2012 Speakers
Meet the 2012 Speakers
(click on their photo to view their bio)
Viticulture Moderator
Keith Striegler, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Dr. R. Keith Striegler is the Proprietor of Flint Ridge Winegrowing Services in Fayetteville, AR. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Food Science from the University of Arkansas, and his Ph.D. in Horticulture from Michigan State University. Dr. Striegler's professional experience includes working as a Research Scientist, Interim Director, and Julio R. Gallo Director's Chair at the Viticulture and Enology Research Center, California State University, Fresno; as an Extension Fruit Specialist for the Department of Horticulture, University of Arkansas; as Assistant Director-Viticulture and subsequently Director of the Mid-America Viticulture and Enology Center at Missouri State University; and as the Director and Viticulture Program Leader of the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology at the University of Missouri. His research interests include cultivar and rootstock evaluation, vineyard mechanization, sustainable practices, and the influence of cultural practices on grape and wine composition. Dr. Striegler currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Grape and Wine Initiative (NGWI); as Chair of the NGWI Outreach Committee; and as the National Clean Plant Network for Grapes Tier 2 Vice-Chair. Previously he served as the ASEV-ES Chair and on the Viticulture Consortium-East Regional Guidance Committee.
Pat Guinan
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Pat attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he received a B.S. in physical geography in 1986 and an M.S. in atmospheric science in 1988. He came to the University of Missouri to continue his education in atmospheric science and serve as a climatologist with the Agricultural Experiment Station. Since 1996, he has been employed by the University of Missouri's Extension Commercial Agriculture Program as a climatologist. Pat received his Ph.D. in Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences in 2004 and, in addition to his Extension and campus activities as an Assistant Professor in Climatology, he serves as the State Climatologist for Missouri and Director of the Missouri Climate Center.
Pat also maintains and operates the Extension Commercial Agriculture Automated Weather Station Network which consists of 30 automated weather stations in Missouri that monitor several environmental variables on a 5-minute, hourly and daily basis. The primary purpose of the network is to enhance technology, provide information for research and aid in decision making for agricultural intensive processes. Information on the network can be found at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/stations/index.htm
James A. Wolpert
Viticulture Extension Specialist
UC Davis, Davis, CA
Jim Wolpert is a native of Indiana. He received his Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in Horticulture in 1973. He took further training at Michigan State University, receiving a Master's degree in 1978 and a PhD in 1983. Both thesis projects involved research on production practices and how they influence cold hardiness of 'Concord' grapevines.
In 1985, Jim joined the Department of Viticulture and Enology as Viticulture Extension Specialist, where he is responsible for applied research and grower education programs for winegrapes in northern California. His main areas of research are performance of rootstocks, winegrape clones and varieties, as well as improvements in vineyard design and cultural practices as they influence wine quality.
He has been an invited to speak at industry meetings in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, as well as in Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain, and is the author of more than 50 scientific and technical publications.
He is past-President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and is past Chair of the Department of Viticulture & Enology where he held the title of Marvin Sands Endowed Department Chair.
Andy Allen
Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture & Enology (ICCVE)
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Allen received his B.S. degree in Horticulture from Mississippi State University and his M.S. degree in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas. He acted as the Tree Fruit Research Technician from 1992 to 1997 and Tree and Small Fruit Technician from 1997 through 2000 at the University of Arkansas prior to serving as the Extension Viticulturist for North Carolina from 2001 through June, 2004. Mr. Allen then returned to the Ozark Mountains to serve as the Viticulture Advisor for Missouri with the Mid-America Viticulture and Enology Center at the State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, MO. He currently serves as the Extension Viticulturist for Missouri with the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Sue Langstaff
Applied Sensory
Fairfield, CA
Sue Langstaff has a Master's degree in Food Science from the University of California at Davis where she studied Sensory Science, Enology and Brewing. Sue worked as a sensory scientist for Vinquiry, an analytical wine laboratory in California, and was an instructor at Napa Valley College where she taught Sensory Evaluation of Wine, Analysis of Wines and Musts, Wines of the World and Introduction to North Coast Wines. Sue has judged wine, beer and olive oil at numerous competitions and she is the former chairman of the Sensory Evaluation Committee for the California Enological Research Association. Her research in Sensory Science has been published in several technical journals and she has written a chapter entitled "Sensory Quality Control in the Wine Industry" in D. Kilcast (ed.), Sensory Analysis for Food and Beverage Control: A Practical Guide. Currently, Sue works as a sensory scientist for her own consulting company, Applied Sensory, LLC and she is the creator of "The Defects Wheel" for wine, beer and olive oil.
Bruce Bordelon
Basic Viticulture, Introductory Viticulture & Advanced Viticulture Sessions
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Bruce Bordelon is a professor of viticulture at Purdue University, where he has been part of the Purdue Wine Grape Team since 1991. He provides statewide extension support for the grape and small fruit industries in Indiana through a series of workshops, symposia and web-based educational materials. His research interests include evaluation of new varieties and selections, matching varieties to sites, integrated pest management, and canopy management to improve fruit quality. Current research projects include training systems and in-row spacing to manage excessive vigor in recently released varieties such as Traminette, Noiret and Corot noir. The Purdue Wine Grape Team coordinates viticulture and enology research, and develops marketing strategies to provide relevant and useful information for the wine industry. The team has lead study tours to Italy, Chile, and Argentina. In addition to research and extension, Bordelon co-teaches courses in fruit production (HORT 421), Commercial Grape and Wine Production (HORT 590/FS 591), and guest lectures in several other courses. He works closely with colleagues in surrounding states through the Midwest Fruit Workers Group. He is editor of the Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide (revised annually and used by11 states), and co-author of the Midwest Grape Production Guide (2005) and Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook (1997). He has served on the board, and as Chair of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture-Eastern Section, and is active in the American Society for Horticultural Science. Bordelon received a B.S. in plant pathology from Oklahoma State (1978), M.S. in plant pathology from Montana State (1981) and Ph.D. in fruit breeding and genetics from the University of Arkansas (1991).
Nat DiBuduo
President and CEO, Allied Grape Growers
Fresno, CA
Nat DiBuduo is the President CEO of Allied Grape Growers, a winegrape grower's winegrape marketing association representing near 600 members throughout California for over 50 years, producing over 275,000 tons annually. Prior to joining Allied in May 2000, Mr. DiBuduo was employed at Capital Agricultural Property Services, Inc. as the executive manager (1994-2000), where he had the responsibility of managing approximately 22,000 acres of agricultural land throughout California and Arizona. He also owned DiBuduo Agri-Resource Services, an agricultural farm management and consulting firm.
Mr. DiBuduo has a BS degree in Plant Science/Viticulture and a minor study in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno. Mr. DiBuduo has held a pest control advisor's license, a qualified applicator's license and currently holds a salesman's license from the California Department of Real Estate. Nat is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.
Mr. DiBuduo and the team at Capital Agriculture Property Services won the AFSMRA "1997 Farm Manager of the Year" award. In 2007 Nat was name Agriculturalist of the year by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and was named CSU Fresno's Distinguished Alumni of the Year at the 2008 Top Dog Awards. Nat was recently appointed to the CSU Fresno's Foundation Board of Governors.
Nat and his wife, Marilyn have been married 39 years and have three children and their spouses' and four grandchildren.
Mr. DiBuduo has developed, grown, harvested and/or marketed over 30 different varieties of grapes from A to Z, that's Alicante Bouschet to Zinfandel.
Paul Read
Advanced Viticulture
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Dr. Paul Read joined the Department of Horticulture as Head in January 1987. He resumed the role of professor of Horticulture and Viticulture in July 1997. He received his BS and MS degrees from Cornell University, sandwiched around 3 ½ years as an Extension Agent in the New York Extension system. Dr. Read received his PhD from the University of Delaware in 1967 and progressed from Assistant to full Professor at the University of Minnesota prior to coming to Nebraska.
