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The People Behind Wine Folly


Madeline Puckette

James Beard Award-winning author and Wine Communicator of the Year. I co-founded Wine Folly to help people learn about wine. @WineFolly

Phil Keeling

Technically WSET II but I also write plays, jokes, and the occasional diatribe. You'll find me waxing on about Riesling and other German delights.

Christine Marsiglio MW

Christine Marsiglio is Head Wine Educator and Resident Master of Wine for Folly Enterprises and Wine Folly. Christine is a certified Wine & Spirits Education Trust wine educator, a winner of the Bollinger Medal, and holds an MSc in Oenology and Viticulture from École Supérieure d'Agriculture d'Angers, France.

Vincent Rendoni

I'm a spicy meatball who loves light-bodied reds, aromatic whites, video games, and for better or worse, Seattle sports teams. I was a huge fan of Wine Folly before being hired, so I guess you could say I'm living the dream.

Justin Hammack

When I'm not drinking wine, I'm also.. a rails developer, vegetarian foodie, coffee addict, casual gamer, lover of cult movies, driver of insane turbo-2.0L ... in Seattle.

Team Wine Folly

Wine Folly offers educational products, engaging content, and a web portal to a progressive, knowledge-driven wine culture.

Chad Wasser

I live in Seattle, where I touch really fragile things with kid gloves for a living.

Kanchan Schindlauer

I'm a certified wine geek, constantly discovering new facets in the joy of wine. And to think, it was under my nose this whole time!

Haley Mercedes

I got a tattoo of grapes during veraison… does that make me a wine geek? Possibly. WSET diploma seeker @haley.mercedes

Hilarie Larson

I love talking, writing, reading, learning, and teaching, about wine. I adore vino so much I even married a winemaker. That’s dedication. Find out more about me.

Stacy Slinkard

After a six year stint in the brewing industry, Stacy realized her palate preferred grapes over grains. Today, she is a wine writer, educator and sommelier.

Jackson Rohrbaugh

Jackson is a Sommelier at Canlis in Seattle, WA who enjoys introducing people to new wines, beers and spirits. He loves to share the stories and passion that go into the production of great drinks. @jacksonwr

Madeline Blasberg

Madeline Blasberg is a American writer living and working in the wine trade in Argentina and France. Visit her site

Alan Tardi

Besides writing about wine, I teach at annual wine conferences such as SommCon and the Society of Wine Educators, and online for the Wine Scholar Guild. WSET Advanced Level 3 Award, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), Italian Wine Scholar (IWS), and Champagne Master certificate.

Chris Howard

Dr. Chris Howard is an anthropologist interested in the biocultural aspects of wine. He lectures for Chaminade University of Honolulu, Massey University and conducts research for the New Zealand government and other organizations. Originally from Sonoma, CA, Chris resides in Wellington, NZ.

Nicole Dickerson

WSET certified international wine writer with a passion for rare varieties and cellar hand experience in both hemispheres. Join me in the vineyards and cellars of the wine world at PalmAndVine.com

Chelsea Roberts

I'm an old soul with a passion for travel, writing and napping. I like my wine to be bubbly and my pajamas to be matching. I'd love to chat @ceroberts2015

Courtney Schiessl

Courtney is a Brooklyn-based sommelier, wine writer, and consultant. She is most likely to be seen dreaming of her next international adventure over a glass of bubbly. @takeittocourt

Julia Riddle

I am a wine writer and world traveler from Charlotte, North Carolina. Great at multitasking. Find me writing articles with a baby on my lap and coffee cup in hand.

Katie Eigel

Katie is a self-proclaimed #WineGeekInTraining who spends her days writing for various wine publications. Follow her sips and tips on @eieigel

Lindsay Pomeroy

Lindsay is a seasoned wine educator, thirsty consumer, and humble MW student seeking to unmask the complexity of this elusive, ever-changing, evolving beverage one drink at a time. @winesmarties

Stephen Curtis

Stephen Curtis can be described as a Web Developer, Wine Geek, Chinese Linguist, Gamer and Foodie. He grew up in Amador County wine country where his family had a vineyard and taught him to cook as a proper chef. curtismode.com

Alexa Sanford

Wine event organizer and researcher living in Europe and traveling through wine country as much as possible.

Amber Gibson

I'm a travel, food and wine journalist and my motto is #champagneallday. Find me out there in the world.

Andrea Bulfone

A wine enthusiast from Italy, with a WSET certification from Austria, who is now living in Singapore where he masters the art of spotting good, affordable wine.

Holly Borntrager

Sharing hospitality, good food and wine is my passion. Performing complex, scientific analyses is my career. Combining them, I possess a unique perspective and desire to contribute.

Kate Soto

I am a wine writer from Los Angeles with a weakness for Pinot Noir, fiction, and enchiladas.

Lesley Quinn

Top Somm Atlantic Canada. Proud to call Prince Edward Island home–eating lobsters since diapers and can shuck an oyster as smoothly as opening a bottle of bubbles.

Morgan Harris

Morgan Harris is a New York City based sommelier. He believes wine is a great way to connect people to each other and to the planet.

Pamela Ocana

I'm a Mexican biochemist turned wine geek, lover of Riesling and travel. Sharing my passion for wine one article at a time.

Sarah Grunwald

Sarah May Grunwald is a certified sommelier and permaculturist living and working in the Lazio countryside. She leads wine tours and tastings in Rome, Lazio, and throughout Italy.

Stephen Reiss

Stephen Reiss Ph.D., C.W.E. is as exuberant about wine as he is a skeptic. He is often found testing conventional wine wisdom. Find him on LinkedIn

Adam Knoerzer

I am a wine educator, consultant, and writer based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I'm also the WOSA Sommelier Cup 2019 US champion, an ice hockey player, and a polyglot. @burghundy_wine

Adam Montefiore

In the land of creation, where Tel Avivians play and Jerusalemites pray, I taste, write, read and talk about wine.

