I hold certifications from The Court of Master Sommeliers and The Society of Wine Educators. I am the only American to have served as an international wine judge at La Trophee Internationale wine competition in Lyon France. I have completed wine making courses at U.C. Davis and The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). Combining a flair for performance with my wine industry experience, I was a finalist on the PBS TV series The Winemakers Season 2 and a producer on the reality TV series Best Bottle. I am also noted as an expert at Champagne "Sabrage". I first became interested in wine during my college days when I spent a year studying at The University of Bordeaux. Upon my return to the USA I began restaurant industry work including over 10 years as a sommelier and beverage director for a large national restaurant chain. Then moving to the wine industry my career included management positions with several national wine import and distribution companies as well as National Sales Manager for a Napa Valley family estate winery. I was General Manager of Stone Creek Wines which was at the time the largest private label wine producer in California. Currently in addition to my activities for The Sommelier Company I represent a large Italian winery supplying bulk wine for private labels to hotels. restaurants and large retailers as well as consulting for a French wine packaging company. I am based in San Francisco from where I travel each year to taste the new vintage wines in Italy and Southern France.Opinions I post are mine alone and in no way reflect any position of the clients I represent on any issue whatsoever.