His current research thrusts are in tissue culture for horticulture crop improvement and on vineyard management issues in support of Nebraska's developing grape and wine industry. He has served horticulture in a variety of leadership roles, including President of the American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS), president of the Plant Growth Regulator Society of America and president of the American Chestnut Foundation. He was recipient of the ASHS Outstanding Graduate Education Award and is a Fellow of ASHS. Dr. Read has been a visiting scientist at the University of Florida, the University of Nottingham (England), the Australian CSIRO, and a visiting professor at the University of Tasmania. Dr. Read has been active in several international organizations, has led Study Abroad trips to Siberia and Australia, and consulted in India, China, Thailand, New Zealand, Hungary, Moldova, and Australia.
Michael Leonardelli
Introductory Enology Moderator
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Born and raised in St. Louis, Michael Leonardelli well remembers the day trips to Augusta and Hermann MO from the late 70's through the 80's, and the concurrent development of Missouri's wine industry. His education includes an M.A and an M.B.A., followed by a 25+ year stint in healthcare finance. During his recent 18-year residence in Raleigh, NC, he earned an Associate's degree in Viticulture and Enology from Surry County Community College, and continued his enology education with an M.S in Food Science from NC State University. His thesis focused on the wine spoilage yeast Brettanomyces. In August 2010, he moved back to Missouri to serve as the Enology Extension Associate for the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology (ICCVE) based at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Paolo Sabbatini
Assistant Professor
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Paolo Sabbatini received his PhD (2002) and MS (1997) in Horticulture from the University of Ancona (Italy) and from 2002 to 2004 he worked as post-doc in viticulture on several aspects on vine physiology (mainly water relations and carbon assimilation in Sangiovese and Montepulciano cultivars) in the same university. In April 2004, he moved with his family to Michigan State for his post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr Flore, working on natural carbon isotope discrimination and source-sink relationship in fruit trees. In August 2007 he joined the Department of Horticulture of the Michigan State University as Assistant Professor in viticulture. He has research (50%), extension (40%) and teaching (10%) responsibilities. Research focus is on vine physiology of juice and wine grapes. Emphasis is on physiological and cultural factors limiting vine growth, sustainable yield, fruit quality and their interaction with biotic and abiotic stress. Carbon assimilation, storage and partitioning are the major tools for his studies. His ultimate goal is to solve whole plant problems that will optimize vine productivity and quality. He has also State responsibilities for evaluation of wine cultivar of Vitis vinifera and mixed species. He has several ongoing research project funded by MGWIC (Michigan Grape Wine and industry Council), Welch's National Grape Cooperative and Project GREEEN (MSU Experimental Station) on: crop load balance for achieving highest sustainable yields in juice grapes, canopy management in wine grapes to improve fruit quality, determination of action thresholds of pest and diseases in common Michigan wine grape cultivars and viticultural approaches to reduce bunch rot in wine grapes. He is affiliated with several professional societies; ASEV (from 2007), ASEV-ES (from 2009), ISHS (from 2002) and ASHS (from 2006).
Michael Amigoni
Amigoni Vineyards and Landscaping Supply
Amigoni Urban Winery, Kansas City, MO
Michael and his wife Kerry Amigoni have been growing vinifera grapes for 15 years and own Amigoni Urban Winery in Kansas City, Missouri. Their vineyard near Centerview, MO specializes in growing vinifera varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre, Viognier, and Malbec. Applying techniques from the Finger Lakes of NY, Michael continues to develop sustainable techniques for these challenging varieties and consults with growers in the Midwest.
Rick Jones
Rick Jones is a winemaking consultant who specializes in bringing new and innovative techniques to the grape and wine industry. A 1984 UC Davis graduate, he co-founded Vinovation, Inc. in 1992, which brought a solution to the centuries old problem of volatile acidity in wine. The company later went on to innovate the use of reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration and other cross-flow technologies in commercial winemaking. He also worked as a consultant with Oenodev, the French inventor of micro-oxygenation, helping to apply the technique in the new world. With a strong technical background, yet firmly grounded in commercial realities, his most recent work with Della Toffola USA, involves bringing ThermoFlash technology to the U.S. as well as other new techniques for red wine extraction.
Barry McFarland
Business Director and Co-Owner
Mac's Creek Winery & Vineyards, Lexington, NE
Barry McFarland is the business director and co-owner of his family's winery Mac's Creek Winery & Vineyards, in Lexington, Nebraska since 2000. Barry directs the finance and marketing for the winery and has spoken internationally on how to bring in and connect with your visitors. Barry has served and help develop the state of Nebraska's emerging wine industry through his work with the Nebraska Wineries & Grape Growers Association and the Heart of Nebraska Wine Trail. In addition to wine business, he is currently an elementary principal in Lexington.
Doug Frost
Founder
Beverage Alcohol Resource, Prairie Village, KS
Doug Frost is a Kansas City author who writes and lectures about wine, beer and spirits. In 1991 he passed the rigorous Master Sommelier examination and two years later became America's eighth Master of Wine. He was the second person in history to complete both exams and eighteen years later he is still one of only three people in the world to have achieved both these remarkable distinctions. According to USA Today, "Frost likely knows as much as anyone in the world about how to make, market, serve and identify wines." The Wine Spectator has also bestowed the accolade of Master of Spirits on Mr. Frost, and he is one of the founders of BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource), considered by most industry professionals to be the preeminent education and examining body for the spirits and cocktail industry. He continues to teach and examine for BAR and within the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine programs.
Frost is the host of Check Please!, an Emmy Award nominated weekly public TV show filmed in Kansas City. He also appears as a featured judge on Public Television's The Winemakers, PBS's first nationally broadcast reality show. Mr. Frost is also the wine and spirits consultant for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines worldwide, helping to select tens of thousands of cases of wines and spirits each year for service aboard the world's most important worldwide carrier. He is the founder and director of the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition, a eleven-year-old national competition, and is Head Judge and founder of the Mid-American Wine Competition, in its fourth year. He has served for many years on the board of the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas, and is the current Vice Chairman. He also serves on the board of the Institute of Masters of Wine North America.
As a founding partner of a new spirits and cocktail educational organization, BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource), Frost has created a fantastic resource with his partners: Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult, Andy Seymour and David Wondrich. BAR opened for business in June 2006; Cheers Magazine selected BAR and its founders as Innovators of the Year for 2007. Frost was awarded Beverage Innovator of the Year 2009 by Cheers Magazine.
He consults with many retailers, restaurateurs, wineries and distillers in the realms of marketing, merchandising, sales, education and sensory perception. Mr. Frost lives with his wife and two children in Kansas City, where he spends his spare time listening to his massive punk rock, vintage jazz and weird music collection.
PaulWagner
Marketing Moderator
Balzac Communications & Marketing, Napa, CA
Paul Wagner studied education at U. C. Santa Cruz and classical guitar and public performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Seville, Spain.
After several positions in Public Relations and Marketing in the wine industry in Napa Valley, Mr. Wagner formed Balzac Communications & Marketing on April 1, 1991. Clients include a broad range of national and international companies and organizations, with primary focus in the food and beverage industries. Current clients include Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Cecchetti & Racke, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Trinchero Family Estates, Vinitaly/Veronafiere, Regione Sicilia, DO Navarra, White Rocket Wine Company, and a host of other wine and food specialists.
He is an instructor for Napa Valley College's Viticulture and Enology department, and is a guest lecturer for the MIB School of Management in Trieste, the Enesad program at the University of Burgundy at Dijon, Golden Gate University, Sonoma State University, and UC Davis and UC Berkeley extension in the fields of wine history, wine marketing, and wine production. He has lectured throughout the world on communications, public affairs, wine and wine marketing.
With Liz Thach and Janeen Olsen, he authored a book: Wine Marketing & Sales, Strategies for a Saturated Market by The Wine Appreciation Guild, which won the Gourmand International Award in 2008 for the best wine book of the year for professionals. He is a regular columnist for Vineyards & Winery Management Magazine, and contributes to Allexperts.com in the field of wine and food.
