educational Seminars There is no better place to learn about wine than IN your favorite wine shop. And there are no other Wine Shops in New Jersey that can offer this opportunity. Increase your understanding and enjoyment of this continuously fascinating subject in fitting surroundings. Wine Country of North Plainfield conducta 50 to 60 individual educational wine classes to help you to better understand the subtle and not so subtle nuances of not only wine and its relation to food but also the subtleties of certain beers and spirits. Our Wine Seminars: The focus is the practical aspects of enjoying wine via evening classes conducted in our North Plainfield store. Maximum class sizes of 24 people ensure individual attention. Many wines are tasted blind to make learning both interactive and fun. Food and wine matching is an integral part of every session. Deep discounts on the seminar's wines are offered after each tasting.

More info:

781 Route 22 West
North Plainfield, New Jersey 07060

• henry@winecountrynorthplainfield.com
• www.winecountrynorthplainfield.com
• 908-791-3888

The Wine List of Summit

Ivan Ruiz Bio Work Experience 2005-Present: Wine Shop- Owner, the Wine List of Summit, Summit, NJ 2001-2005: Boutique Wine Importer- President, Ivan F. Ruiz Selections Inc, NYC 2000-2001: General Manager- Sommelier, Chicama and Pipa Restaurants, NYC 1998-1999: General Manager, Patria Restaurant, NYC 1997-1998: Captain, Assistant Maitre d’ Fromage, Picholine Restaurant, NYC Sept- October 1997: Worked in 3 different wineries in France: Billecart-Salmon, Champagne- Daniel Chavenau, Loire- Albert Boxler, Alsace 1995-1997: General Manager-Sommelier, Stage House Inn Restaurant, Scotch Plains, NJ 1991-1994: Restaurant Manager-Sommelier, Ryland Inn Restaurant, Whitehouse, NJ 1990-1991: Beverage Director, Dennis Foy’s Town-Square Chatham, NJ 1987-1990: Maitre d’, Sommelier, Bartender, Hunt Club Restaurant, Summit, NJ 1986-1987: Server, La Chaumiere Restaurant, Century City, CA 1984-1986: Bus Boy, Server, Hunt Club Restaurant, Summit, NJ 1983-1984: Grill and porter, White Castle, Fast food Restaurant, Elizabeth, NJ Education • Hotel Restaurant Management - Middlesex County College 1995 • Certified Exam, First level- Court of Master Sommeliers 1997 • American Sommelier - Sommelier Society of America 1997 • Italian Expert - Italian Wine Trade 1995 • French Expert - Sopexa French Wines 1992 Restaurant / Consulting Credits: • Dennis Foy (NYC) • De La Costa (Chicago) • Alma de Cuba (Philadelphia) • Zona Rosa (NYC) • Deceo (Arizona) • OLA (NYC) • Maroma (Dominican Republic) • New Station House (NJ) • OLA (Miami) • Alma Grill (NYC) • Babalu (NYC) • Lua (NJ) • Plantain Café (NYC) Educational, Lecture, Speaking and Television Credits: • Teacher: American Sommelier Association, since 2000 • Wine Writer: Internet, Terra.com (National Internet Services) Monthly Wine Column since 2005 • Speaker: Vermont Tango Festival, 2006 • TV Host: HITV National Public Television Network “En Dialogo de Costa a Costa with Malin Falu, Wines for V

More info:

417 Springfield Avenue
Summit, NJ 07901

• class@winelistsummit.com
• www.winelistsummit.com
• 908 277-6565

Anthony Fisher

I am a Professional Wine Judge, is a member of the Dionysian Society International and is the American Wine Society - New Jersey Regional Vice-President. My main class is Wine 101 which is designed for everyone interested in learning more about the wonderful, yet sometimes confusing, world of wine. This classes meet once a week for 6 weeks and focuses on the world’s principal grape varieties and how they produce different styles around the world. I teach this class in several locations throughout Southern NJ including the Atlantic Cape Community College.

More info:

• sjwine@hotmail.com
• 6096545565

Bouquet du Vin, LLC

Bouquet du Vin is a unique importer and distributor of boutique style fine wines. Additional services include: Wine Education and Staff Training, Personalized Wine Events, Tastings, Presentations and Lectures for Corporate, Residential and Entertaining Guidelines for Women and Wine.

More info:

can you also post this in NY?

• ameyer@bouquetduvin.com
• www.bouquetduvin.com
• 201 825 0588

Alexander Bruno

Alexander Bruno is a certified Sommelier. He is a member of the Sommelier Society of America, the Beverage Tasting Institute and a graduate of the Windows of the World course. He imports, sells and educates a sophisticated clientele about wine through wine tasting. His active involvement in evaluating wines from around the world has resulted in a wine being scheduled for release this year named after him─”Bruno”. When Alex talks about wine, people listen, especially anyone who listens to the ’Jeersey Guys” on New Jersey Radio 101.5, where as a frequent guest he is nicked named “the wine guy”. And because he is also a former state, national and international karate champion, we find his clients rarely complain about his wine choices. Alex is a 4th dan black belt and Chief Instructor of the World USA Shito-Ryu Karate Federation. He is also a 3rd dan black belt with the world Karate Federation and a trainer for the United States National Karate Federation NJ state team.

More info:

16 Summerall Road
Somerset, NJ 08873

• duckhorn1@yahoo.com
• www.alexthewineguy.com
• 732-208-8901