Ray O'Mara is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, a Sales Consultant with Washburn Wine Company and a founding member of of the Texas Sommelier Society. He is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Wine Educator, CWE, and a WSET Diploma Graduate. O'Mara is also an Accredited International Bordeaux Tutor, a Spanish Wine Educator, a Certified Burgundy Instructor, a Rhone Master, and a French Wine Scholar.

Maria E. Denton is an educator, restaurateur and consultant working in the Washington, DC area. She has been on the board of the Society of Wine Educators since 2008 and is a Certified Wine Educator with the SWE, a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Spanish Wine Educator with the Wine Academy of Spain

Lisa M. Airey is the Director of Education for the French Wine Society. Prior to accepting her position at the French Wine Society, Airey sat on the Board of Directors for the Society of Wine Educators from 1998 to 2004, co-chaired their Corporate Wine Training Committee and worked as the Education Director for the Society of Wine Educators.

Alex Evans is the Director of Education at Washington Wine Academy. Prior to joining the Washington Wine Academy, she worked in the Australian wine industry. Evans is a Certified Specialist of Wine and is a Diploma Candidate for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Jason Whiteside is the sales manager for Northern Virginia at The Country Vintner. Prior to The Country Vintner, Whiteside worked as both sommelier and wine marketer. His writings have appeared in publications ranging from Sotheby's Wine Auction Catalogue to Philadelphia's Mainline Magazine He holds the Level 4 Diploma (with Merit) from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and is a WSET Certified Wine Educator (Level 4).

Mary Ewing-Mulligan is the first woman in American to become a Master of Wine and one of just 30 in the United States. She is also the president of the International Wine Center, executive director of U.S. programs for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and has authored or co-authored 11 books. Currently, Ewing-Mulligan serves as the director of the Institute of Masters of Wine (North America).

David Denton is the only American faculty member of the Wine Academy of Spain in Madrid and is a sommelier at Charlie Palmer Steak in Washington, DC. He has passed the Advanced Sommelier exam, is a Certified Bordeaux Educator, and holds all three certifications from the Society of Wine Educators: Certified Specialist of Wine, Certified Specialist of Spirits and Certified Wine Educator.

Nick Stengel is the Executive Sous Chef of Willow Restaurant in Arlington, VA. He earned his BA at American University and an MPA from George Washington University. After leaving the political and research field, Nick Stengel became a cook in 2002. He is a member of the American Association of Wine Economists and the French Wine Society. Nick Stengle blogs at http://masterofwinejourney.blogspot.com/

Kathy Morgan is an award winning sommelier and wine director. She has offered her expertise and experience to many of the world’s leading wine publications as a taster, commentator, contributor and panelist. Morgan's credits include The Washington Post, Washingtonian Magazine, The Washington Times, Sommelier Journal, Food and Wine Magazine, Northern Virginia Magazine, and Flavor Magazine. Kathy Morgan is the 105th Master Sommelier in the United States.

Matthew Carroll came into the wine industry by way of the classroom. As a teacher and counselor, Carroll honed skills that serve him well as a sommelier. He has lent his talents to such venues as The Inn at Little Washington, 2941 Restaurant and Rogue 24. Matthew works incredibly hard to demystify wine and teach his guests and staff with his contagious passion for drink. He is currently working toward his Master Sommelier certification.

Elli Benchimol was named Beverage Director for Chef Geoff’s Restaurants in March of 2010, capping more than 10 years of work within the food and beverage industry. Elli Benchimol had her first sommelier position in DC at Rasika in 2006. She is currently studying for her third level at the Court of Master Sommeliers and taking the Diploma courses for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust through the Wine Institute in New York. Elli Benchimol is a member of the DC Craft Bartenders Guild.

Douglas Zerbst is the Director of Fine Wine for Republic National Distributing Co. of Virginia. He has many years of experience in restaurants, kitchens and hotels as a chef, Food and Beverage Manager and sommelier.

Lynne L. Montgomery has over 30 years logistical supervision for International Eastern Wine Competition, one of the largest domestic competitions with over 2000 wines entered annually. Lynne Montgomery's other beverage event work includes working as a vendor and Beverage Events Superintendent responsible for coordinating Homebrew, Commercial Brew, Amateur Wine and Commercial Wine competitions.at the New York State Fair. In 2011, Lynne Montgomery was elected Director of Competitions to the Board of Directors of American Wine Society.

Alex Bardsley is the Wine Director and Manager at Le Zinc. He has a Specialist of Wine Certificate, diplomas from the International Sommelier Guild and is pending his final grades from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Sheri Sauter Morano is a Master of Wine, wine educator and wine writer. She has been featured in numerous magazines and online publications and has appeared on television and radio shows around the United States as well as in France and Argentina. She has extensive experience as a wine judge and has judged at competitions in the US, the UK and Argentina.

