Faculty

The heartbeat of our programs, these highly accomplished and dedicated professionals bring their passion to the classroom. They care about captivating their students, sharing their vast knowledge, and – above all – nurturing the development, joy, and success of each individual.

Wine Instructors

Mimi Martin

Founder / Education Director, The Wine & Spirit Archive

“It is an honor and joy to connect with and support students immersed in deep study of a subject they love. And if there’s a glass of wine in hand, all the better!”

  • • DipWSET
    • Certified Wine Educator
    • Masters in Food Studies
    • French Wine Scholar
    • Italian Wine Scholar
    • Spanish Wine Scholar
    • 2019 Italian Wine Scholar Instructor of the Year

Nicolas Quillé MW

Chief Winemaker and Operations Officer, Crimson Wine Group

“What I love most about the wine industry is the passion and collaboration/competition. We all fight to produce and market a successful product, but in so many different ways.”

  • • Master of Wine
    • MBA
    • Masters in Enology
    • Masters in Sparkling Winery Management
    • Spanish Wine Scholar

Alberto Martinez Interiano

Founder, Vino Interiano

“One of my ‘wine epiphany’ moments was the tasting of the 1998 Vina Tondonia Gran Reserva Blanco on a visit to Bodegas Lopez de Heredia in Rioja. I remember – vividly – the amazing combination of freshness, richness, and complexity. Aromas of dried fruit, hazelnuts, toast, and butterscotch that helped me confirm how great old white wines can be.”

  • • DipWSET
    • Vinitaly International Academy
    • Rioja Certified Educator
    • Sherry Certified Educator
    • Italian Wine Scholar
    • French Wine Scholar
    • Spanish Wine Scholar

Emily Zegar

Director of Sales–West and Export, Sokol Blosser

“The most memorable moment in my wine career was moving from my home in the Willamette Valley to Adelaide, South Australia to earn my Masters in Wine Business at the University ofAdelaide.”

  • • DipWSET
    • WSET Certified Educator
    • CMS Level 1
    • Masters in Wine Business

Samantha Cole-Johnson

Freelance Wine Writer and Speaker and Pacific Northwest Specialist for JancisRobinson.com

“What I love most about teaching is its ability to turn you into an eternal student. Questions that I receive from students send me down rabbit holes that I may never have explored on my own. My students make me a better wine professional and a better teacher.”

  • • DipWSET
    • WSET Certified Educator
    • CMS Certified

Diana Schultz

Winemaker and owner, Augustina Cellars

“What I love most about teaching is creating an inviting atmosphere for students to explore all of their wine curiosities.”

  • • WSET Level 3 Wine Certified
    • Spanish Wine Scholar
    • Italian Wine Scholar

Tanya Morning Star

Wine Culturist and Educator, Cellar Muse

  • • WSET Level 3 Wine Certified
    • Certified Wine Educator
    • French Wine Scholar
    • Italian Wine Scholar
    • Spanish Wine Scholar
    • 2018 French Wine Scholar Instructor of the Year

Regina Daigneault

Wine Educator, Reggie Wine

  • • DipWSET
    • WSET Certified Educator
    • French Wine Scholar

Bree Stock MW

Director of Education, Oregon Wine Board

  • • Master of Wine
    • DipWSET
    • WSET Certified Educator

Toni Ketrenos

Instructional Associate, Linfield University Wine Studies Program

“I love that beverages bring us together. When they’re poured, we slow down, we savor. And with that comes the opportunity to connect. It may be initially because of what’s in the glass, but quickly it becomes what’s in our hearts.”

  • • DipWSET

Jeff Peterson

Educator and Tour Leader, Vinum Docet

  • • WSET Level 2 Wine Certified
    • PhD Sociology

Katherine Shapiro

Founder, Zen Wine

“What I love most about wine is that it is the universal language. It is a product that is laced with and parallel to the human experience and the history on earth. Wine can also be very, very delicious.” 

  • • DipWSET

    • Italian Wine Professional

    • CMS Intro Sommelier 

April Reddout

Owner, Reddout Wine Consulting

“The thing that inspires me to teach is seeing that look on peoples' faces that shows me something has clicked. Call it an "aha moment"; when they like their first wine, or have that breakthrough experience where wine becomes intriguing and exciting, when it wasn't before.”

  • • WSET Level 2 Wine Certified

Noelle Harman

Co-founder, Elevage Wine Coaching

  • • DipWSET
    • French Wine Scholar
    • Italian Wine Scholar
    • Spanish Wine Scholar

Beer Instructors

Jeff Alworth

Freelance Writer and Author of The Beer Bible

“What I learned after 7 weeks touring Europe’s greatest breweries is a secret that most people miss. Brewers within a country tend to think and brew alike – and very differently than brewers a country over. Understanding beer is more about understanding regional/national traditions than it is about identifying styles.”

Bryan Keilty

Gorges Beer Co, Head Brewer

“Balance is the key to my brewing style, whether it's an IPA, Porter, Pilsner, Red, or a barrel-aged fruit beer. There is a lot to be said for restraint.”

Lyra Penoyer

UX Designer, Tecolote Research

“What I love most about working in beer is the community. They’re the most passionate, hard-working, collaborative, kind, and respectful people I’ve ever known. The beer is just a wonderful bonus!”

  • • Certified Cicerone
    • BJCP Certified Level Judge

Saké Instructors

Marcus Pakiser

Director Supplier Business Development-Sake, RNDC

“The most memorable moment in my sake career was receiving the sake samurai title in Kyoto, Japan at the oldest Shinto Shrine. Also memorable is every time I brew sake with a brewmaster; they continually teach me new things.”

  • • Sake Samurai
    • Advanced Sake Professional
    • WSET Level 3 Sake Certified

Spirits Instructors

Daniel Parker Guidry

Bar Manager, Bar Diane

  • • WSET Level 3 Spirits Certified
    • WSET Level 2 Wine Certified

Andy Garrison

Lead Distiller, Stone Barn Brandy Works

  • • WSET Level 3 Spirits Certified

Paul Clarke

Executive Editor, Imbibe Magazine

“Spirits can offer a very particular kind of insight into the world. At their best, distilled spirits demonstrate how technical ingenuity and human creativity can best preserve and celebrate the beauty found in fruits, grasses, grains, and other gifts from the natural world, in ways that are influenced by our culinary and cultural traditions.”

  • • WSET Level 3 Spirits Certified