Paul Wagner has judged many national and international wine competitions, is a founding member of the Academy of Wine Communications, a member of the nominations committee of the Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Spadarini della Castellania di Soave in 2005. In 2009 he was honored with a "Life Dedicated to Wine" award at the Feria Nacional del Vino (FENAVIN) in Spain.
Elizabeth Slater
Owner
In Short Marketing, Windsor, CA
Elizabeth Slater is a marketing savant, owner of In Short Direct Marketing and co-founder of the Wine Industry Network (wineindustrynetwork.com) a business-to-business internet marketplace, connecting wineries and growers with wine industry suppliers and services.
Internationally recognized within the wine industry as a seminar and workshop leader, speaker, and trainer, Elizabeth (or E as she is known) specializing in all facets of direct marketing, sales and customer service. Her seminars, presented with humor and enthusiasm, are jammed with innovative, useful and easy to implement concepts and information.
Through her company, In Short Direct Marketing, E works with wineries of all sizes as well as winery and state associations. While consulting on all facets of marketing, her focus is primarily sales and marketing of wine directly to consumers.
E's career in marketing, advertising and sales has spanned a number of diverse industries and provided her with an extensive breadth of knowledge and experience. In addition to training, she teaches classes in wine marketing for Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College, and is the direct marketing columnist for Vineyard & Winery Management.
Marco LiCalzi
Enology Moderator
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Marco Li Calzi received his PhD in Pharmacology from Mario Negri Institute in Milan (Italy) in 1995. He then spent three years as a postdoctoral researcher in the Biochemistry Department of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. Marco returned to Italy and worked, between 1998 and 2007 as a sales representative in the pharmaceuticals industry for Merck in the Verona area (Northern Italy).
The passion for wine induced Marco to get enrolled into an Enology & Viticulture bachelor degree program at the University of Bologna. He defended his thesis and obtained his degree in Cesena, Italy, in December 2008. For two years, 2006-07, Marco was a collaborator of the Italian wine consumer guide "Vini Buoni d' Italia" as an evaluator of Soave and Gambellara wines. From July 2007 to December 2009 Marco completed his second postdoctoral experience in the Viticulture & Enology department of the University of California, Davis, CA.
Marco Li Calzi joined the ICCVE, at University of Missouri, Columbia, on January 1st 2010 as an assistant professor and the enology program leader. He conducts research on the identification of the aroma compounds of Mid-West grapes and wines and teaches two courses: "Wine Production" and "Cellar Operations and Special Vinifications".
Matteo Meglioli
Hosti Mondiale, Inc.
Ville Ste Catherine, QC
Matteo Meglioli's Italian roots have led him to where he is today. Having followed in his father's footsteps, he has become the go-to enologist in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Just a short distance from his hometown of Reggio Emilia, Matteo began his studies at the University of Parma where he obtained a Food and Technology Diploma. But that was only the beginning. He continued his education at UC Davis in California and at VirginiaTech in Virginia. And, finally, Matteo is currently studying his way to a PhD in Enology at the University of Bologna in Italy. All the while, he packed his bags and moved across the pond to Montreal, Quebec. He now works at Mosti Mondiale as Quality Manager. He has earned the trust of the most reputable wineries in Quebec and in Ontario and now performs analysis in a state-of-the-art laboratory with particular attention to hybrid grapes and cold climate viticulture. In the past couple of years, he has implemented different calibrations based on FOSS analysis focusing on hybrid grapes and cider. He also collaborated with AgriCanada on anthocyanins' characterization in hybrid grapes through the use of LCMS. The wine industry in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario are fairly young but, with Matteo's special attention to the art of winemaking, it'll surely gain the reputation that it deserves.
Robert Hall
Arbor Hills Vineyards, Inc.
Galena, IL
Robert Hall is a partner in Arbor Hill Vineyards Inc. established in 1998. They started with four acres of Frontenac and one acre of Foch in 1999 and added two acres of Foch in 2002. Robert served as a director from the Northern Region of Illinois on the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association from 1999 thru 2007, 2nd Vice President in 2008, 1st Vice President in 2009, President in 2010 and Past President in 2011. Robert was awarded the Illinois Vineyard of the Year Award in 2006 and the IGGVA Industry Achievement Award in 2011. He is now retired.
Joe Pollack
St. Louis Eats and Drinks
St Louis, MO
Joe Pollack has been writing about wine and food for 40 years, and about other good things for more than 60. Born in Brooklyn, N,. Y., he began as a high school correspondent for several newspapers that no longer exist, and has extinguished others through the years. He's a University of Missouri graduate in journalism whose first job out of college was as assistant sports editor at the Jackson (Miss.) Daily News, long-gone. In the Army, he was managing editor of the Fort Lee (Va.) Traveller. (That's the way it was spelled). He returned to Mizzou as a graduate student and sports editor of the Columbia Missourian, moved to St. Louis for six years as a sports writer for the late, lamented St. Louis Globe-Democrat, then took a 10-year detour as public relations director for the St. Louis Football Cardinals.
Returning to newspapers in 1972, he left sports to become the theater and movie critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, soon added restaurant and wine writing and stayed for 23 years, also working in radio and television and writing several books. Retiring in 1995, he and his wife, Ann Lemons Pollack, now operate an active blog dealing in food, wine, movies and theater at www.stlouiseats.typepad.com . They have written three books together and also are contributing writers to several publications, including St. Louis Magazine and Palate Press, a wine and food web site. They also travel to visit eight grand-children and a great-grandchild living in Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Norway.
Jennifer Montgomery
WineAmerica, Director of Grassroots and Political Affairs
Washington, DC
Jennifer Montgomery is WineAmerica's Director of Grassroots and Political Affairs. Her responsibilities include lobbying Members of Congress; working with and reporting on public policy developments; establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with Members of Congress. Other responsibilities include establishing and expanding WineAmerica's grassroots network; conducting educational outreach to the grassroots on federal policy and encouraging political activism.
Prior to joining WineAmerica, Jennifer worked as a Legislative Analyst for a lobbying firm in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to providing support for the lead lobbyist, her responsibilities included tracking legislation, attending committee hearings, and writing position papers for clients. She also conducted legislative research and maintained contacts within the Virginia General Assembly.
Jennifer grew up in Blacksburg, Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, with minors in English and political science, from Radford University in Radford,Virginia.
Richard DeScenzo
ETS Laboratories
St. Helena, CA
Richard DeScenzo is the Microbiology Group Leader for ETS Laboratories. ETS provides microbiological analysis for problematic fermentations using a combination of classical microbiology methods and molecular biology techniques.
Dr. DeScenzo received his Masters in Plant Pathology and Ph. D in Plant Biology at the University of New Hampshire, and conducted his postdoctoral studies on disease resistance genes in barley with the USDA/ARS at Iowa State University. He spent 10 years conducting research on grape genomics, development of molecular diagnostics, and fermentation monitoring in the wine industry.
Dr. DeScenzo joined ETS in January 2006, leading the Microbiology Group and guiding the development of the Scorpion Wine Spoilage Detection Kit. Most recently, Richard has focused on transitioning the Scorpions technology for use in the fuel ethanol market. In addition to developing improved diagnostics for the fermentation industry, Richard works with clients to help them understand their microbial fermentation problems, and develop monitoring programs to prevent future problems.
Patricia Howe
ETS Laboratories
St. Helena, CA
Patricia holds a BS in Fermentation Science and MS in Food Science from UC Davis, and owns perhaps the smallest freestanding bonded winery in the US with an annual production of 120 cases. Patricia is a TTB certified Chemist and has 30 years of experience in the wine industry, including technical winemaking positions at several Napa Valley wineries, international work in France and Australia, and commercial lab ownership and management of a sensory and testing lab in Napa Valley.
Patricia is a co-founder of CERA (California Enological Research Association) and a past president of the ASEV (American Society for Enology and Viticulture). She has taught wine classes for Napa Community College, Missouri State VESTA Enology program, and was the Teaching Laboratory Manager at UC Davis' Department of Viticulture and Enology. Patricia is a frequent author for wine trade magazines and her articles about technical, analytical, and sensory topics are widely published. In addition, she helped develop and is co-copyright holder of the Sparkling Wine Aroma wheel.