Rebecca Murphy is a wine reviewer, writer judge and the first female wine steward in Texas. Murphy has a weekly feature in the Dallas Morning news and has also contributed to 3rd Edition of the Oxford Companion to Wine and the 6th Edition of The World Atlas of Wine. Murphy has judged Decanter World Wine Awards and International Wine Challenge in London, Concours Mondial, Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition and Critics Challenge in San Diego.

Caroline Hermann lives in Washington D.C., where she is a WSET and CSW instructor for the Capital Wine School and is in wine retail sales with Whole Foods Market. Hermann holds a Diploma in Wine Studies with merit and and Advanced Certificate from the London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Hermann is currently a candidate for Master of Wine.

Julian Meyer graduated from Boston University and worked in foreign policy before shifting careers and enrolling at the French Culinary Institute in New York. Upon graduation, Meyer managed French restaurants, helped to open Michael Mina’s Bourbon Steak, Washington, DC and eventually was promoted to Head Sommelier of Bourbon Steak and Wine Director of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Deborah Parker Wong is a wine writer, industry expert and professional wine competition judge. She judges approximately a dozen competitions each year, including the Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition, the San Francisco International Wine Competition and the London-based International Wine and Spirits Competition. Deborah Parker Wong is also the Northern California editor for The Tasting Panel, where she maintains a monthly column. Deborah Parker Wong is an Associate of the Institute of Wine and Spirits.

Andrew Howells is a Partner and Beverage Director at EatWell DC. After graduating from Bowdoin College in 2000, Howells lived in France where he experienced a love for all things beverage-related. Andrew Howells is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine and Certified Specialist of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators. He is currently pursuing a Diploma Certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.

William Holby founded a wine tasting club in college and launched into the wine industry with a senior economic thesis on Virginia wine industry. Holby worked in wine retail and wholesale in Birmingham before moving to Washington D.C. and joining the Calvert Woodley Fine Wine & Liquor. William Holby is currently pursuing his Level 4 Diploma certification with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.

Bill Curtis is one of the most experienced wine tasters in the industry, with a career that started in the late 60s. In 1981, Curtis started the Wine Club of Charlottesville which has met continuously for more than 30 years. He has judged at numerous wine competitions, and tastes nearly 100 wines each week for his wine program.

Andy Myers has been working in restaurants for the last 23 years. Myers fancies German Riesling, and enjoys great Burgandy, tattoos, scuba diving and drumming in a heavy metal band. Myers love for wine started 13 years ago and he's currently employed as the Sommelier at CityZen Restaurant in Washington, DC.

Michael Franz is a wine writer, educator and consultant. He is editor of Wine Review Online and a freelance contributor to many national and international wine magazines. Franz worked as the regular wine columnist for The Washington Post from 1994 through 2005 before leaving to help found Wine Review Online. Franz tastes approximately 9,000 wines each year and regularly judges wine competitions around the world.

Jay Youmans has been tasting wine professionally for nearly 30 years. He is the Educational Director and owner of the Capital Wine School (www.capitalwineschool.com), and the owner of Rock Creek Wine Merchants, a sales and marketing consultancy. Jay has served as a wine judge for numerous wine competitions, and has contributed to several books and magazines on wine. Over the years, he has conducted hundreds of public, private, and corporate wine tasting events. Jay is an Advanced Level Sommelier, a Certified Wine Educator (CWE), and Washington, DC's only Master of Wine (MW).

Matthew Stubbs began his career in the UK Wine Trade in 1987 after graduating with a language and business degree. He has worked in almost every aspect of the trade including sales, marketing and brand management. In 2004, Stubbs moved to the south of France to setup a wine consultancy and training camp. In 2008, he opened the wine school Vinécole. Matthew Stubbs qualified as a Master of Wine in 1996, achieving the best results in the Tasting and Vinification papers.

Dave McIntyre has been a wine columnist and food blogger for The Washington Post since October 2008. Prior to writing for the Post, McIntyre started Dave McIntyre’s WineLine, an email newsletter in 1999 and is the co-creator of DrinkLocalWine.com. McIntyre's writing has also appeared in Wine Enthusiast, the San Francisco Chronicle, Washingtonian and several other publications.

Alison Christ graduated from the prestigious and culinary-focused Johnson and Wales University in 1993, earning a Bachelors Degree in Hotel-Restaurant Management. Christ has held varied positions throughout the hospitality industry from General Manager to Wine Salesperson to Sommelier, expanding her vinicultural knowledge and designing wine lists for many fine dining restaurants along the way. Christ is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and has judged the Virginia Wine Governors Cup in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Jennifer Knowles studied chemistry at Syracuse University before moving to California and gaining a foothold in the in the retail beverage industry. Knowles was named the New World Rising Star Sommelier by StarChefs for her work at Rubicon in San Francisco before eventually finding herself on the east coast. Knowles has worked in several positions within the industry and is currently the Wine Director for The Inn at Little Washington.

