SommCon 2025 Speakers &  Educators

Adam Banks
Adam Banks
Bar Manager
Consortium Holdings - Born and Raised
Giovanni Bertolino
Giovanni Bertolino
Wine producer
Tenuta olim bauda
Kim Beto
Kim Beto
VP
Terlato
Monika Bielka-Vescovi
Monika Bielka-Vescovi
National Director of Marketing
Women For WineSense
Jessie Birschbach
Jessie Birschbach
Senior Wine, Beer, & Spirits Editor
The SOMM Journal
Nate Black
Nate Black
Wine Director
Blue Bridge Hospitality
Kiara Boccia-Fenlason
Kiara Boccia-Fenlason
Winemaker
Mia Marie Vineyards
Joseph Brinkley
Joseph Brinkley
Sr Director Of Regenerative Organic Farming
Bonterra Organic Estates
Casey Clements
Casey Clements
VP of Marketing
Fast Forward Events
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Samantha Cole-Johnson
Senior Editor US
JancisRobinson.com
Dan Cools
Dan Cools
Beverage Director
Juniper and Ivy
Rawnica Dillingham
Rawnica Dillingham
Chief Sales Officer
New Riff Distilling
Maurice DiMarino
Maurice DiMarino
Beverage Director
Cohn Restaurant Group
Larissa Dubose
Larissa Dubose
National Director Of Beverages
Paradies Lagardere/Vino Volo
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Tasha Elkovich
District Manager San Diego and Palm Springs
Kobrand
Riley Flanagan
Riley Flanagan
Owner, Riley’ Rows | Wholesale Sales Manager, Flanagan Wines
Flanagan Wines
Alexandre Fréguin
Alexandre Fréguin
Wine Consultant
AOP Languedoc & Picpoul de Pinet Brand Ambassador
David Glancy
David Glancy
MS, CWE, Founder & CEO
San Francisco Wine School
Amy Gross
Amy Gross
President
Women For WineSense
Mel Heim
Mel Heim
CEO & Head of Product
Big Nose Brands dba Big Nose Kate Whiskey
Aga Hilferty
Aga Hilferty
Wine Educator
HERITA USA
Ralf Holdenried
Ralf Holdenried
Winemaker
Black Stallion Estate Winery
Thomas Hyland
Thomas Hyland
Freelance wine writer, educator, photographer
Freelance - self employed
Quinton Jay
Quinton Jay
Managing Director
Bacchus Consulting Group
Ivo Jeramaz
Ivo Jeramaz
Winemaker and VP of Vineyards and Production
Grgich Hills Estate
Sara Klein
Sara Klein
Category Specialist Italian Portfolio
Kobrand Corporation
Kelly Kohlman
Kelly Kohlman
San Diego Sales
Oliver McCrum Wines & Spirits
Tommy Lam
Tommy Lam
President
Asia Wine Institute
Colleen McClellan
Colleen McClellan
Chief Customer Officer
Datassential
Angela McCrae
Angela McCrae
Executive Director
Assc. of African American Vintners
Linda McWilliams
Linda McWilliams
Co-Owner, Winemaker
San Pasqual Winery
Neeta Mittal
Neeta Mittal
Co-Founder
LXV Wine
Fana Monché
Fana Monché
Brand Activation Manager & Sommelier
Nestle Premium Waters
Dave Moore
Dave Moore
General Manager
SCHUG Winery
Tanya Morning Star
Tanya Morning Star
Wine Culturist
Cellar Muse
Cristie Norman
Cristie Norman
Lead Sommelier
Wynn Las Vegas
Matt O'Malley
Matt O'Malley
District Manager Los Angeles and Central Coast
Kobrand
Lucia Palm
Lucia Palm
Wine educator content creator
Lucialoveswine
Lindsay Pomeroy, MW
Lindsay Pomeroy, MW
MW, Master Of Wine, BA, CWE, WSET Diploma, FWS, Owner
Wine Smarties
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Ross Rizzo
Master Vintner
Bernardo Winery
Jesse Rodriguez
Jesse Rodriguez
National Sales | Ambassador
Kaizen Wine
Regina Sanz
Regina Sanz
Head of Global Marketing & Strategy
RSM Creative
Michael Seery
Michael Seery
Captain
Steak 48
Erik Segelbaum
Mr. Erik Segelbaum
Chief Vinnovation Officer / Owner
Somlyay LLC / Swig Partners / Goodsomm
Cyndi Smith
Cyndi Smith
Chief Admin Officer/Co-Founder
Fierce & Kind Spirits
Jessica Solomon
Jessica Solomon
Somm-Manager
Bluebridge Hospitality
Vinny Spatafore
Vinny Spatafore
Beverage Director
Blue Bridge Hospitality
Alysha Stehly
Alysha Stehly
Vineyard Manager and College Instructor
Stehly Grove and Mira Costa College
Hayden Stewart
Hayden Stewart
F&B Director / Sommelier
@The_Angry_Somm / Pauma Valley CC
Alan Tardi
Alan Tardi
Director
New York Wine Studio
Jennifer Thomas
Jennifer Thomas
Founder
Rooted Connections, LLC
Tiffany Tobey
Tiffany Tobey
Sommelier
Tiffanys Toast / Ritz Carlton Resort
Clare Tooley MW
Clare Tooley MW
VP Guest Experience
Boisset Collection
Toshio Ueno
Toshio Ueno
Global Ambassador & Director
Mutual Trading Co., Inc.
Pablo Ugarte
Pablo Ugarte
CEO
Catad'Or Wolrd Wine and Spirits Awards
Miriam Valdez
Miriam Valdez
GM & Winemaker
Granite Lion Cellars
Judd Wallenbrock
Judd Wallenbrock
CEO
Priest Ranch Wines
Kaylan Wedemeyer
Kaylan Wedemeyer
Sommelier
Consortium Holdings
Aron Weinkauf
Aron Weinkauf
Winemaker/Vineyard Manager
Spottswoode Estate Vineyard & Winery
Tami Wong
Tami Wong
Sales Representative
Wine Wise
Indigo Zuber
Indigo Zuber
Sommelier/ Assistant General Manager
The Sexy Roman

