That’s why we’ve launched a dedicated section to highlight influential voices in the drink industry. Whether you’re a seasoned sommelier, a passionate wine educator, a writer, or a content creator, we want to showcase the individuals who are shaping the way we experience, learn about, and appreciate wine.
Our featured voices will include industry leaders, innovators, and experts who are pushing boundaries and redefining what it means to enjoy and understand wine. From creating engaging wine content to providing expert guidance on pairing, tasting, and collecting, these individuals are driving the future of the wine world. Join us as we celebrate their contributions and learn from the people who inspire us to explore new wines, share our love for the craft, and deepen our wine knowledge.
Stay tuned for regular updates and discover who’s making an impact in the ever-evolving world of food & drink.
Most people take their senses for granted. Dr. Hoby Wedler never could, which is exactly why he’s built a rich career helping others connect with theirs. He is a chemist, entrepreneur, and sensory storyteller who redefines how we experience the world.
With a Ph.D. in organic chemistry a...
Bartholomew Broadbent founded Broadbent Selections in 1996 and is widely recognized for his expertise and passion for Port. He established Premium Port Wines in San Francisco in 1986 and played a key role in reintroducing Madeira to the U.S. market in 1989. Broadbent Selections has twice been nomina...
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Uliana Rudzevich is a wine educator with a serious soft spot for sparkling—earning her the nickname “Mother of Bubbles.”
With a talent for making wine feel approachable (without dumbing it down), she helps students and consumers understand what they’re tasting, why it tastes that ...
Anthony Giglio is a celebrated wine and spirits writer, educator, and raconteur who has made a career out of demystifying what’s in the glass.
Known for his witty, unpretentious style, he motivates imbibers to trust their own tastes and relax the rules. He serves as Wine Director for Th...
Jamie Knee — known as The Petite Wine Traveler — is an award-winning wine expert, international judge, and wine & travel media personality with over a decade of experience curating luxury wine and culinary experiences around the world.
Named one of the "Top 50 Most Influential ...
Based in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Iris is your go-to voice for discovering the best of South Florida—from beachside brunch spots and hidden boutiques to weekend getaways and local events. With an eye for capturing the best of soflo culture, she shares curated experiences that celebrate life i...
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Jim Clarke is the U.S. Country Manager for Wines of South Africa (WoSA), the generic, inclusive marketing body for South African wine exports. He is a former sommelier, having run the wine programs at New York’s Megu Restaurant and Armani Ristorante.
The author of The Wines of South Afr...
Erica Duecy has been called “a powerhouse in the drinks industry” (Sommeliers' Choice Awards). She is the founder of Business of Drinks, a podcast and advisory, and is one of the drinks industry’s most accomplished digital and content strategists. Currently, Erica serves as a beverage advisor ...
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Erik Segelbaum is a respected hospitality and wine professional with over 30 years of experience in fine dining, luxury service, and wine education. He’s the founder and Chief Vinnovation Officer of SOMLYAY LLC, a consulting firm offering tailored wine services, curated events, and hospitality sol...
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Kathleen's always been captivated by the world of wine—the vibrant colors, seductive aromas, and (let’s be honest) the undeniable charm of a perfectly poured glass. Growing up in Montreal, a city with a distinctly European flair where wine and cuisine are practically a love language, she develop...
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Jay Youmans MW is a respected American wine educator, consultant, and Master of Wine, widely recognized for his contributions to wine education and industry expertise. He founded the Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C., in 2008, where he serves as Educational Director, providing accessible, high...
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Liz Palmer is a prominent wine journalist, award-winning author, and global influencer specializing in wine, gastronomy, and luxury travel. A seasoned keynote speaker—most recently at the 2024 UN Wine Tourism Conference—and a panel judge for the World’s Best Vineyards 2025, Liz is widely recog...
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Georgia Panagopoulou, known internationally as Wine Gini (@wine.gini), is a globally recognized Content Creator & Digital Marketing Strategist. Through her agency wine.gini (est. 2017), she contributes to the wine industry by helping wine brands, producers and institutions shape their voice, storyte...
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Vince Anter is a certified sommelier, storyteller, and the creator and host of the international award-winning wine travel show V is for Vino.
A former rock musician turned wine educator, Vince swapped his guitar for a corkscrew after discovering that wine, like music, tells a stor...
Amanda Joffee has spent more than ten years in the wine business, working across hospitality, distribution, and as a sommelier. Her time on both the service floor and the wholesale side gives her an insider perspective on wine and the culture around it.In 2019, she launched Shitty Wine Memes, an Ins...
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Kevin Zraly is a renowned American wine educator, author, and speaker, best known for his contributions to wine education. He gained prominence as the founder and instructor of the Windows on the World Wine School, which he established in 1976 while serving as the wine director at the iconic ...
