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The Unites States Sommelier Association Wine School
 Rick Garced, DVS, FMP
Founder & President, developed the original course format and curriculum in 1997.
The United States Sommelier Association Wine School
The highly respected Rick Garced is a well known restaurateur, wine writer and wine consultant based in Miami, Florida and Europe. He is Director of the wine programs for Apollo Ship Chandlers, Inc. one of the largest maritime caterer and cruise line operators in the world. Their programs include Silverseas, Celebrity....... complete bio
The USSA Wine School Instructors
 Brad Kinder
Owner of Boutique Wine Distributing Company
Kind Wines & Spirits
Brad Kinder's journey into the wine industry took an interesting path. After he graduated from the School of Education at the University of South Florida, Brad realized that the college job of waiting tables had turned into a desire to continue in the hospitality industry. He spent several years working the seasonal route ...... complete bio
 Herve Pennequin
Best World Sommelier 2004 (3rd)
Atlanta Hilton
Herve Pennequin’s former positions as Lead Sommelier and experience in the restaurant industry since the last 19 years brought him to create wine lists for newly opened restaurants, give wine trainings to the staff and wine courses for wine lovers, to be a wine speaker for corporations and private dinners. .....complete bio
 Larry O'Brien
Fine Wine Director, Western United States
Beam Wine Estates
I could not imagine limiting this answer to one specific experience. Every time a pull a cork for myself or for anyone with a passion for wine I am anticipating a memorable experience. Wine can be memorable simply because of the quality wine and even more memorable because of the environment in which the....... complete bio
 Sebastien Verrier
General Manager and Chef Sommelier
Palm D'Or Restaurant
The Biltmore Hotel, Coral Gables, FL
At 26, Paris born Sebastien Verrier is often younger than some of the wines he serves. However, his youth has not prevented him from garnering a stellar reputation as a sommelier, one who relishes in the "always learning, always tasting, always working on the palate" associated with his profession. It is a profession he entered......complete bio
 Jorge Mendoza
Chef Sommelier
Cioppino at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne
As a youth growing up in the seaside city of Viña del Mar, Chile, Jorge Mendoza learned the beauty of pairing a delicious wine with the perfect culinary accompaniment at the family dinner table. The Chilean appreciation of lingering at a bountiful table filled with food and wine chosen specifically.......complete bio
 Emilio Guerra
Regional Director
Dreyfus, Ashby Co.
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Emilio Guerra works for one of the oldest and most respected fine wine importers in the United States, representing “family owned” producers like Joseph Drouhin & Miguel Torrres. Previously he worked for Transatlantic Wine & Spirits (a division of SWS) as one of their key account sales reps selling fine wines in the South Florida area. He holds an Advance Sommelier Certificate from the US Sommelier Association and a Mastery of Wines Certificate from FIU’s School of Hospitality Management.
A wine enthusiast for over twenty-five years, Emilio has traveled to Napa, Santa Barbara, Paso Robles, Monterey, Long Island, Oregon, Washington, Chile, Spain & France to further his wine knowledge and continue to educate his palate. He has done hundreds of wine tastings/wine seminars/wine dinners around the state of Florida and has appeared a number of times on NBC’s South Florida Today show and on Telemundo’s Cada Dia con Maria Antonieta talking about wine.
“My passion is to teach people about the joy that can be found when you drink a great bottle of wine with the right meal. It is truly an unforgettable experience."
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 John De Leo
State Brand Manager
Premier Beverage Company
John De Leo's career has spanned two decades in the hospitality industry. He has worked as a Food & Beverage Director managing multiple restaurant and beverage outlet units in high volume situations.
John is a certified wine educator and has spent the last ten years working with wineries and winemakers from around the world developing marketing strategies for restaurants to position and develop wines for programs from all over the world. He has been a board member of the US Sommelier Association, serving as a key member of the faculty at Johnson & Wales University and Le Cordon Bleu USSA Wine School properties.
 Mark Kilbride
Regional Director
Jackson Estates International
Mark Kilbride has international business for Jackson Estates working in over 30 countries. In addition he has given staff training for cruise lines employees, hotel hospitality workers and is very familiar with wine making by leading the Kendall-Jackson Harvest Seminars in Sonoma and Napa Counties for the past five years.
Hill Flynn
National Sales Manager
United Wineries, USA
Hill has been leading multi national companies in the wine industry position themselves in multiple markets for over twenty years. His expertise in wines has been a great source of information for students in the classes he leads.
Traveling in Spain continuously and throughout the United States, Hill's insights in wines and winemaking are at Master's level and he leads classes regularly for the USSA.
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