Patricia joined ETS in 2010 to help spearhead the development of the newest ETS laboratory site in Roseburg, Oregon. In addition to her analytical duties Pat will continue her involvement in wine technical groups and wine education and help guide the future growth and success of the southern Oregon wine industry.
Nick Ferrante
Vice-President / Winemaker
Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
Geneva, OH
Nick Ferrante is a third generation winemaker, viticulturalist, and general manager of the family-owned Ferrante Winery & Ristorante. Nick specializes in cool climate viticulture, which includes growing grapes and producing wines made from Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Vidal Blanc, and Cabernet Franc, from his Grand River Valley Appellation vineyards. Ferrante's 2005 Golden Bunches Dry Riesling won 'Best White Wine' in the 2006 Riverside, California, International Wine Competition. Nick's Ice Wines have won numerous Double Gold and Best of Class awards. Nick has served the Ohio Grape Industries Program (OGIP) as a committee member from 1999 to 2007. He was chairman of the OGIP Research Committee which was responsible for creating Ohio's Ohio Quality Wine Program. Nick is a professional member of the American Society of Viticulture and Enology. Currently, Nick is the chairman of the Wine Growers of the Grand River Valley.
John Springer
Facilitator, trainer, speaker, entrepreneur and adventurer, John Springer is the President and C.E.O. of Four Winds, Inc., a nationally recognized authority in teambuilding and leadership training since 1989.
John believes leadership is action, not position - and his life reflects that conviction. His passion for exploration and the willingness to act on his dreams has led to a lifetime of inquiry and discovery. John navigated more than 1000 miles of the Mississippi river on a raft he designed and built; wandered more than 1600 kilometers across Europe and over the Alps on foot; sailed from Africa to the West Indies in transatlantic competition and continues to explore remote reaches of the Grand Canyon in an ongoing quest to set foot where no human has yet stood.
Creating workplaces filled with pride, appreciation and prosperity is John's idea of success and to this end, he and Four Winds show a remarkable record of success. He takes great pride in sustaining the high quality of relationships that exist within the Four Winds organization - and has inspired more than 121,000 clients.
Currently John and his daughter relish living in the California wine country with their menagerie of furry, feathered and finned friends.
Patrick Byers
University of Missouri Extension
Regional Horticulture Specialist
Springfield, MO
Patrick Byers is Regional Horticulture Specialist with the Greene County office of University of Missouri Extension. His educational background includes an associate degree from the University of Nebraska, a bachelor's degree University of Missouri, and a Master's degree from the University of Arkansas, all in horticulture. Job experience includes 3 years at the University of Arkansas Fruit Substation and 18 years as Fruit Grower Advisor at the MSU State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, where he worked with grape research programs and provided outreach training for grape growers. His current position of regional horticulture specialist with MU Extension includes outreach programming for commercial and home horticulture in the 16-county southwest Missouri region.
Madeline Triffon
Plum Market
Farmington, MI
Madeline Triffon joined Plum Market, a full-service grocery retailer based in Southeast Michigan, in 2011 as the in-house Master Sommelier. Triffon directs wine tasting events, hand selects wines for in-store and online retail sales, and serves as a corporate wine educator.
Triffon is one of 118 professionals who have earned the title Master Sommelier in North America, Triffon was the first of 16 American women, and the second woman in the world, to have passed the M.S. exam. She is a Chairman Emeritus of the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommelier and has also served as Scholarship Chair.
For over 20 years, Triffon has directed restaurant wine programs in the Metro Detroit area, at the London Chop House, Rattlesnake Club and the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group. She has mentored wine and service professionals and enjoys watching them grow as their experience and knowledge within the wine industry excels.
Santé Magazine named Triffon Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year for 1999. Restaurant Hospitality awarded Triffon their Vanguard Award in 2002 for industry leadership and vision. In 2008, WCR (Women Chefs and Restaurateurs) awarded Triffon their Golden Goblet Award for "Women Who Inspire". Cheers Magazine gave Triffon their Award for Beverage Excellence in 2011.
Jim Cushman
Park Farm Winery
Durango, IA
Graduated 2005 from St. John's University with a BA in History Jim began working full time at Park Farm Winery, his family's small winery in Bankston, Iowa in May of 2005.
Jim has served as a full time vineyard manager since 2006 with a 10 acre, ever expanding vineyard with 17 cold-hearty grape varietals. The oldest vines were first planted in 2001.
He also is involved in all aspects of the family business, from assisting his brother Dave in wine making duties to working the tasting bar and pizza kitchen.
Jim is also an avid gardner and outdoor enthusiast who loves hunting, fishing, and camping.
Lee Lutes
Head Winemaker
Black Star Farms
Suttons Bay, MI
As the head winemaker for Black Star Farms, Lee overseas winemaking operations for the two processing facilities on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. These facilities were created in 2007 to separately specialize in red and white wine production. He also directs the distillation program that produces European style fruit brandies and dessert wines.
Lee is a proud self-taught winemaker, which he eventually came to via experience in the restaurant industry as well as extensive international travel. He was an assistant winemaker at a small Piedmont winery prior to moving back to Michigan, where he was born and raised, and returned home at a time fortuitous with the growth and expansion of the industry. He is an avid supporter of all things Michigan, and proudly specializes in Pinot Noir and Riesling.
Cory Bomgaars
Les Bourgeois Vineyards & Winery
Rocheport Missouri
Cory Bomgaars started his career at Les Bourgeois Vineyards in 1991 as a salesperson in the Tasting Room and A-Frame and occasionally assisted in the vineyards and winery. A student of biology and chemistry at the University of Missouri, Cory soon migrated to the wine lab, where he helped the Bourgeois family with wine analysis. By 1993, Les Bourgeois was experiencing considerable growth, which called for a full time winemaker. Bomgaars quickly volunteered and was sent to the University of California, Davis to hone his skills in viticulture and fermentation. During his time at UCD Cory worked at various wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California. He also participated in research to analyze the influences of oak barrels from different cooperages and regions of the world. Cory became part-owner of Les Bourgeois Vineyards in 1997.
Cory directly oversees the production and operations of 30 acres of Les Bourgeois vineyards and has developed successful partnerships with LBV's contract growers and assists them with his knowledge of vineyard management best practices.
Through two decades of wine making at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Cory has been instrumental in the company's tremendous growth and success.
After five years of planning, LBV celebrated the first crush in their new 14,000 sq. ft. wine production facility in August 2011.
LBV is actively involved in custom crush, contract bottling and co-packing for other wineries, retailers and wholesalers. Cory currently holds the liquor license for Les Bourgeois Vineyards and coordinates the compliance issues between selling and manufacturing for all tiers of the Missouri three tiered system.
Cory does consulting with startup and existing wineries and vineyards for winery and vineyard development and assists clients with licensing, equipment purchases, product development and vineyard and winery design.
Cory is currently serving as President of the Missouri Vintners Association. He also serves as a member of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, focusing most of his efforts through both the Research and Advisory Subcommittee and the Legislative Subcommittee. Cory served on the Ozark Mountain Vineyard Sustainability Assessment Workbook Technical Advisory Committee, and he has been a college level instructor, teaching Winery Sanitation through the Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA). Additionally, Cory serves on the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference Advisory Committee.
