Meet the pros
80 sommeliers, winemakers and wine experts are taking 20-minute shifts to answer your questions by hand, from noon Pacific on Wednesday, Nov 25 to noon on Thanksgiving. Accolades are in their own words.
Benjamin Umstead
Certified Sommelier · Holm Denver
Jade Palmer
WSET Diploma · The Forth Hotel
Nate Axline
Winemaker · RZN Wines & Liquid Farm Wines
Sean Leary
Wine Director · Leary’s Liquor Cabinet
Lori ODonnell
Wine Director · Voltaire
Jancis Robinson Wine Writing Competition Shortlisted 2026
Bart Hansen
Winemaker · Dane Cellars
The Wine Makers Podcast host
Carlton McCoy
Master Sommelier · Lawrence Wine Estates
Pearce S
WSET Diploma · Owner Madrona Bay Winery
Maura Mazzoni
Wine Director · Jackson Family Wines
MBA- Global Wine Strategies SSU Chardonnay Barbie Partner, Zialena Winery Partner, Mazzoni Vineyards Director of Sales, Kendall-Jackson & La Crema Wineries
Kandace Wilson
WSET Level 2 · RD Winery
Hospitality Director, 5+ years in wine, 15+ years in Hospitality.
Sara Jablow
Winemaker · Far Niente Winery
Lauren Borger
WSET Level 3 · TRIG (marketing agency for wineries)
Kelly Toft
Winemaker · Jacob Toft Wines
Julian Christian
Winemaker · Greater Fool Wine
CMS Level 2 Somm 90+ points wine made as winemaker
Brenna Hill
Winemaker · Thacher Winery
Liz Gillingham
WSET Level 2 · McPrice Myers Wines
- Director of Business Operations at McPrice Myers Wines, employed since 2017. - Unsung Hero, Paso Robles Community Wine Awards 2022
Nicole
Winery Owner/General Manager · Paix Sur Terre
Nancy Ulloa
Winemaker · Ulloa Cellars
2025 Wine Enthusiast Future 40
Erin Barrett-Sparrow
Assistant Winemaker · High Camp Wines
I helped launch High Camp Wines in 2022. We were featured in Somm Journal this year. I am proud of my promotion as assistant winemaker this year and would love to share my knowledge.
Hussein Nasser
WSET Level 2 · Best Friends Wine Bar
I’m also a Winemaker!
André Hueston Mack
Sommelier · Sommelier-at-Large
Anneliese
WSET Level 3 · Underground Sommelier Tours
CSW also
Brian Mondavi Borger
Sales Manager & Partner at Continuum Estate · Continuum Estate
Cassidy Stirtz
WSET Level 2 · Sequoia Grove Winery
Wine Club and E-Comm Manager in Napa Valley. Introductory Somm Court of Masters and WSET Level 2 with Distinction.
Ted Glennon
Advanced Sommelier · Vinos Finos de California
Winemaker for 13 years. Somm type for 20, my mission is to bring wine back to the people and make wine easy again.
Collin Cranor
Winemaker · Syndicate Wines
Still in business and actually grew this year. + a bunch of 95 or highers.... hate to even say that
JP Whitlock
WSET Diploma · REYES
CSW, CSS, FWS, WSET 3 spirits
Blair Guthrie
Winemaker · Winemaker and Owner at Stewart Cellars Winemaker and Owner at Guthrie Family, Wines, Consulting Winemaker
What I’m most proud of is my ability to make delicious very affordable wine all the way up to my ability to produce 100 point Napa Cab.
Sherman Thacher
Winemaker · Thacher Winery & Vineyard
Charles McKahn
Winemaker · Titus Vineyards
Riddhi Agrawal
Wine Writer · Independent
I have a website and some international press on my writing - lettersfromawineromantic.com
Hannah Rahn
Winemaker · Rahn Estate
Prior TTB certified chemist
Adam Edelman
Winemaker · Nisi Wines
WSET level 3
Theresa
Writer · Self
Contributor to Vogue, NY Times, and WSJ
Alexis
WSET Level 3 · Penner Ash Wine Cellars
DipWSET Candidate, French Wine Scholar, Former Wine Director of a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list, Oregon Wine Expert, Competitor in Best Austrian Wine Sommelier competition
Cushing Donelan
Director of Marketing · Donelan Family Wines
Working for my family’s winery, we’ve garnered three perfect scores this year, our Chardonnay was selected to represent the US in Judgement in Paris 50th anniversary competitions. Love wine and sharing what I know.
Laurel Livezey
WSET Level 3 · Enclos Sonoma
Former wine director at Little Saint, Healdsburg. Captain at Enclos, Sonoma. https://www.wineenthusiast.com/culture/sustainability/sustainable-wine-programs https://youtu.be/vdA4A_O5008?is=p6Ve6GArcEsakvjD
Kerith Overstreet
Winemaker · Bruliam Wines
Phillip Barrood
WSET Level 3 · Spring Mountain Vineyard
DipSET In progress!! VERY accomplished drinker AND eater, occasionally at the same time...
