Expert Details
Wine and Wine Valuations
ID: 739730
California, USA
Expert spent the beginning of her career traveling the world as a fine dining chef and worked in restaurants and retail alike in the Bay Area. While maintaining a full-time position as Head Sommelier for a major wine merchant -- then the largest online wine and spirits retailer in the nation -- she founded a wine and sommelier firm and expanded the company into a premier provider of private sommelier services, including cellar inventories, appraisals, and collection brokerage.
In 2018, Expert became the first person certified by the California State Bar Association for her seminar on the Valuation of Wine Collections, which is now recognized by the Bar Associations of thirteen states across the country. She works directly with top Family Law and Trust & Estate attorneys as a valued resource for insurance and legal cases.
Expert has served as an expert witness for the DOJ when wine and fine dining was used to bribe top naval officials, for a bankruptcy case involving a historic Napa Valley Winery, and a wine storage facility that was not properly temperature controlled.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 2002 | Degree: AOS | Subject: Wine | Institution: Culinary Institute of America |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2013 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Founder | Department: |
Responsibilities:FORBES and Robb Report recognized Wine Appraiser, Expert Witness, Certified Sommelier, Founder of an elite sommelier services firm, and the creator of a master class in wine and wine culture.Expert serves as a writer, speaker, and educator specializing in wine, wine collecting, and wine travel. While maintaining a full time position as the Head Sommelier for two major wine players -- currently the largest online wine and spirits retailer in the country -- she founded a company in this field, growing the company into a premier provider of private sommelier services, including cellar inventories, appraisals, and brokering of collections. In 2018, Expert became the first person certified by the California State Bar Association for her seminar on wine collection evaluations -- now recognized by the Bar Associations of thirteen states across the country, and has led to working directly with top Family Law and Trust & Estate attorneys as a valued resource for insurance and legal cases. Expert has served as an expert witness for the DOJ when wine and fine dining was used to bribe top naval officials, for a bankruptcy case involving a historic Napa Valley Winery, and a wine storage facility that was not properly temperature-controlled. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Sommelier in Numerous Wine and Wine Industry Roles | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert has worked throughout the wine industry and in directly related fields for over 25 years. Her titles, most often sommelier, have included:Guest Sommelier (2022) Sommelier (2017-20) Assistant Sommelier (2017-20) Sommelier and Floor Sommelier (2016-17) Developer (2011-17) -- developing wine and wine industry terms for iPhone application Head Sommelier and Domestic Wine Buyer (2015-16) Consultant (2015-16) on Nutritious Foods Head Sommelier and Sake Buyer (2009-14) for a Wine Merchant ...and numerous restaurant industry roles, including: Kitchen Manager (2003-10) Chef de Cuisine / Wine Steward (2003) Line Cook (2001) Stagier (1999-2000) Line Cook (1999-2000) Pastry Chef (1998-99) |
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Government Experience
| Years | Agency | Role | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2021 to 2022 | Agency: Department of Justice | Role: Expert Witness | Description: Expert witness brought on to argue the valuation of wine and fine dining used to bribe top naval officials. |
Career Accomplishments
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| USPAP Certified Sommelier Certified Sake Sommelier |
Additional Experience
| Expert Witness Experience |
|---|
| Qualified by the California Supreme Court when working as a witness for a wine storage facility lawsuit; appraised the value of the wine that was compromised. Appraised wines of value for the bankruptcy proceedings of a historic Napa Valley winery. Expert witness assigning values to wine and fine dining used to bribe top Naval officials for the DOJ. |
| Training / Seminars |
|---|
| Personally developed and presents Wine Collecting Master Class. |