IN CELEBRATION OF WINE CRUISES

Mar 29 - AmaWaterways President Rudi Schreiner has played a key role in the development in the modern-day river cruise industry. As a senior executive with two river cruise lines, and a marketing partner with a third, Schreiner developed the first river cruise products directed at the North American market after the completion of the Main-Danube Canal in 1992. He founded AmaWaterways in 2002 with Kristin Karst and Jimmy Murphy, and has led the line to its present award-winning industry position in Europe and Southeast Asia. Schreiner studied architecture in his native Vienna and holds an MBA from Loyola University in New Orleans.

Kristin’s passion for travel first surfaced while still in school in her native Dresden, Germany, leading her to pursue an MBA in Economics of Tourism and Business Management. The river cruise business beckoned after subsequent key roles in the travel industry led her to the U.S. In 2002, Kristin joined Rudi Schreiner and Jimmy Murphy to form a new river cruise line like no other. In the span of a decade, AmaWaterways has become the industry leader, with an award-winning fleet of 15 vessels in Europe, Russia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Africa. Plans for 2013 include a return to one of Kristin’s favorite destinations - the scenic Douro River in Portugal - plus a new itinerary on the Seine in France.

Oct 28 - Kelly has been involved in various roles within the Travel Industry for more than 17 years. She has spent much of her career at the Canadian Automobile Association and has been involved exclusively with their Groups Department since 2005. For the last few years she has served as Sales Representative for the CAA Travel Product Development Team focusing on Customer Relations and Travel Marketing. She has travelled extensively in North America and Europe and has hosted private CAA tour groups to Africa, India, and throughout Europe.

Nov 8 - Great Capitals & Vintages of the DanubeWalter Littlejohn III is a travel industry expert who serves as AmaWaterways’ Director of Reservations. Prior to joining the company, Walter worked for Expedia.com, where he was responsible for the sales strategy of eight global call centers, and where he spear-headed the launch of luxury and river cruise lines on the Expedia.com cruise site. For over a decade, Walter was the owner of Chartwell Vacations, a packager of cruise, resort and escorted tour vacations, and he also worked for Carnival Cruise Lines, the world’s largest cruise line. Walter graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School, where he studied economics, marketing and multinational management.

Mar 25 - James Cluer, Owner of Fine Vintages Ltd., Napa, CA. James began his career in the wine trade in 1988, working for an importer in Hong Kong. After attending a number of tastings he got the wine bug, and took his first WSET course at age 18. After University, he headed for Bordeaux and landed an apprenticeship at Milhade where he learned about wine from the ground up. A few years later James was in charge of global exports to 18 countries. He also began studying wine and in 1998 he enrolled in the Master of Wine (MW) program, the pinnacle of professional qualifications in wine; there have only been 300 successful candidates since the first MW exams in 1953. Eleven years later, James became a Master of Wine.

Mar 29 - Mario Ferreira, CEO/Owner - House of Sandeman. Mario Ferreira is renowned for his extensive knowledge of Port wines, Douro wines and Madeira. His industry experience includes working for Sandemann in Portugal and for an importer and distributor based in California. Later, he returned to Portugal to serve as the Port Wine Institute’s ambassador to the USA, organizing elaborate, educational seminars and tastings throughout the USA for the wine and hospitality trade, as well as for consumers. Today, he is CEO of ship builder and operator DouroAzul, as well as the CEO/Owner of Porto Cellars.

George Sandeman , of the House of Sandeman.
George Sandeman is the seventh generation of his family to head the House of Sandeman, a company founded in London in 1790 by a determined young Scotsman named George Sandeman. From a modest start two hundred years ago as a wine merchant in the City of London, to today's impressive lodges in Oporto and bodegas in Jerez, and the world's best known brand of Port and Sherry, there has been a continuous commitment to quality. The growth of Sandeman Port and Sherries over two centuries has been based on a balance of tradition and innovation, respecting heritage but always seeking improvement.

Apr 4 - Jim Clendenen, .

Champagne Host: Preston Mohr, Wine Specialist .
Preston Mohr first came to Paris in 2003 to spend a year abroad while earning his BA in Art History and French Studies from the University of Minnesota. Since then, wine, gastronomy and the French art de vivre have become his passions. In 2009, Preston started leading gourmet food and wine tastings and excursions, using knowledge gained from his extensive travels and studies throughout France. Preston also holds the Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and is currently studying for his Diploma, to be completed in June 2013.