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Viticulture Moderator
Keith Striegler, Ph.D.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Dr. R. Keith Striegler is the Proprietor of Flint Ridge Winegrowing Services in Fayetteville, AR. He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Food Science from the University of Arkansas, and his Ph.D. in Horticulture from Michigan State University. Dr. Striegler's professional experience includes working as a Research Scientist, Interim Director, and Julio R. Gallo Director's Chair at the Viticulture and Enology Research Center, California State University, Fresno; as an Extension Fruit Specialist for the Department of Horticulture, University of Arkansas; as Assistant Director-Viticulture and subsequently Director of the Mid-America Viticulture and Enology Center at Missouri State University; and as the Director and Viticulture Program Leader of the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology at the University of Missouri. His research interests include cultivar and rootstock evaluation, vineyard mechanization, sustainable practices, and the influence of cultural practices on grape and wine composition. Dr. Striegler currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Grape and Wine Initiative (NGWI); as Chair of the NGWI Outreach Committee; and as the National Clean Plant Network for Grapes Tier 2 Vice-Chair. Previously he served as the ASEV-ES Chair and on the Viticulture Consortium-East Regional Guidance Committee.
Pat Guinan
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Pat attended the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign where he received a B.S. in physical geography in 1986 and an M.S. in atmospheric science in 1988. He came to the University of Missouri to continue his education in atmospheric science and serve as a climatologist with the Agricultural Experiment Station. Since 1996, he has been employed by the University of Missouri's Extension Commercial Agriculture Program as a climatologist. Pat received his Ph.D. in Soil, Environmental and Atmospheric Sciences in 2004 and, in addition to his Extension and campus activities as an Assistant Professor in Climatology, he serves as the State Climatologist for Missouri and Director of the Missouri Climate Center.
Pat also maintains and operates the Extension Commercial Agriculture Automated Weather Station Network which consists of 30 automated weather stations in Missouri that monitor several environmental variables on a 5-minute, hourly and daily basis. The primary purpose of the network is to enhance technology, provide information for research and aid in decision making for agricultural intensive processes. Information on the network can be found at: http://agebb.missouri.edu/weather/stations/index.htm
James A. Wolpert
Viticulture Extension Specialist
UC Davis, Davis, CA
Jim Wolpert is a native of Indiana. He received his Bachelor of Science from Purdue University in Horticulture in 1973. He took further training at Michigan State University, receiving a Master's degree in 1978 and a PhD in 1983. Both thesis projects involved research on production practices and how they influence cold hardiness of 'Concord' grapevines.
In 1985, Jim joined the Department of Viticulture and Enology as Viticulture Extension Specialist, where he is responsible for applied research and grower education programs for winegrapes in northern California. His main areas of research are performance of rootstocks, winegrape clones and varieties, as well as improvements in vineyard design and cultural practices as they influence wine quality.
He has been an invited to speak at industry meetings in Colorado, Michigan, Missouri, New York, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Washington, as well as in Canada, Germany, Italy, Mexico, New Zealand and Spain, and is the author of more than 50 scientific and technical publications.
He is past-President of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture and is past Chair of the Department of Viticulture & Enology where he held the title of Marvin Sands Endowed Department Chair.
Andy Allen
Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture & Enology (ICCVE)
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Allen received his B.S. degree in Horticulture from Mississippi State University and his M.S. degree in Horticulture from the University of Arkansas. He acted as the Tree Fruit Research Technician from 1992 to 1997 and Tree and Small Fruit Technician from 1997 through 2000 at the University of Arkansas prior to serving as the Extension Viticulturist for North Carolina from 2001 through June, 2004. Mr. Allen then returned to the Ozark Mountains to serve as the Viticulture Advisor for Missouri with the Mid-America Viticulture and Enology Center at the State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, MO. He currently serves as the Extension Viticulturist for Missouri with the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Sue Langstaff
Applied Sensory
Fairfield, CA
Sue Langstaff has a Master's degree in Food Science from the University of California at Davis where she studied Sensory Science, Enology and Brewing. Sue worked as a sensory scientist for Vinquiry, an analytical wine laboratory in California, and was an instructor at Napa Valley College where she taught Sensory Evaluation of Wine, Analysis of Wines and Musts, Wines of the World and Introduction to North Coast Wines. Sue has judged wine, beer and olive oil at numerous competitions and she is the former chairman of the Sensory Evaluation Committee for the California Enological Research Association. Her research in Sensory Science has been published in several technical journals and she has written a chapter entitled "Sensory Quality Control in the Wine Industry" in D. Kilcast (ed.), Sensory Analysis for Food and Beverage Control: A Practical Guide. Currently, Sue works as a sensory scientist for her own consulting company, Applied Sensory, LLC and she is the creator of "The Defects Wheel" for wine, beer and olive oil.
Bruce Bordelon
Basic Viticulture, Introductory Viticulture & Advanced Viticulture Sessions
Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Bruce Bordelon is a professor of viticulture at Purdue University, where he has been part of the Purdue Wine Grape Team since 1991. He provides statewide extension support for the grape and small fruit industries in Indiana through a series of workshops, symposia and web-based educational materials. His research interests include evaluation of new varieties and selections, matching varieties to sites, integrated pest management, and canopy management to improve fruit quality. Current research projects include training systems and in-row spacing to manage excessive vigor in recently released varieties such as Traminette, Noiret and Corot noir. The Purdue Wine Grape Team coordinates viticulture and enology research, and develops marketing strategies to provide relevant and useful information for the wine industry. The team has lead study tours to Italy, Chile, and Argentina. In addition to research and extension, Bordelon co-teaches courses in fruit production (HORT 421), Commercial Grape and Wine Production (HORT 590/FS 591), and guest lectures in several other courses. He works closely with colleagues in surrounding states through the Midwest Fruit Workers Group. He is editor of the Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide (revised annually and used by11 states), and co-author of the Midwest Grape Production Guide (2005) and Midwest Small Fruit Pest Management Handbook (1997). He has served on the board, and as Chair of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture-Eastern Section, and is active in the American Society for Horticultural Science. Bordelon received a B.S. in plant pathology from Oklahoma State (1978), M.S. in plant pathology from Montana State (1981) and Ph.D. in fruit breeding and genetics from the University of Arkansas (1991).
Nat DiBuduo
President and CEO, Allied Grape Growers
Fresno, CA
Nat DiBuduo is the President CEO of Allied Grape Growers, a winegrape grower's winegrape marketing association representing near 600 members throughout California for over 50 years, producing over 275,000 tons annually. Prior to joining Allied in May 2000, Mr. DiBuduo was employed at Capital Agricultural Property Services, Inc. as the executive manager (1994-2000), where he had the responsibility of managing approximately 22,000 acres of agricultural land throughout California and Arizona. He also owned DiBuduo Agri-Resource Services, an agricultural farm management and consulting firm.
Mr. DiBuduo has a BS degree in Plant Science/Viticulture and a minor study in Business Administration from California State University, Fresno. Mr. DiBuduo has held a pest control advisor's license, a qualified applicator's license and currently holds a salesman's license from the California Department of Real Estate. Nat is a graduate of the California Agricultural Leadership Program.
Mr. DiBuduo and the team at Capital Agriculture Property Services won the AFSMRA "1997 Farm Manager of the Year" award. In 2007 Nat was name Agriculturalist of the year by the Greater Fresno Area Chamber of Commerce and was named CSU Fresno's Distinguished Alumni of the Year at the 2008 Top Dog Awards. Nat was recently appointed to the CSU Fresno's Foundation Board of Governors.
Nat and his wife, Marilyn have been married 39 years and have three children and their spouses' and four grandchildren.
Mr. DiBuduo has developed, grown, harvested and/or marketed over 30 different varieties of grapes from A to Z, that's Alicante Bouschet to Zinfandel.
Paul Read
Advanced Viticulture
University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE
Dr. Paul Read joined the Department of Horticulture as Head in January 1987. He resumed the role of professor of Horticulture and Viticulture in July 1997. He received his BS and MS degrees from Cornell University, sandwiched around 3 ½ years as an Extension Agent in the New York Extension system. Dr. Read received his PhD from the University of Delaware in 1967 and progressed from Assistant to full Professor at the University of Minnesota prior to coming to Nebraska.
