Annette Alvarez-Peters - Program Lead
Annette Alvarez-Peters is the founder of annette a.p. Wine and Spirits, a consultancy business focused on business development and merchandising strategies for the wine and spirits industry.
Annette sits on the Board of Directors for Crimson Wine Group, a portfolio which engages in the production and sale of luxury wines and MISA Imports, a global importer and distributor for wine and spirits. In addition, she is involved and serves as a Mentor with non-profit organization Wine Unify, an organization to promote and celebrate diversity in the wine industry and involved with the Batonnage Forum Mentorship program as the Head of Industry Area of Focus for Retail, an organization designed to stir up conversations about equality and forward progress for women in wine.
Annette previously held a 37 year career with Costco Wholesale - including 25 years in the beverage alcohol department, where she led the buying team for the USA. Annette retired in 2020 as Asst. Vice President / GMM.
Alvarez-Peters was named as a top leader in the wine industry by M. Shanken Communications, Wine Business Monthly, Wine Enthusiast and Decanter. She holds the Diploma certification from Wine & Spirit Education Trust, along with a Certified Wine Educator certificate from Society of Wine Educators. Annette has been inducted into the following associations: Bordeaux’s Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc; Champagne’s Ordre des Coteaux des Champagne and Chateauneuf du Pape Echansonnerie des Papes.
Kathryn “Kat” House McClaskey
Kathryn “Kat” House McClaskey is the found of House of Wine, a wine shop and experience venue in Boise, Idaho. She holds a Master of Science degree in Horticulture from Washington State University with special emphasis in Viticulture and Enology. Prior to moving to Boise in 2010, Kat worked throughout Washington State including time spent in Walla Walla, Washington with Seven Hills Vineyard and Pepper Bridge Winery and four years with Betz Family Winery in Woodinville, Washington, where she was the Assistant Winemaker from 2006 to 2010. During this time, Kat was also the instructor for the Viticulture and Wine Chemistry courses at the Northwest Wine Academy, where she furthered her love of adult education. In 2010, Kat left Washington to explore the Idaho wine and created House of Wine to fill demand for wine production consulting and producer and consumer wine education. Since 2010 she has worked alongside winemakers and groups teaching numerous seminars enabling growers and producers to increase grape and wine quality. A perpetual student, Kat continues her pursuit of learning and is a Stage 3 student in the one of the most prestigious and challenging wine education programs in the world: Master of Wine. She is a certified educator for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and has various other wine certifications. In addition, Kat is the Wine Columnist for the Idaho Press and Boise Weekly. As of 2023, House of Wine has expanded to a retail and wine experience venue in downtown Boise with the mission of empowering connection through exceptional wine experiences.
Anny Chen
Anny Chen has meticulously worked in the wonderful world of Fine Wine for 15 years. She is a Senior Fine Wine Consultant at Morrell & Company, assisting private clients source top wines for their cellars, focusing on blue chip producers and new cult wines that are the next big thing. Her focus is quite niche, hyperfocused on building one-on-one relationships with top collectors in the fine wine world.
Anny started her career in wine in 2009 on the sales floor of Zachys Wine & Liquor and was quickly promoted throughout the years up to Vice President of Sales. She has a similar passion for travel and augments her wine education through trips to Burgundy, Champagne, and Bordeaux, tasting with winemakers whenever possible.
As of 2023, Anny launched her own luxury travel business, Jetset Oenophile, focusing on curating bespoke trips for wine lovers and discerning clients.
Anny Chen holds a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) credential and the WSET Level 3 Advanced. She is a Founding Member of Societe des Ami du Champagne (SAC) in New York and a member of the Hue Society NYC Chapter.
Anny graduated cum laude from New York University with a double major in International Relations and East Asian Studies, and holds a Master of Science in International Political Economy from the London School of Economics. Prior to her entry into the wine world, Anny worked in Sales and Trading at Bank of America.
Follow Anny on Instagram at @jetset_oenophile
Jenn Holterman
Jenn Holterman is the Merchandise Director of Wine on the Adult Beverages team at Target. Jenn has been at Target for 13 years with the most recent 10 years on the Adult Beverage team and holds her WSET Level 2 Certification. She began her career in Space/Presentation followed by the Multicultural team supporting Beauty/Healthcare.
When she started on the Adult Beverage team, she held several buying roles both regionally and nationally in Wine and Spirits prior to her current role. During her time on the Adult Beverage team, she more than doubled the business to over $1B today through elevated store experiences, new licenses and launching several successful national brands. In addition, she introduced the regional buying model for Target, launched Adult Bev Order Pick-up/Drive-up nationally in nearly 1,200 stores and developed and launched over 14 exclusively launched brands (including California Roots which is now a top wine brand at Target).
Jenn has accomplished all this growth while maintaining her passion for driving diversity in the wine industry and delivering curated offerings that are authentic, trend-forward and innovative for the Target guest. She enjoys mentoring other women in the industry and sharing how to build relationships and how to work with large retailers.
Jenn is married to her husband Andy and together they have two little boys - Nicholas and Bennett. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, biking and watching sports with her family.
Follow Jenn on Instagram @jenneane.