Alexandra Kuderski

I love traveling, talking and writing about wine. I am a freelance journalist in Lyon, France. @AlexKuderski

Amanda Barnes

A British nomad and member of Circle of Wine Writers. I'm in constant motion traveling the world in search of amazing wine stories. @amanda_tweeter

Andrea Buffa

Born in Asti, Piedmont, Italy, I began working in the wine industry in 2001 and I have recently completed Doctoral studies in Chemistry at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. In 2015 I started an experimental project of production of "traditional method" sparkling wines in Israel from unconventional grape varieties.

Dr. Andrew Waterhouse

Dr. Waterhouse is a Chemist and Professor of Enology at UC Davis who studies phenolic compounds and how they affect wine taste and human health.

Anthony Pieri

Three parts wine geek, two parts adventurer, with half-part drone pilot. It all began with a non-descript bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir, then JM poured me a glass of Leroy Richebourg.

April Bennett

I am a whimsical wino with a taste for good wine, bad movies and writing the Great American Novel. @write_or_wrong83

Ashley Sara Dekam

Growing up in the world of gourmet food and wine, I learned to channel my creative energy into crafting in the kitchen. The kitchen and the vineyard became my canvas. craving4more.com

Athena Bochanis

New Yorker with a Budapest spirit. All about that Hungarian wine. @palinkerie

Brian McClintic

Brian McClintic, Master Sommelier and star of SOMM (2013), is on a passionate journey to discover special wines from special places at Viticole Wine.

Bryan Maletis

Bryan is the cofounder of fatcork.com a direct import-to-retail site for grower Champagne. Bryan finds it hard to not drink his own product.

Camille Berry

A wine writer, sommelier and worshipper of the vine from California's sun-soaked shores.

Carrie Wynkoop

I love Oregon. And I love wine. That's why I created Cellar 503, an Oregon wine club -- to share fabulous wines from artisanal Oregon winemakers and tell their inspiring stories.

Dr Matthew Horkey & Charine Tan from Exotic Wine Travel

Full-time wine explorers of the lesser-known wine regions at exoticwinetravel.com. Authors of the book Uncorking the Caucasus: Wines from Turkey, Armenia, and Georgia.

Crom Larson

Crom Larson is Managing Editor for Folly Enterprises and Winefolly.com. Crom is an award winning journalist for multimedia and podcast production. He enjoys reading all subjects, jasmine tea, and the zen of a really nice pencil.

Émilie Steckenborn

Emilie Steckenborn has lived in Shanghai, China for over seven years and is currently the Head of Education for Asia & MEIA at Treasury Wine Estates. Her passion for wine, food, beer and cocktails are brought to life through Bottled in China podcast and blog.

Igor Sill

I’m living my dream farming a hillside Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard in St. Helena and a mountain vineyard on Atlas Peak. Find me pursuing my passion for perfection as a winemaker at Sill Family Vineyards

Jack Costa

Jack is currently a Washington State University wine student and writer who spent his pre-drinking days working, studying, and living in the vineyards, wine caves, and tasting rooms of Oregon's Umpqua Valley.

Jake Pippin

Tasting my way through NYC, Chile and the rest of the world one day and one glass at a time. @jakepip

Jonah Beer

Wine guy, vintner, importer, and distributor. Lover of travel, food, wine and the stories that make them special. @beer_jonah

Julien Fayard

I'm a consulting winemaker who brings a little French finesse to California wines. But if you ask me, surfing the Pacific Ocean will teach you more about finesse than working a decade in Bordeaux at top Châteaux. fayardwines.com

Kalpana Wright

I'm a girl from down under, living in Bordeaux and discovering what this beautiful world of wine has to offer. I do wine tours with bordeauxwinetrails.com

Kim Kirchhoff

aka The Little Winemaker. Expert for the certain metabolites - making, of the intermediate chemical stage in the Methanecarboxylic acid synthesis.

Lori Budd

Living the dream by pursuing my passion for wine. Owner of Dracaena Wines in Paso Robles, CA. @dracaenawines

Natalie Halt

My obsession with the Loire borders on pathological and not just because of the Chenin. Well, mostly. @natalie_halt

Nick Franklin

Nick lives in Southern California and has spent the last several years working at The Ojai Vineyard, where he manages, writes, and makes wine during harvest.

Nicole Goddard

Nikki Goddard is an Oakland-based wine writer, educator, illustrator, and consultant who is constantly chasing the next obscure grape or wine region discovery.

Renata Mytnikova

I help my family-run Cognac cellar in Slovakia. My work is to create The Alphabetical Encyclopedia of Cognac while enjoying all kinds of wines as my favorite hobby.

Suriya Bala

Suriya is most often obsessing on food, wine and neuroplasticity. A WSET qualified writer/broadcaster, yet unable to reverse park, she’s an ardent crusader for wine literacy- without the bastard airs and graces @hungry_somm

Tahiirah Habibi

I'm one wine drinking, fashion slinging, knowledge ringing, mama! Join the community at thehuesociety.com

Valerie Kathawala

I'm an NYC-based wine writer drinking her way through Austria, Germany, and Italy. @valkatnyc

Zachary Geballe

Zach Geballe is a writer, sommelier, teacher, and most of all a wine lover. You can find him at www.vinetrainings.com

Zachary Sussman

Zachary Sussman is a Brooklyn-based wine writer. His work appears in various national outlets, including Wine & Spirits, Bon Appétit online, Tasting Table, Fodors.com, Grape Collective, Serious Eats, and Publix Grape magazine, among others.

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