His current research thrusts are in tissue culture for horticulture crop improvement and on vineyard management issues in support of Nebraska's developing grape and wine industry. He has served horticulture in a variety of leadership roles, including President of the American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS), president of the Plant Growth Regulator Society of America and president of the American Chestnut Foundation. He was recipient of the ASHS Outstanding Graduate Education Award and is a Fellow of ASHS. Dr. Read has been a visiting scientist at the University of Florida, the University of Nottingham (England), the Australian CSIRO, and a visiting professor at the University of Tasmania. Dr. Read has been active in several international organizations, has led Study Abroad trips to Siberia and Australia, and consulted in India, China, Thailand, New Zealand, Hungary, Moldova, and Australia.
Michael Leonardelli
Introductory Enology Moderator
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Born and raised in St. Louis, Michael Leonardelli well remembers the day trips to Augusta and Hermann MO from the late 70's through the 80's, and the concurrent development of Missouri's wine industry. His education includes an M.A and an M.B.A., followed by a 25+ year stint in healthcare finance. During his recent 18-year residence in Raleigh, NC, he earned an Associate's degree in Viticulture and Enology from Surry County Community College, and continued his enology education with an M.S in Food Science from NC State University. His thesis focused on the wine spoilage yeast Brettanomyces. In August 2010, he moved back to Missouri to serve as the Enology Extension Associate for the Institute for Continental Climate Viticulture and Enology (ICCVE) based at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Paolo Sabbatini
Assistant Professor
Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Paolo Sabbatini received his PhD (2002) and MS (1997) in Horticulture from the University of Ancona (Italy) and from 2002 to 2004 he worked as post-doc in viticulture on several aspects on vine physiology (mainly water relations and carbon assimilation in Sangiovese and Montepulciano cultivars) in the same university. In April 2004, he moved with his family to Michigan State for his post-doctoral studies in the laboratory of Dr Flore, working on natural carbon isotope discrimination and source-sink relationship in fruit trees. In August 2007 he joined the Department of Horticulture of the Michigan State University as Assistant Professor in viticulture. He has research (50%), extension (40%) and teaching (10%) responsibilities. Research focus is on vine physiology of juice and wine grapes. Emphasis is on physiological and cultural factors limiting vine growth, sustainable yield, fruit quality and their interaction with biotic and abiotic stress. Carbon assimilation, storage and partitioning are the major tools for his studies. His ultimate goal is to solve whole plant problems that will optimize vine productivity and quality. He has also State responsibilities for evaluation of wine cultivar of Vitis vinifera and mixed species. He has several ongoing research project funded by MGWIC (Michigan Grape Wine and industry Council), Welch's National Grape Cooperative and Project GREEEN (MSU Experimental Station) on: crop load balance for achieving highest sustainable yields in juice grapes, canopy management in wine grapes to improve fruit quality, determination of action thresholds of pest and diseases in common Michigan wine grape cultivars and viticultural approaches to reduce bunch rot in wine grapes. He is affiliated with several professional societies; ASEV (from 2007), ASEV-ES (from 2009), ISHS (from 2002) and ASHS (from 2006).
Michael Amigoni
Amigoni Vineyards and Landscaping Supply
Amigoni Urban Winery, Kansas City, MO
Michael and his wife Kerry Amigoni have been growing vinifera grapes for 15 years and own Amigoni Urban Winery in Kansas City, Missouri. Their vineyard near Centerview, MO specializes in growing vinifera varieties such as Cabernet Franc, Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre, Viognier, and Malbec. Applying techniques from the Finger Lakes of NY, Michael continues to develop sustainable techniques for these challenging varieties and consults with growers in the Midwest.
Rick Jones
Rick Jones is a winemaking consultant who specializes in bringing new and innovative techniques to the grape and wine industry. A 1984 UC Davis graduate, he co-founded Vinovation, Inc. in 1992, which brought a solution to the centuries old problem of volatile acidity in wine. The company later went on to innovate the use of reverse osmosis, ultra-filtration and other cross-flow technologies in commercial winemaking. He also worked as a consultant with Oenodev, the French inventor of micro-oxygenation, helping to apply the technique in the new world. With a strong technical background, yet firmly grounded in commercial realities, his most recent work with Della Toffola USA, involves bringing ThermoFlash technology to the U.S. as well as other new techniques for red wine extraction.
Barry McFarland
Business Director and Co-Owner
Mac's Creek Winery & Vineyards, Lexington, NE
Barry McFarland is the business director and co-owner of his family's winery Mac's Creek Winery & Vineyards, in Lexington, Nebraska since 2000. Barry directs the finance and marketing for the winery and has spoken internationally on how to bring in and connect with your visitors. Barry has served and help develop the state of Nebraska's emerging wine industry through his work with the Nebraska Wineries & Grape Growers Association and the Heart of Nebraska Wine Trail. In addition to wine business, he is currently an elementary principal in Lexington.
Doug Frost
Founder
Beverage Alcohol Resource, Prairie Village, KS
Doug Frost is a Kansas City author who writes and lectures about wine, beer and spirits. In 1991 he passed the rigorous Master Sommelier examination and two years later became America's eighth Master of Wine. He was the second person in history to complete both exams and eighteen years later he is still one of only three people in the world to have achieved both these remarkable distinctions. According to USA Today, "Frost likely knows as much as anyone in the world about how to make, market, serve and identify wines." The Wine Spectator has also bestowed the accolade of Master of Spirits on Mr. Frost, and he is one of the founders of BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource), considered by most industry professionals to be the preeminent education and examining body for the spirits and cocktail industry. He continues to teach and examine for BAR and within the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine programs.
Frost is the host of Check Please!, an Emmy Award nominated weekly public TV show filmed in Kansas City. He also appears as a featured judge on Public Television's The Winemakers, PBS's first nationally broadcast reality show. Mr. Frost is also the wine and spirits consultant for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines worldwide, helping to select tens of thousands of cases of wines and spirits each year for service aboard the world's most important worldwide carrier. He is the founder and director of the Jefferson Cup Invitational Wine Competition, a eleven-year-old national competition, and is Head Judge and founder of the Mid-American Wine Competition, in its fourth year. He has served for many years on the board of the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas, and is the current Vice Chairman. He also serves on the board of the Institute of Masters of Wine North America.
As a founding partner of a new spirits and cocktail educational organization, BAR (Beverage Alcohol Resource), Frost has created a fantastic resource with his partners: Dale DeGroff, Steve Olson, Paul Pacult, Andy Seymour and David Wondrich. BAR opened for business in June 2006; Cheers Magazine selected BAR and its founders as Innovators of the Year for 2007. Frost was awarded Beverage Innovator of the Year 2009 by Cheers Magazine.
He consults with many retailers, restaurateurs, wineries and distillers in the realms of marketing, merchandising, sales, education and sensory perception. Mr. Frost lives with his wife and two children in Kansas City, where he spends his spare time listening to his massive punk rock, vintage jazz and weird music collection.
PaulWagner
Marketing Moderator
Balzac Communications & Marketing, Napa, CA
Paul Wagner studied education at U. C. Santa Cruz and classical guitar and public performance at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Seville, Spain.
After several positions in Public Relations and Marketing in the wine industry in Napa Valley, Mr. Wagner formed Balzac Communications & Marketing on April 1, 1991. Clients include a broad range of national and international companies and organizations, with primary focus in the food and beverage industries. Current clients include Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines, Cecchetti & Racke, the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux, Trinchero Family Estates, Vinitaly/Veronafiere, Regione Sicilia, DO Navarra, White Rocket Wine Company, and a host of other wine and food specialists.
He is an instructor for Napa Valley College's Viticulture and Enology department, and is a guest lecturer for the MIB School of Management in Trieste, the Enesad program at the University of Burgundy at Dijon, Golden Gate University, Sonoma State University, and UC Davis and UC Berkeley extension in the fields of wine history, wine marketing, and wine production. He has lectured throughout the world on communications, public affairs, wine and wine marketing.
With Liz Thach and Janeen Olsen, he authored a book: Wine Marketing & Sales, Strategies for a Saturated Market by The Wine Appreciation Guild, which won the Gourmand International Award in 2008 for the best wine book of the year for professionals. He is a regular columnist for Vineyards & Winery Management Magazine, and contributes to Allexperts.com in the field of wine and food.
