Wine And Cheese Lovers Podcast

Klei's scientific background and endless curiousity led him to his career in the wine industry. In 2005, he graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in biology, looking to use his biology degree in a laboratory, Klei completed an internship in the lab at Snoqualmie Winery in Eastern Washington for the 2005 harvest. After the harvest, he worked in a few other laboratories, but quickly found that none of the other jobs could match up to working at a winery, when a full time lab position opened at SMWE, Klei jumped at the opportunity to return to the industry. As his time there progressed, Klei found he was interested in more than just the laboratory side of winemaking. With the support of the winemaking team, Klei found his true passion for the industry. In 2008, Klei was named enologist for Columbia Crest out of Patterson, Washington, and in 2012 he was promoted to assistant winemaker. In 2015, Klei began overseeing winemaking for motto wines. As of 2018, Klei is now head winem

Eve Bushman has a Level Two Intermediate Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), a "certification in first globally-recognized course" as an American Wine Specialist ® from the North American Sommelier Association (NASA), Level 1 Sake Award from WSET, was the subject of a 60-minute Wine Immersion video (over 16k views), authored “Wine Etiquette for Everyone” and has served as a judge for the Long Beach Grand Cru and the Global Wine Awards.

Jill Gedra is the Owner of Lait Cru Brasserie and Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile, which operate side-by-side in the Horsefeathers Building on Buffalo’s West Side. After graduating from the New England Culinary Institute, Jill worked in kitchens across the country, extending from San Francisco to the Midwest, and found her niche – cheese. Jill gained experience as a cheese monger for several high-end grocers in Nantucket and Minneapolis, while raising her two young children. Upon moving home to Orchard Park, NY, Jill opened Nickel City Cheese & Mercantile in Buffalo’s Elmwood Village. The European-style gourmet cheese and specialty food store has since grown into a bustling business, supplying countless local restaurants with cheese and other exclusive items, as well as offering Western New Yorkers unique, gourmet products.

The First Underground, Commercial Barrel Cellar in Central Texas Grape Creek Vineyard's terroir has a rich legacy beyond it's recent wine history. The property sits on what is believed to have been a Comanche campground. Evidence of their presence is in the form of spearheads, arrowheads and skinning tools found on the property. The banks of Grape Creek afforded the native tribes access to year-round water and cool breezes. In 1985, Ned and Nel Simes, the original owners of Grape Creek Vineyards, began a 20 year journey to create a recognized winery in the Texas Hill Country. They planted Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay and also established the first underground, commercial barrel cellar in Central Texas, which can be seen on our tours. Ned passed away in 2004 and the Heath's purchased the property and business from Ned’s heirs in early 2006. The Heath's have a Vision Brian immediately embarked on a renovation and expansion of the property. This included transforming what once was the residence in

Michella Chiu is the Director of Brand Marketing at GREAT WINE, Inc. She plays a crucial role in managing the company’s strategic plans in marketing, public relations (PR), and sales. Companies Chiu has worked for successfully gain publicity in important media outlets including Forbes, Entrepreneur, monster.com, and U.S. News & Report etc. Chiu went to Columbia University for her M.A. in East Asian Languages and Culture (History track) and Princeton University for her Ph.D. in History. She also holds certificates including Strategic Leadership for Supervisors from the University of Washington, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust WSET Level 3. Chiu’s education ignites her interest for wine history and concepts behind wine for consumption. As a prolific researcher and marketing professional, Chiu gained numerous academic research experiences as a historian at University of Chicago and the Rockefeller Foundation. She received invitation to publish from the University of Cambridge and Indiana University pres

Leslie is the founder and owner of Vino 301 Wine Concierge, a Maryland wine tours and events company. She established the company with two goals in mind: first to celebrate the contributions of the local vintners and boutique wine producers and secondly every customer should be thrilled and delighted when attending a Vino 30l event. Leslie is an advocate for locally sourced food and wine. She holds Level Two, Award in Wines and Spirits (WSET). Prior to joining the wine tourism industry, she worked several years in the public policy industry for public and non-for-profit organizations.

I'm Chris Hanson, and I'm the Tasting Room Manager for Laurentia Vineyard & Winery. I've only been in the position for two short months, but I've learned so much in that small time span!

Tim has over 30 years of proven success in the wine industry with positions in public relations, trade relations, marketing and sales, event management and wine education. His experience includes positions at prominent adult beverage companies; such as E&J Gallo where he served as Marketing Director Fine Wine Communications, Peak Wines as V.P. of Marketing and Communications, Trinchero Family Estates as Director of Trade Relations, with Heublein Wines as Director of Trade & Public Relations, and sales assignments with both Seagram and Heublein. Tim has experience with all types of Media, National Accounts, Wholesale Distributors, Restaurant, and Retail segments. Tim has served as a Wine Judge at over 200 Wine and Spirits Competitions here in North America. He’s currently the Director of Wine Judging at the San Francisco International Wine Competition and the Chief Judge at the Central Coast Wine Competition. Tim speaks frequently on assembled panels at many wine industry events.

