An introduction to Sparkling Wines and a Holiday Season buying guide to the top sparklers from across the world
A comprehensive and in-depth look at the producers and the outstanding wines of the Chianti Classico DOCG.i-WineReview Advisory Tasting Panel
Jim Arseneault
President, The Vineyard
Jim Arseneault has been in the fine wine business for thirty years. He is the President of The Vineyard, a fine wine retail business in Northern Virginia. He invented the method for selling futures of California Cabernet Sauvignon and was the first to offer Pinot Noir from Oregon to the east coast market. Jim also founded The Wine Source, one of the first fine wine only distributors in America, and afterwards became the President of The Henry Wine Group, the largest fine wine distributor in America. Jim has served as a judge at various wine competitions, been on several winery boards, and writes a weekly newsletter.
Michael
Flynn
Wine and Beverage Director,
Mansion on Turtle Creek Dallas, TX
Michael Flynn was named Wine and Beverage Director at the Mansion on Turtle Creek in September of 2007. Formerly, he served as wine director and sommelier for Kinkead’s in Washington, DC since its opening in the Fall of 1993. He was also wine director for Bob Kinkead’s Colvin Run Tavern in Vienna, Virginia, which opened in the Fall of 2001. Described as Washington’s “best known, best loved sommelier” (Washingtonian Magazine, August 1998), and “one of America’s finest sommeliers” (Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, December, 1997), Mr. Flynn has written numerous articles for, and conducted interviews with publications such as The Washington Post, The Wine Spectator, Sante Magazine, Food and Wine Magazine, the American Institute of Wine and Food, the Wall Street Journal, and Washingtonian Magazine. He is also a consultant and correspondent for Vintrust, a wine cellarage and management company based in San Francisco.
In 1996, after passing the rigorous series of Advanced examinations with the Court of Master Sommeliers, he became an active candidate for the Master Sommelier Diploma, which has been awarded to only 100 Americans and fewer than 200 people worldwide in the 30 year history of the organization. To date, Mr. Flynn has passed two out the final three papers towards that goal. Mr. Flynn has been nominated three times by the James Beard Foundation for outstanding wine service, a national award category with only five nominees nationwide annually.
Michael Potashnik, PhD
Co-Publisher
International Wine Review
The International Wine Review builds upon Mike Potashnik’s quarter century of experience in wine tasting, writing and lecturing about wine. Previously, Mike founded the online Virginia Wine Guide in April 2002 and the Virginia Wine & Food Society shortly thereafter. The Guide was an authoritative source of information on the Virginia wine industry and its wines and included a Virginia Wine Buyers Guide, vintage reports and other valuable wine information when he left the organization. Mike is a former World Bank senior manager with expertise in using the Internet as a tool for communicating and educating.
Barbara Werley, MS
Beverage Director at the Greenbrier
Barbara Werley has had a distinguished career in the food and beverage industry. After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, she served as chef in various hotel kitchens including the Ritz-Carlton in Chicago and the Jockey Club at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C. She began her career in wine at the Ritz Carlton in Washington, D.C. and later became Wine Director at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Barbara has taught at the Harrah’s School of Hotel Management at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and consulted for several retailers and restaurants in Scottsdale, Arizona. She also has worked at the Palace Court in Las Vegas and at the Arizona Biltmore in Scottsdale. She most recently was Beverage Manager at The Homestead in Hot Springs, VA. Barbara is one of only 13 women in the United States with the title of Master Sommelier.
Jay Youmans, MW
Co-Publisher
International Wine Review
Jay Youmans MW entered the wine trade in 1978 while still attending Wake Forest University. From 1981-98 he held executive positions with Famous Brands, Montdomaine vineyards, Mims Distributing, and Southern Slopes International Wines. In 1998 he started Rock Creek Wine Merchants, a sales and marketing company, which he owns and manages today. He serves as a wine judge for: Starwine International Wine Competition, Atlantic Wine Competition, The Virginia Wine Guide, and the California State Fair. In 2004, Jay became the 21st American to pass the Master of Wine exam , winning the Vina Errazuriz award for the outstanding paper on the business of wine.