Paul Wagner has judged many national and international wine competitions, is a founding member of the Academy of Wine Communications, a member of the nominations committee of the Culinary Institute of America's Vintner's Hall of Fame, and was inducted into the Spadarini della Castellania di Soave in 2005. In 2009 he was honored with a "Life Dedicated to Wine" award at the Feria Nacional del Vino (FENAVIN) in Spain.
Elizabeth Slater
Owner
In Short Marketing, Windsor, CA
Elizabeth Slater is a marketing savant, owner of In Short Direct Marketing and co-founder of the Wine Industry Network (wineindustrynetwork.com) a business-to-business internet marketplace, connecting wineries and growers with wine industry suppliers and services.
Internationally recognized within the wine industry as a seminar and workshop leader, speaker, and trainer, Elizabeth (or E as she is known) specializing in all facets of direct marketing, sales and customer service. Her seminars, presented with humor and enthusiasm, are jammed with innovative, useful and easy to implement concepts and information.
Through her company, In Short Direct Marketing, E works with wineries of all sizes as well as winery and state associations. While consulting on all facets of marketing, her focus is primarily sales and marketing of wine directly to consumers.
E's career in marketing, advertising and sales has spanned a number of diverse industries and provided her with an extensive breadth of knowledge and experience. In addition to training, she teaches classes in wine marketing for Sonoma State University and Santa Rosa Junior College, and is the direct marketing columnist for Vineyard & Winery Management.
Marco LiCalzi
Enology Moderator
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
Marco Li Calzi received his PhD in Pharmacology from Mario Negri Institute in Milan (Italy) in 1995. He then spent three years as a postdoctoral researcher in the Biochemistry Department of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC. Marco returned to Italy and worked, between 1998 and 2007 as a sales representative in the pharmaceuticals industry for Merck in the Verona area (Northern Italy).
The passion for wine induced Marco to get enrolled into an Enology & Viticulture bachelor degree program at the University of Bologna. He defended his thesis and obtained his degree in Cesena, Italy, in December 2008. For two years, 2006-07, Marco was a collaborator of the Italian wine consumer guide "Vini Buoni d' Italia" as an evaluator of Soave and Gambellara wines. From July 2007 to December 2009 Marco completed his second postdoctoral experience in the Viticulture & Enology department of the University of California, Davis, CA.
Marco Li Calzi joined the ICCVE, at University of Missouri, Columbia, on January 1st 2010 as an assistant professor and the enology program leader. He conducts research on the identification of the aroma compounds of Mid-West grapes and wines and teaches two courses: "Wine Production" and "Cellar Operations and Special Vinifications".
Matteo Meglioli
Hosti Mondiale, Inc.
Ville Ste Catherine, QC
Matteo Meglioli's Italian roots have led him to where he is today. Having followed in his father's footsteps, he has become the go-to enologist in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario. Just a short distance from his hometown of Reggio Emilia, Matteo began his studies at the University of Parma where he obtained a Food and Technology Diploma. But that was only the beginning. He continued his education at UC Davis in California and at VirginiaTech in Virginia. And, finally, Matteo is currently studying his way to a PhD in Enology at the University of Bologna in Italy. All the while, he packed his bags and moved across the pond to Montreal, Quebec. He now works at Mosti Mondiale as Quality Manager. He has earned the trust of the most reputable wineries in Quebec and in Ontario and now performs analysis in a state-of-the-art laboratory with particular attention to hybrid grapes and cold climate viticulture. In the past couple of years, he has implemented different calibrations based on FOSS analysis focusing on hybrid grapes and cider. He also collaborated with AgriCanada on anthocyanins' characterization in hybrid grapes through the use of LCMS. The wine industry in the Provinces of Quebec and Ontario are fairly young but, with Matteo's special attention to the art of winemaking, it'll surely gain the reputation that it deserves.
Robert Hall
Arbor Hills Vineyards, Inc.
Galena, IL
Robert Hall is a partner in Arbor Hill Vineyards Inc. established in 1998. They started with four acres of Frontenac and one acre of Foch in 1999 and added two acres of Foch in 2002. Robert served as a director from the Northern Region of Illinois on the Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association from 1999 thru 2007, 2nd Vice President in 2008, 1st Vice President in 2009, President in 2010 and Past President in 2011. Robert was awarded the Illinois Vineyard of the Year Award in 2006 and the IGGVA Industry Achievement Award in 2011. He is now retired.
Joe Pollack
St. Louis Eats and Drinks
St Louis, MO
Joe Pollack has been writing about wine and food for 40 years, and about other good things for more than 60. Born in Brooklyn, N,. Y., he began as a high school correspondent for several newspapers that no longer exist, and has extinguished others through the years. He's a University of Missouri graduate in journalism whose first job out of college was as assistant sports editor at the Jackson (Miss.) Daily News, long-gone. In the Army, he was managing editor of the Fort Lee (Va.) Traveller. (That's the way it was spelled). He returned to Mizzou as a graduate student and sports editor of the Columbia Missourian, moved to St. Louis for six years as a sports writer for the late, lamented St. Louis Globe-Democrat, then took a 10-year detour as public relations director for the St. Louis Football Cardinals.
Returning to newspapers in 1972, he left sports to become the theater and movie critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, soon added restaurant and wine writing and stayed for 23 years, also working in radio and television and writing several books. Retiring in 1995, he and his wife, Ann Lemons Pollack, now operate an active blog dealing in food, wine, movies and theater at www.stlouiseats.typepad.com . They have written three books together and also are contributing writers to several publications, including St. Louis Magazine and Palate Press, a wine and food web site. They also travel to visit eight grand-children and a great-grandchild living in Florida, Arizona, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Norway.
Jennifer Montgomery
WineAmerica, Director of Grassroots and Political Affairs
Washington, DC
Jennifer Montgomery is WineAmerica's Director of Grassroots and Political Affairs. Her responsibilities include lobbying Members of Congress; working with and reporting on public policy developments; establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with Members of Congress. Other responsibilities include establishing and expanding WineAmerica's grassroots network; conducting educational outreach to the grassroots on federal policy and encouraging political activism.
Prior to joining WineAmerica, Jennifer worked as a Legislative Analyst for a lobbying firm in Richmond, Virginia. In addition to providing support for the lead lobbyist, her responsibilities included tracking legislation, attending committee hearings, and writing position papers for clients. She also conducted legislative research and maintained contacts within the Virginia General Assembly.
Jennifer grew up in Blacksburg, Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism, with minors in English and political science, from Radford University in Radford,Virginia.
Richard DeScenzo
ETS Laboratories
St. Helena, CA
Richard DeScenzo is the Microbiology Group Leader for ETS Laboratories. ETS provides microbiological analysis for problematic fermentations using a combination of classical microbiology methods and molecular biology techniques.
Dr. DeScenzo received his Masters in Plant Pathology and Ph. D in Plant Biology at the University of New Hampshire, and conducted his postdoctoral studies on disease resistance genes in barley with the USDA/ARS at Iowa State University. He spent 10 years conducting research on grape genomics, development of molecular diagnostics, and fermentation monitoring in the wine industry.
Dr. DeScenzo joined ETS in January 2006, leading the Microbiology Group and guiding the development of the Scorpion Wine Spoilage Detection Kit. Most recently, Richard has focused on transitioning the Scorpions technology for use in the fuel ethanol market. In addition to developing improved diagnostics for the fermentation industry, Richard works with clients to help them understand their microbial fermentation problems, and develop monitoring programs to prevent future problems.
Patricia Howe
ETS Laboratories
St. Helena, CA
Patricia holds a BS in Fermentation Science and MS in Food Science from UC Davis, and owns perhaps the smallest freestanding bonded winery in the US with an annual production of 120 cases. Patricia is a TTB certified Chemist and has 30 years of experience in the wine industry, including technical winemaking positions at several Napa Valley wineries, international work in France and Australia, and commercial lab ownership and management of a sensory and testing lab in Napa Valley.