Laurie Forster is one of America’s leading wine experts and author of the award-winning book The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine. Laurie is a Certified Sommelier, National Speaker and TV personality who is not afraid to tell you her first wine came from a box. Her edgy approach to demystifying wine caught the eye of major networks and led her to guest appearances on Dr Oz, FOX Morning News, Martha Stewart Living Today and ABC News at Noon. Laurie regularly speaks across the country where she edutains a client list that includes MetLife, Discovery Channel, Microsoft, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, LG Electronics, National Association of Catering Executives, American Cancer Society and McCormick & Company to name a few. She’s performed her comedic wine tasting at legendary locations like Carolines on Broadway, DC IMPROV, Caesars Atlantic City, Harrah’s Casino, City Winery NYC & Chicago and Broadway Comedy Club. Forster is also the host of The Sipping Point and her mobile application “The W

Stacie is a Certified Silver Pin Sommelier /North American Sommelier Association / AIS / WSA (nasommelier.com) and Co-founder of SPLASH Productions (www.splashpros.com), producers of Wine, Cuisine & Art exhibitions and video productions/documentaries, television/digital publicity and marketing for wineries and regions. She is contributor to "Good Food" on KCRW-FM, Los Angeles' NPR flagship station and the Sommelier Journalist writing the wine column for the award-winning online magazine, MY LA Lifestyle (www.mylalifestyle.com). She is Vice President of the Board of the National Association of Wine Retailers (www.nawr.org) working to “free the grapes” via direct shipping from wineries to retailers and consumers nationwide. For Du Vin Wine & Spirits in West Hollywood she is the marketer specializing in the wines of Italy and Latin America. Her most passionate areas of work are as a spokesperson, educator, journalist and Course Co-Creator (AWS - American Wine Specialist and the Olive Oil Specialist cour

One of my first cooking experiences was hosting a surprise 45th birthday party for my mom. I held the party in my teeny tiny apartment, when I was just 22 years-old. I invited not only her close friends, but some of my father’s out-of-town business contacts, who all came! I served Lobster Thermidor that everyone balanced on their laps; my guests spilled out my front door, into the hallway, and up the stairs. That evening sealed the deal for my (not yet) hubby, George, who said he was in awe of my entertaining naiveté, and gumption in pulling the party off. From there, I went into catering with my two earliest gal pals. Our first party was a luncheon for 300 guests. We created what looked like a giant tool box and served cold salads, homemade muffins and four types of brownie bars from that contraption. This success led to corporate picnic suppers, yacht cruises, barbecues, children’s parties and much more. Raising children interrupted my career, but not my love of cooking and entertaining. I regularly enter

With an undergraduate education in Business & Marketing Management from Seton Hill University, graduate study in the Executive Masters of Business Administration from Wharton at University of Pennsylvania and comprehensive financial planning studies from the College of Financial Planning; JoJo Pastors dynamic and diverse background has lead her to many admirable business opportunities. JoJo is a partner and investor in concierge companies Moved and Hello Moved; as well as a partner and investor in sales, rentals and brokering at companies Bella Yacht Charters and Brokers. Since 2004 JoJo has been employed at Universal Music Group as a songwriter, producer and publisher. JoJo has exceptional work ethic, however giving back to animals, veterans, and youth communities have been among her true passions.. She has been rescuing and fundraising for Liberty Humane Society, PAD Paws in Jersey City, and for Companion Animal Placement in Hoboken and Weehawken, NJ since 2006. She also fundraises and raises awareness

In August 2004, Amy Reiley became the second American to earn a Master of Arts in Gastronomy from Le Cordon Bleu. While at Cordon Bleu, Amy rose to prominence for her work in culinary aphrodisiacs. In 2006, Amy releases her first book, Fork Me, Spoon Me: the sensual cookbook, cementing her role as a leading aphrodisiac food authority. Filling a niche in the cookbook market, demand resulted in the book’s second printing less than two years later. (As of November 2011, book is in its fourth printing.) Through her company, Life of Reiley, Amy has found many avenues to promote her aphrodisiac knowledge and unique take on life’s “consuming passions.” The Eat Something Sexy website, www.eatsomethingsexy.com, and Amy’s monthly e-newsletter, Amy Reiley’s Aphrodisiac of the Month are considered the online authorities on aphrodisiac food history and science. She speaks and consults on the topic and has appeared on The Today Show, CBS Early Show, Nightline and even Playboy TV–you’ll recognize her as the one wearing c