| EXPERIENCE |
WINE EDUCATOR AND MODERATOR
JAN. 2007 -PRESENT |
| Research, execute, and emcee highly attended wine and food events for high profi le wineries,
restaurants, and national clientele such as Macy’s, Inc. Coordinate pairings, lead sensory evaluations,
and facilitate discussion for attendees. |
CONTRA COSTA TIMES, WINE WRITER AND BLOGGER
AUGUST 2004-PRESENT |
Generate story ideas and write food and wine centerpieces for the Bay Area News Group,
the largest chain in northern California with a combined daily circulation of 700,000. Stories
regularly appear nationwide. Launched Corkheads, a daily blog and column for wine enthusiasts.
First staff wine writer. |
SAN LUIS OBISPO TRIBUNE, FEATURES WRITER
APRIL 2002-AUGUST 2004 |
| Generated story ideas and wrote features for award-winning daily newspaper, including
restaurant reviews and pieces on Paso Robles wine country. Wrote singles column. |
SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, FEATURES CONTRIBUTOR/CRITIC
JAN. 1999-APRIL 2002 |
Wrote breaking news and features on art, culture, food, travel, books and religion for 400,000
daily circulation newspaper. Interviewed celebrities and wrote music and movie reviews.
|
| EDUCATION |
| B.A., Journalism and English |
San Diego State University. (Cum Laude), Dec. 1998
|
| WINE EDUCATION |
| Symposium for Professional Wine Writers |
| Karen MacNeil, Antonia Allegra, Napa Valley (February 2007). |
| Italy Uncorked |
| Monica Chappell, Lafayette Community Center, Lafayette (September 2006). |
| Wines of France |
| Sommelier Emily Wines, Fifth Floor Restaurant, S.F. (August 2006). |
| Wines of the World |
| George Meggers, Solano Community College, Fairfi eld (Dec. 2005). |
| Wine Groupies |
Monthly wine club with friends and industry professionals (2006-present).
|
| INVOLVEMENTS & HONORS |
| Judge |
Pairing Perfection: Culinary Arts meets Lodi Winemakers, Lodi (March 2010) |
| FELLOW |
| Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, Napa Valley (February 2010) |
| Judge |
| San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Cloverdale (January 2010) |
| Judge |
| Taste of Terroir, Livermore Valley (July 2008, 2009) |
| Judge |
| 2005 California Newspaper Publishers Association Awards. |
| Contributor |
| Playboy.com, MTV.com, The Onion, Westways and San Diego Magazine. |
| Recipient |
| Total of 14 in-house writing awards among three newspapers. |
| Honorary Taster |
| Young vintages in the Judgment of Paris reenactment, May 2006. |
| Member |
| Women For WineSense. |
| Instructor |
33rd and 34th Annual California Scholastic Press Association workshops.
|
| SKILLS & INTERESTS |
• Fluent in Farsi. Read and speak French. Traveled to Greece, Israel, Spain, France, Italy.
• Proficient in Quark, MS Word, Lexis Nexis, blogging tools and online research.
• Hobbies include yoga, Persian films, indigenous varietals and the history of winemaking. |