Patricia is a co-founder of CERA (California Enological Research Association) and a past president of the ASEV (American Society for Enology and Viticulture). She has taught wine classes for Napa Community College, Missouri State VESTA Enology program, and was the Teaching Laboratory Manager at UC Davis' Department of Viticulture and Enology. Patricia is a frequent author for wine trade magazines and her articles about technical, analytical, and sensory topics are widely published. In addition, she helped develop and is co-copyright holder of the Sparkling Wine Aroma wheel.
Patricia joined ETS in 2010 to help spearhead the development of the newest ETS laboratory site in Roseburg, Oregon. In addition to her analytical duties Pat will continue her involvement in wine technical groups and wine education and help guide the future growth and success of the southern Oregon wine industry.
Nick Ferrante
Vice-President / Winemaker
Ferrante Winery & Ristorante
Geneva, OH
Nick Ferrante is a third generation winemaker, viticulturalist, and general manager of the family-owned Ferrante Winery & Ristorante. Nick specializes in cool climate viticulture, which includes growing grapes and producing wines made from Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Vidal Blanc, and Cabernet Franc, from his Grand River Valley Appellation vineyards. Ferrante's 2005 Golden Bunches Dry Riesling won 'Best White Wine' in the 2006 Riverside, California, International Wine Competition. Nick's Ice Wines have won numerous Double Gold and Best of Class awards. Nick has served the Ohio Grape Industries Program (OGIP) as a committee member from 1999 to 2007. He was chairman of the OGIP Research Committee which was responsible for creating Ohio's Ohio Quality Wine Program. Nick is a professional member of the American Society of Viticulture and Enology. Currently, Nick is the chairman of the Wine Growers of the Grand River Valley.
John Springer
Facilitator, trainer, speaker, entrepreneur and adventurer, John Springer is the President and C.E.O. of Four Winds, Inc., a nationally recognized authority in teambuilding and leadership training since 1989.
John believes leadership is action, not position - and his life reflects that conviction. His passion for exploration and the willingness to act on his dreams has led to a lifetime of inquiry and discovery. John navigated more than 1000 miles of the Mississippi river on a raft he designed and built; wandered more than 1600 kilometers across Europe and over the Alps on foot; sailed from Africa to the West Indies in transatlantic competition and continues to explore remote reaches of the Grand Canyon in an ongoing quest to set foot where no human has yet stood.
Creating workplaces filled with pride, appreciation and prosperity is John's idea of success and to this end, he and Four Winds show a remarkable record of success. He takes great pride in sustaining the high quality of relationships that exist within the Four Winds organization - and has inspired more than 121,000 clients.
Currently John and his daughter relish living in the California wine country with their menagerie of furry, feathered and finned friends.
Patrick Byers
University of Missouri Extension
Regional Horticulture Specialist
Springfield, MO
Patrick Byers is Regional Horticulture Specialist with the Greene County office of University of Missouri Extension. His educational background includes an associate degree from the University of Nebraska, a bachelor's degree University of Missouri, and a Master's degree from the University of Arkansas, all in horticulture. Job experience includes 3 years at the University of Arkansas Fruit Substation and 18 years as Fruit Grower Advisor at the MSU State Fruit Experiment Station in Mountain Grove, where he worked with grape research programs and provided outreach training for grape growers. His current position of regional horticulture specialist with MU Extension includes outreach programming for commercial and home horticulture in the 16-county southwest Missouri region.
Madeline Triffon
Plum Market
Farmington, MI
Madeline Triffon joined Plum Market, a full-service grocery retailer based in Southeast Michigan, in 2011 as the in-house Master Sommelier. Triffon directs wine tasting events, hand selects wines for in-store and online retail sales, and serves as a corporate wine educator.
Triffon is one of 118 professionals who have earned the title Master Sommelier in North America, Triffon was the first of 16 American women, and the second woman in the world, to have passed the M.S. exam. She is a Chairman Emeritus of the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommelier and has also served as Scholarship Chair.
For over 20 years, Triffon has directed restaurant wine programs in the Metro Detroit area, at the London Chop House, Rattlesnake Club and the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group. She has mentored wine and service professionals and enjoys watching them grow as their experience and knowledge within the wine industry excels.
Santé Magazine named Triffon Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year for 1999. Restaurant Hospitality awarded Triffon their Vanguard Award in 2002 for industry leadership and vision. In 2008, WCR (Women Chefs and Restaurateurs) awarded Triffon their Golden Goblet Award for "Women Who Inspire". Cheers Magazine gave Triffon their Award for Beverage Excellence in 2011.
Jim Cushman
Park Farm Winery
Durango, IA
Graduated 2005 from St. John's University with a BA in History Jim began working full time at Park Farm Winery, his family's small winery in Bankston, Iowa in May of 2005.
Jim has served as a full time vineyard manager since 2006 with a 10 acre, ever expanding vineyard with 17 cold-hearty grape varietals. The oldest vines were first planted in 2001.
He also is involved in all aspects of the family business, from assisting his brother Dave in wine making duties to working the tasting bar and pizza kitchen.
Jim is also an avid gardner and outdoor enthusiast who loves hunting, fishing, and camping.
Lee Lutes
Head Winemaker
Black Star Farms
Suttons Bay, MI
As the head winemaker for Black Star Farms, Lee overseas winemaking operations for the two processing facilities on the Leelanau and Old Mission Peninsulas. These facilities were created in 2007 to separately specialize in red and white wine production. He also directs the distillation program that produces European style fruit brandies and dessert wines.
Lee is a proud self-taught winemaker, which he eventually came to via experience in the restaurant industry as well as extensive international travel. He was an assistant winemaker at a small Piedmont winery prior to moving back to Michigan, where he was born and raised, and returned home at a time fortuitous with the growth and expansion of the industry. He is an avid supporter of all things Michigan, and proudly specializes in Pinot Noir and Riesling.
Cory Bomgaars
Les Bourgeois Vineyards & Winery
Rocheport Missouri
Cory Bomgaars started his career at Les Bourgeois Vineyards in 1991 as a salesperson in the Tasting Room and A-Frame and occasionally assisted in the vineyards and winery. A student of biology and chemistry at the University of Missouri, Cory soon migrated to the wine lab, where he helped the Bourgeois family with wine analysis. By 1993, Les Bourgeois was experiencing considerable growth, which called for a full time winemaker. Bomgaars quickly volunteered and was sent to the University of California, Davis to hone his skills in viticulture and fermentation. During his time at UCD Cory worked at various wineries in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California. He also participated in research to analyze the influences of oak barrels from different cooperages and regions of the world. Cory became part-owner of Les Bourgeois Vineyards in 1997.
Cory directly oversees the production and operations of 30 acres of Les Bourgeois vineyards and has developed successful partnerships with LBV's contract growers and assists them with his knowledge of vineyard management best practices.
Through two decades of wine making at Les Bourgeois Vineyards, Cory has been instrumental in the company's tremendous growth and success.
After five years of planning, LBV celebrated the first crush in their new 14,000 sq. ft. wine production facility in August 2011.
LBV is actively involved in custom crush, contract bottling and co-packing for other wineries, retailers and wholesalers. Cory currently holds the liquor license for Les Bourgeois Vineyards and coordinates the compliance issues between selling and manufacturing for all tiers of the Missouri three tiered system.
Cory does consulting with startup and existing wineries and vineyards for winery and vineyard development and assists clients with licensing, equipment purchases, product development and vineyard and winery design.
Cory is currently serving as President of the Missouri Vintners Association. He also serves as a member of the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, focusing most of his efforts through both the Research and Advisory Subcommittee and the Legislative Subcommittee. Cory served on the Ozark Mountain Vineyard Sustainability Assessment Workbook Technical Advisory Committee, and he has been a college level instructor, teaching Winery Sanitation through the Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA). Additionally, Cory serves on the Midwest Grape and Wine Conference Advisory Committee.