Apr 11 - Preston Mohr, Wine Specialist .
Preston Mohr first came to Paris in 2003 to spend a year abroad while earning his BA in Art History and French Studies from the University of Minnesota. Since then, wine, gastronomy and the French art de vivre have become his passions. In 2009, Preston started leading gourmet food and wine tastings and excursions, using knowledge gained from his extensive travels and studies throughout France. Preston also holds the Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and is currently studying for his Diploma, to be completed in June 2013.

Apr 12 - Marcy & Gary Eberle, Owners of Eberle Winery, Paso Robles, CA.
Husband and wife team Marcy and Gary Eberle opened the doors to Eberle Winery in 1983 with their inaugural wine, Eberle’s 1979 Cabernet Sauvignon. Today, the winery handcrafts 25,000 cases of wine each year from surrounding Estate vineyards. More than 33 years since the release of their first vintage, the winery consistently remains one of the highest award-winning wineries in the United States.

Oct 28 - Len & Marisa Crispino, Owners/Winemakers, Foreign Affairs Winery.
In the early 1990s, Len and Marisa took their young daughter to live in Italy, where they embraced the Italian love of food, wine and the simple joys of life. Inspired, they returned home to Ontario, purchased some prime farmland and planted their first vines. Today, their Canadian interpretation with locally grown Vinifera varietals are referred to as appassimento (a unique grape drying process also known as the Reductio method).

Oct 31 - Preston Mohr, Wine Specialist .
Preston Mohr first came to Paris in 2003 to spend a year abroad while earning his BA in Art History and French Studies from the University of Minnesota. Since then, wine, gastronomy and the French art de vivre have become his passions. In 2009, Preston started leading gourmet food and wine tastings and excursions, using knowledge gained from his extensive travels and studies throughout France. Preston also holds the Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and is currently studying for his Diploma, to be completed in June 2013.

Nov 1 - Brian Heath, Owner, Grape Creek Vineyards, Fredericksburg, TX.
In 2006, Brian Heath purchased Grape Creek Vineyards in the Texas Hill Country, which produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. It also boasts the first underground commercial barrel cellar in central Texas. Brian has extensively renovated and expanded the property, creating a “Tuscany in Texas” experience for wine lovers and a state-of-the-art wine production facility.

Nov 3 - Carissa Chappellet and Archie McLaren.

Nov 4 - Gerry and Rosie Wilson.

Nov 5 - Eric Glomski, .

Sam Pillsbury.

Nov 7 - Jean Marc Espinasse, Domaine Rouge-Bleu, France.
Jean-Marc Epinasse has always had a passion for wine made the natural way. For the past 25 years, he and his uncle have operated a family-owned vineyard in Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Domaine du Banneret) and Jean-Marc has had great success distributing boutique French family wines to the US market. It was only natural that one day he would cultivate his own vineyard; in 2006, Jean-Marc and his lovely American ex-pat wife Kristin (creator of the popular blog French-Word-a-Day) bought their first vineyard and Domaine Rouge-Bleu was born. Rouge-Bleu has been awarded many gold medals in France, secured numerous press articles and has been ranked 90+ points more than 4 times in Wine Spectator.

Nov 8 - Bob and Jodi Dickinson.

Nov 9 - Christopher Silva.

Nov 10 - Holly Howell.

Nov 10 - Michael & Stephanie Honig.

Nov 12 - Barry Wiss.

Nov 14 - Vic Poulos, Owner, Zin Valle Vineyards, Canutillo, TX.
In 2000, Vic planted grapes on ten acres in Canutillo, Texas and subsequently built and operates his own very successful winery, Zin Valle Vineyards. He also writes about wine for local and national publications, speaks to numerous groups on wine topics, and lectures on international river wine cruises. Vic has an extensive personal wine collection and also enjoys restoring and flying antique airplanes.

Nov 18 - Lee Fuqua, Owner, Fuqua Winery, Dallas, TX.
Lee’s ambition was to produce world-class wines in Texas, regardless of cost. Today, his small boutique winery produces what he calls “wines with an attitude” – big, rich, full-bodied wines that satisfy serious wine drinkers.

Nov 21 - Mark Johnson, Vice President/Winemaker, Chateau Chantal Winery, Traverse City, MI.
Mark Johnson has been the winemaker at Chateau Chantal Winery in Northern Michigan since it opened in 1986. Trained at the Geisenheim Research Institute in Germany, he has a dedicated passion for making cool climate wines as well as “ice wines.” Mark also spends time in Argentina, making Mealbec red wine on the winery’s vineyard in Mendoza.