2025 Concours d'Vin & Concours d'Spirits
Judges

Meghan Balser
Meghan Balser
Winebow
Spirits Specialist
Adam Banks
Adam Banks
Consortium Holdings - Born and Raised
Bar Manager
Monika Bielka-Vescovi
Monika Bielka-Vescovi
Women For WineSense
National Director of Marketing
Molly Brooks
Molly Brooks
Disney
Beverage Director, Club 33 & 21 Royal
Anibal Calcagno
Anibal Calcagno
Oceans
Wine Director
Vanessa Cominsky
Vanessa Cominsky
Prestige Ledroit Distributing Co.
Beverage Specialist
Maurice DiMarino
Maurice DiMarino
Cohn Restaurant Group
Beverage Director
Larissa Dubose
Larissa Dubose
Paradies Lagardere/Vino Volo
National Director Of Beverages
David Glancy
David Glancy
San Francisco Wine School
MS, CWE, Founder & CEO
Kyungmoon Kim
Kyungmoon Kim
KMS Imports llc
Founder
Meridith May
Ms. Meridith May
The Somm Journal & The Tasting Panel Magazine
Editor-In-Chief/Publisher
Neeta Mittal
Neeta Mittal
LXV Wine
Co-Founder
Mr John Rielly
Mr John Rielly
The Peaks Resort And Spa Telluride Colorado
Food And Beverage Director
Juan Carlos Ruiz
Juan Carlos Ruiz
Moet Hennessy
Brand ambassador
Erik Segelbaum
Mr. Erik Segelbaum
Somlyay LLC / Swig Partners / Goodsomm
Chief Vinnovation Officer / Owner
Jackie Summers
Jackie Summers
JackFromBrooklyn Inc.
Founder
Tiffany Tobey
Tiffany Tobey
Tiffanys Toast / Ritz Carlton Resort
Sommelier
Toshio Ueno
Toshio Ueno
Mutual Trading Co., Inc.
Global Ambassador & Director
Pablo Ugarte
Pablo Ugarte
Catad'Or Wolrd Wine and Spirits Awards
CEO
Spreti Valente
Spreti Valente
Fairplex - LA Int. Wine Competition
Chair / Wine Buyer
Dan Valerino
Dan Valerino
Bottle Boon Consulting / Finca / Green Acre
Managing Partner