Audrie Walsh
Winemaker · V. Sattui Winery
Rebekah Wineburg
Winemaker · Quintessa
Sofia Karla Großmann Casaubon
Winemaker · Geisenheim
Student at Geisenheim University
Megan Bell
Winemaker · CAWG
Founder of Margins Wine PR & Comms at California Association of Winegrape Growers
Tim Mahoney
WSET Level 2 · The Wise Old Dog
Kim Johnson
WSET Level 3 · Freemark Abbey Winery
Daniel Jacobson
Certified Sommelier · Naked Wines
1st ever Australian Wine list under 100 bins to receive 3 goblets in the GT wines awards (2016). Finalist Best Wines BTG GT Wine of the Yea 2015, 2016 Finalist best Australian Representation GT WotY awards 2016
Shannon Desmond
WSET Level 3 · Vin Chicago
I pair wine and books on Instagram!
Monika Bielka-Vescovi
Wine Educator · Napa Wine Class
Monika Bielka-Vescovi is an internationally recognized wine educator, award-winning author, international wine judge, and marketing strategist. She is the recipient of the prestigious OIV Award for her book Vines and Wine, a 2026 SommCon Imprint Awards finalist for Educator of the Year, and recipient of the Women of Wine Award and Female Entrepreneur of the Year recognition.
Brian Callahan
Winemaker · Crux Winery
Jackson Rohrbaugh
Master Sommelier · Crunchy Red Fruit
- Part of James Beard award winning wine program at Canlis (2017) - Rudd Scholar - Jeffrey H Johnston Medal Winner
Melissa Devore
President · Amici Cellars
WSET Level III
Riana Mondavi
WSET Level 3 · Charles Krug Winery
Born and raised in the wine business!
Greta Codyre
Wine Marketing · Greta Codyre Wine Marketing
Postgraduate Degree in Wine Science & Viticulture. WSET Level 2.
Jessica
Certified Sommelier · Café Juanita
Ben Goode
WSET Level 3 · Say When Wines
Wine Instagram specialising in pairing food and wine @musttastewine Wine start up coming soon - saywhenwines.com
Jason Santos
Certified Sommelier · JUSTIN Vineyards & Winery
MICHELIN star, FORBES 5 Star, AAA 5 Diamond
Kristen
WSET Level 2 · Seasonal Harvester
Worked in wine stores/bars for 4 years. Currently have over 10 years of experience working in multiple wineries on the West Coast for production.
Noel Petrin
Wine Director · CRU Wine Bar & Bistro
Intro somm 2003 CSW 2008 Opened 19 wine bars in 25 years Best of Award of Excellence
Heather McDougall
Sommelier · Sips
I'm a multi certified sommelier to some, but you...I'm just your wine bestie. Ask me anything!
Julia Wildt
WSET Level 3 · Lawrence Wine Estates
Koby Leeman
Wine Advisor · Wine Spectrum
Beck Fearnley
WSET Level 3 · Mitchell Wine Group
Grace Livsey
Sommelier · Cellar Door Wine Bar
Top 5 young sommeliers of NZ Top 100 sommeliers of NZ
Jaime Haener, Sommelier
WSET Level 3 · HGwines
William Davis
Advanced Sommelier · Wilson Daniels
2-Time finalist TopSomm, Director of Education at a pretty cool importer of grape juice, know my way around a corkscrew and a vineyard.
Alanna
Winemaker · Sinegal Estate Winery
WSET III MSc Viticulture/ Enology
Zane Meyer
WSET Level 3 · Unemployed
Currently studying for WSET Diploma. Previous Wine Steward at Erewhon but relocating to Portland so between jobs. Run @winexcinema Instagram account, curating wine and film pairings.
Chad Guebert
Winemaker · Golden Road Vineyards
Tawnya
WSET Level 3 · Juicy Wine & Spirits Club
Passed on the first try… with Merit. Saving up to do Diploma!
Christy Frank
Wine Buyer · Copake Wine Works
WSET Diploma and teacher, CMS Advanced, blind tasting coach, writer, Roots Fund Mentor of the Year
Tyler Balliet
Author, Founder · Rebel School of Wine, Rosé Mansion
James Beard Nominee, Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 (inaugural year), Inc Magazine 30 Under 30, Women for WineSense Lifetime Achievement Award, Good Morning America, CNN Business, ABC News, New York Times, LA Times, Wall Street Journal... lots more.
Elise Nerlove
Winemaker · Micro-Winery Guild & Elkhorn Peak
Adam Saake
Winemaker · Perch Wine Co.
Down to earth California winemaker.
Tute Cervino
WSET Level 2 · La Lista Wine
I’m a passionate communicator and actually have 2 podcasts: Fogon.Podcast and LaLista.wine
Alan Baker
Winemaker · Cartograph Wines
Andrew Schweiger
Winemaker · Schweiger Vineyards & Winery
Jennie Murphy
Winemaker · Oxlee Graham Wines
Food and Wine - 15 new wineries you should know for 2025, Wine Business - Hot Brands 2025
Torey Battuello
Wine Director · Battuello Vineyards
Part of the fifth-generation Battuello family winegrowing operation in St. Helena, Napa Valley. As Wine Director at Battuello Vineyards, I oversee direct-to-consumer sales, hospitality, and marketing for our family-owned estate winery. Our family has been farming in Napa Valley since 1909, and I'm passionate about sharing approachable wine education and connecting people with the families behind the wines they enjoy.
Tom Witczak
Winemaker · Grand Scheme Wines
Hannah Rahn
Winemaker · Coastal Viticultural Consultants