Tim O'Hare is a graduate of the Baltimore International Culinary College, a former Salesman of the Year with Reliable Churchill Distributors and is currently the Lower Atlantic Regional Director for is a graduate of the Baltimore International Culinary College, a former Salesman of the Year with Reliable Churchill Distributors. Tim O'Hare is a Certified Specialist of Wine, Certified Specialist of Spirits, Certified Wine Educator as well as second level Master Sommelier and a Bordeaux Facilitator.

Eric Rohleder’s passion for wine started when he was attending culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu. Rohlder worked in the Austin restaurant industry before transitioning into the wine industry, first in sales at Glazer's Distributors and then as a restaurant consultant. Rohleder is currently embarking on a retail experience, Cordial Fine and Spirits and holds advanced degrees from the International Guild of Sommeliers and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Scott Greenberg is the syndicated wine columnist for the Washington, DC Examiner newspaper and the “Wine of the Week” correspondent for WTOP radio in Washington, DC. Greenberg writes and speaks about wine-related topics and is known for his down-to-earth, easy-going style when reviewing wine. Greenberg's articles enjoy a circulation above 200,000 and his radio spot reaches over 1 million weekly listeners.

Molly Christhilf Finnegan started her wine career at Jefferson Vineyards in Charlottesville, Virginia. For the past eight years Finnegan been a wine sales representative for Winebow, Inc, a distributor who represents over 3,000 international wines. Finnegan has passed the Introductory Level 1 of the Court of Master Sommeliers, earned her Wine & Spirits Education Trust Advanced certificate as well as her Certification for a Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators.

Julie Dalton got her start in wine while working at restaurants in college. Despite having a successful career in the biotech industry, wine eventually called back to Dalton and she returned as the full time sommelier at the Four Seasons Hotel in Baltimore, Maryland. Aside from the Four Seasons, Dalton also consults for restaurants and collectors and is part of the Wit & Wisdom team. Dalton is an Advanced Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and a Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators.

Nadine Brown was born and raised in Jamaica and Puerto Rico, however Brown began her career in wine while working in D.C. restaurants such as Bistro Bis, 701 and Vidalia. Currently, Brown is the wine director for Charlie Parker Steak D.C. She has won awards from The National Restaurant Association, The Wine Spectator, Food & Wine Magazine and Star Chefs. Brown has earned certifications from both the Court of Master Sommeliers and Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Patrick Comiskey is a Senior Contributor for Wine & Spirits Magazine, where he serves as chief critic for all domestic wines not from California, and regularly contributes articles devoted to California, Oregon and Washington wine, winegrowing, and wine culture. Comiskey travels frequently and is a regular wine competition judge in the San Francisco International Wine Competition, the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition and the Critic's Challenge in San Diego.

George C. Davis graduated with a degree in Business Administration in 1975, and immediately put that degree to work as the Manager of Fine Wine and Gourmet at Bacchus & Bread in Richmond VA. Davis has been the Senior Judge for the Virginia State Fair Wine Competition since 1999. George C. Davis is a Certified Wine Specialist from the Society of Wine Educators.

Kristi Delovitch is a top sales consultant for The Country Vintner in Washington, DC. Prior to her tenure at The Country Vintner Kristi was the top off-premise, fine wine consultant at Republic National for 5 years. In her current role, she consults closely with more than 30 fine wine retailers, hotels and restaurants and specializes in high-end wine from all over 15 countries. Kristi is a current WSET Diploma Candidate having passed the Wine Spirit Education Trust Intermediate and Advanced examinations. She is a WSET instructor for the Capital Wine School.

Siobhan Clements was born and raised in the Washington, DC area. She has worked for Costco since 1989. In 1995, she became Costco’s Northeast Regional Buyer for beer, wine, and spirits. She passed the WSET Advanced Certification in 2008.

Jill Zimorski got her start in the hospitality industry while in studying sociology at the University of Virginia. After graduating, she severed in management roles at various restaurants before rising into beverage and wine director roles. Zimorski is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators, a certified Spanish wine educator, and a a diploma candidate with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.

Bartholomew Broadbent was named one of the “fifty most influential in the wine world" by Decanter magazine in 1997. In 2008, Wine&Spirits Magazine named him one of the ten “driving the most revolutionary changes in wine”. Broadbent akes Port, Madeira and Vinho Verde in Portugal under the Broadbent name, as well as Malbec in Argentina and Gruner Veltliner in Austria. Broadbent currently imports wine under Broadbent Selections, Inc.