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
Our Partners
Silver Level Sponsors
The William H. Donner Foundation, Inc.
Bronze Level Sponsors