CIA Summit for Sommeliers and Beverage Professionals

 
Presented by The Culinary Institute of America, the CIA Summit for Sommeliers and Beverage Professionals is an annual conference and enrichment program for career-driven individuals in the wine and beverage industry focused on mentorship, management, hospitality, and leadership.

Held in the Napa Valley, the three-day summit includes immersive educational programs such as creative beverage, culinary, and sensory seminars; fun and challenging tasting exercises; and career-focused coaching opportunities.

Unique to this summit, attendees have one-on-one access to distinguished summit presenters, including Master Sommeliers, Masters of Wine, Wine and Beverage Directors, CIA Faculty, and more.

The 2020 Summit took place in March 2020. View highlights below.

Our 2020 presenters included:

Ian Adams
Director of Spirits & Fortified Wine, Merchants of Thirst

Bob Bath, MS
Professor of Wine and Beverage, the CIA

Chris Blanchard, MS
National Sales Director, Vine Hill Ranch

Pio Boffa
Winemaker, Pio Cesare

Ali Bouzari
Co-Founder & Culinary Scientist, Pilot R&D

Sarah Bray, DipWSET
Brand Consultant & Writer

Laina Brown
Co-Owner & President, St. Clair Brown

Katie Canfield
Partner, O'Donnell Lane

Nicole Carter
President, Merry Edwards Winery

Jeff Cichocki
Winemaker, Bonterra Organic Vineyards

Micah Clark, AS
Wine Director, The Restaurant at Meadowood

Julia Coney
Wine Writer & Consultant, Julia Coney Enterprises, LLC

David Coventry
Winemaker, Talbott Vineyards

Aria Dorsey
Director of Operations, Rolf and Daughter

Erica Duecy
Chief Content Officer & Editor-in-Chief, VinePair

Christie Dufault, ACWP, CHE
Professor of Wine and Beverage, the CIA

Traci Dutton
Sommelier

Hubert Fabre
Executive President, National Sales Manager, & Regional Manager-Western Territories, Vineyard Brands

Andrew Freeman
Founder, af&co.

Orietta Gianjorio
Sensory Evaluation Expert, Orietta LLC

Eric Herve
Research Specialist, ETS Labs

Molly Hill
Winemaker, Sequoia Grove

John Irwin
Manager, Lux Wines

Michael Jones
Fermentation Specialist, Scott Labs
Lars Kronark
Professor of Culinary Arts, the CIA

Don LaBorde
Director of Industry Relations, ETS Laboratories

Greg Lambrecht
Founder/Chairman, Coravin Inc.

Lars Leicht
Vice President of Communication, The Somm Journal

Candace MacDonald
Managing Director, af&co.

Jordan Mackay
Author

Karen MacNeil
President, Karen MacNeil & Company

Sara Maule
Italian Fine Wine Specialist, Frederick Wildman

Sharron McCarthy
Vice President of Wine Education, Castello Banfi

Carlton McCoy, MS ’06
President & CEO, Heitz Cellars

Sean McKenzie
Winemaker, Dreaming Tree Wines

Lucas Paya, DipWSET
Wine Consultant, Lucaspaya, LLC

Tonya Pitts
Wine Director, One Market Restaurant

Andrea Robinson, MS
The ONE Stemware

Dustin Rogge
Professor of Hospitality and Business, the CIA

Erik Segelbaum, AS
Founder and Chief Vinnovation Officer, SOMLYAY

Matt Stamp, MS
Co-Proprietor, Compline

Chris Tanghe, MS
Chief Instructor, Guildsomm

Adam Verona
North American Brand Ambassador, Chiarlo Wines

Hoby Wedler
Co-Founder & CEO, Senspoint Design

Kelli White
Senior Staff Writer, Guildsomm

Amy Zhou
General Manager/Partner & Co-Founder, Cote & Wine Empowered

Kevin Zraly
Author