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Tina Caputo is a California-based multimedia journalist who has spent more than 20 years covering wine. Before venturing out on her own as an independent writer and editor, she was the editor-in-chief at Vineyard & Winery Management magazine and, before that, the managing editor at Wines & Vines...
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As a Social Entrepreneur, Deborah Brenner measures success on the positive impact a business makes on society. She has manifested her vision with Women of the Vine & Spirits®, the leading mission-driven global membership organization comp...
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Recognized by Wine Business Monthly as a 2023 Wine Industry Leader, Deborah Parker Wong, DipWSET is global wine editor for the SOMM Journal and contributor to sister publication The Tasting Panel magazines.
She has been writing about the beverage alcohol industry for these and other outle...
Jenna Liderri celebrates wine as a living art, sharing its character through stories, tastings, and meaningful connections. A dynamic wine influencer and passionate collector, Jenna can often be found pouring at Canadian wineries and special events, where she shares her enthusiasm for vintages worth...
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Maria Valetta, widely known as @MariaTheWineBlonde, is a respected wine expert and media personality with a passion for making wine approachable and fun. She holds top industry credentials, including Certified Sommelier (CMS), Diploma in Wine & Spirits (DipWSET), Certified Specialist of Wine, and Ce...
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Tim Hanni MW is an American Master of Wine (MW), consultant, and author known for his expertise in wine and food pairing, as well as his research on consumer wine preferences. He became an MW in 1990, one of the first Americans to achieve the title.
Hanni is a strong advocate for understa...
DipWSET | Founder of The Way We Wine Now | Wine Strategist, Educator & Storyteller
Amaia Soto is a wine strategist, content creator, and educator based in Spain. With over 15 years of experience in marketing and sales across Europe, China, and South America, she blends strategic thinking ...
Jancis Robinson is a highly respected British wine critic, journalist, and author, widely recognized as one of the most influential voices in the world of wine. Born in 1950, she initially studied mathematics and philosophy at the University of Oxford before embarking on a career in wine writing. In...
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Madeline Puckette is a celebrated wine influencer, educator, and the co-founder of Wine Folly, a pioneering platform that has transformed the way people approach and understand wine. With a background in graphic design, Puckette blends her creative skills with her passion for wine, making complex w...
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Cyril Penn is a widely respected figure in the American wine industry, best known for his role as editor-in-chief of Wine Business Monthly, the leading trade publication for wine professionals across North America. With more than 30 years of experience in journalism, Penn has helped shape how...
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Carolyn Covington is a WSET Diploma in Wines graduate, wine influencer, and educator, as well as the founder of the American Wine Girl™ brand. She hosts engaging, educational wine tasting events throughout Virginia and across the U.S., and partners with wine brands and regions around the world to ...
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Doug Frost is one of the most accomplished figures in the wine and spirits world, holding the rare dual titles of Master of Wine (MW) and Master Sommelier (MS)—a distinction shared by only a handful of individuals globally. Based in the United States, he is a highly respected wine and spiri...
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Konstantin was awarded the "Master of Wine" qualification in 2015. As the youngest German ever to do so, he passed the wine industry's toughest
exam. In 2019, he was selected as one of the 50 greatest talents in the wine world and received the WSET & IWSC Future 50 Award.
He is one of th...
Karen MacNeil is a renowned wine expert, author, and educator, best known for her book The Wine Bible, which is one of the most comprehensive and widely read wine guides in the world. She has had a distinguished career in wine journalism and education, serving as the chair of the wine department at ...
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Petar Velickovic’s journey into wine didn’t begin in a vineyard—it began tableside, serving guests and asking questions. For him, wine was never about status or price; it was always about connection. That core belief continues to shape everything he does as a wine educator.
He found...
Wanda Mann, CSW is a respected wine journalist, educator, and speaker whose passion for wine is matched only by her dedication to making it more inclusive and approachable. She is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Wine With Wanda, a dynamic platform where she shares her insights, interviews, and tr...
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Yannick Benjamin is a New York City–based sommelier and recipient of the prestigious MICHELIN Guide Sommelier Award, recognizing him as one of the leading professionals in the field. He serves as the Wine Director of the University Club of New York, where he oversees a cellar of more...
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Kathleen Willcox is an award‑winning journalist and storyteller whose work spans wine, spirits, sustainability, food culture, and travel. From her home base in Saratoga Springs, New York, she explores the people and business behind wine-making with a focus on ethical practices, terroir, and envi...
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Stevie Kim is an Italian wine evangelist with a global reach. Her vertical focus for the past 10+ years has been on the promotion, education, and communication of Italian wine. Born in Korea and raised in the United States, Stevie is now based in Verona, a world-renowned center of wine production an...
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Eve Bushman is a dynamic force in the wine world, blending her passion for oenology with a commitment to community enrichment. As a seasoned wine columnist for élite Magazine, her "Eve’s Wine 101" column offers readers insightful explorations into wine trends, tastings, and pairings.
B...