Cara Patricia
Cara is a wine professional who has worked at the highest tiers of hospitality and is known for her relaxed style of wine education under her motto"Drink for Yourself”--a reminder that regardless of the trends and fads of the beverage world, the most important thing is what makes YOU happy. Cara has a long history in service and leadership and is a regular panelist, moderator and contributor at wine publications and events, including Guest Sommelier roles at Pebble Beach Food & Wine, LA Food & Wine, La Paulée, La Tablée, and Meals on Wheels Gala. Cara also worked as a fine wine sales consultant in boutique wine retail and for many years as a luxury Champagne Specialist for Moët Hennessy. In San Francisco, she was Lead Sommelier at Hakkasan and won a Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 2013, simultaneously overseeing the $3MM cellar of Bright Wine Fund & Michelin Three-Star restaurant Saison as Cellarmaster, which received the Wine Spectator Grand Award under her tenure. Cara dreamed of owning her own business from the early days of her career, and DECANTsf is the storied realization of her passion and experience.
Follow Cara on Instagram @carapatriciaSF.
Alexandria Sarovich
Own Rooted Hospitality provides consulting services using sustainable case by case solutions for Private Clients, Beverage Brands, Retailers and Restaurants.
With over fifteen years of extensive experience in the restaurant and wine industry, Alex possesses a profound dedication to delivering exceptional guest experiences, coupled with a strong focus on business success and ownership mentality. Her passion for her craft is evident, as she takes immense pride and joy in her work, eagerly sharing her wealth of knowledge and expertise with others. Holding the prestigious title of Advanced Sommelier through CMS, Alex is adept at assisting clients seeking wine services to enhance their business operations, offering invaluable insights with her expert-level proficiency.
Alex embodies a holistic approach to hospitality, whether discussing a modest $10 bottle or a luxurious $2,000 vintage, always striving to ensure maximum enjoyment for her patrons. Beyond her professional endeavors, Alex finds solace in outdoor activities such as hiking, running, and biking, as well as indulging in the pleasures of a good novel. A devoted pet parent to her long-haired grey cat, Echezeaux, Alex also shares a passion for adventure and travel with her fiancée, Kate.
In her previous role as the Executive Wine Director at Little Saint, Alex established an inclusive retail & multi-unit on premise wine program, fostering a welcoming environment that supported community engagement while amplifying underrepresented voices within the wine industry. Under her leadership, the wine program at Little Saint was built from the ground up and expanded to an impressive 1,000 selections over the 2+years on project, culminating in the prestigious Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence. Prior to her tenure at Little Saint, Alex honed her skills as a sommelier at renowned establishments such as the three-Michelin-starred SingleThread and the internationally acclaimed Attica in Melbourne, Australia.
Outside of her professional duties, Alex remains committed to mentoring aspiring women in the wine industry through her involvement in the Bâtonnage Mentorship Program since 2022. Her outstanding contributions to the field have not gone unnoticed, as evidenced by her recognition as VinePair’s New Wave Sommelier of the Year in 2023. Alex's expertise has been featured in esteemed publications including Condé Nast Traveler, Sonoma Magazine, Wine Spectator, San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal, SevenFifty Daily, and SOMM TV.
Photo Credit: Emma K Creative
Follow Alex on Instagram @alexannsarovich.
Susan Hayes
Susan Hayes is the Vice President of MO Cellar Selections, a wine broker with a portfolio specializing in premium and super premium wines and spirits www.kdchaney.com. She covers 6 West Coast states: WA, OR, CA, ID, MT, and AK. She recently started her own wine label Rain Shadows from the Rattlesnake Hills AVA in Washington State.
Previously Susan held a 34 year career at Costco Wholesale, with 15 of those years as the Wine & Spirits Buyer. Her buying career expands decades and has allowed her to travel the world, meet notable industry personalities. Hayes holds a WSET Level 2 certificate. In addition, she was inducted into Bordeaux’s Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc. Susan’s industry experience is truly invaluable and can help mentees navigate through their own careers.
Hayes has a passion for food and wine & spirits, travel and the arts. She started an original art business, which has now expanded to commission mixed media paintings sold all over the US and UK. Susan lives in Washington State.
Follow Susan on Instagram @suehayes3442 and @susan_hayes_art.
Amy Karasavas
Amy Karasavas is the founder and sommelier of That Pour Woman located in Brooklyn, NY. Her company offers public and private wine tastings and classes. She is currently a WSET Level 4 Diploma candidate. In addition, she has received her sommelier certification with distinction from the Sommelier Society of America along with her WSET Level 3 certification with distinction.
Amy worked at the neighborhood boutique shop Blanc et Rouge Wine & Spirits in Brooklyn, NY for two and a half years. Her experiences lie in wine education, blind tasting training, and the ins and outs of wine retail. Amy has traveled to some of the world’s famous wine regions to enhance her education like France, Portugal, Italy, Chile, Greece, and the USA.
Melissa Zeman
Melissa Zeman is the owner of BottlesUp!, a bottle shop and experience in Chicago. She graduated from Trinity University (San Antonio) in 2007 and in 2009 leapt into the wine industry, officially beginning her career with the full intent of opening her own shop (which ultimately took ten years). During that time Zeman received her WSET Level 2 and managed two different retail shops, specializing in event planning/execution and wine club management. She opened BottlesUp! in September 2019 and runs all aspects of the business. She focuses on being an active part of the community, growing the shop’s 400+ member wine club, and further developing the recurring BeyoU Ladies’ Nights.
In her free time, you can find Zeman playing soccer and supporting fellow small businesses/industry comrades. Follow Melissa and the business at @bottles_up_chicago.
Chrissy Edrozo
Chrissy Edrozo is a regional buyer in the Southwest division for Costco Wholesale. She is based in San Diego, CA and responsible for 47 locations in southern California (San Diego area), Arizona, Las Vegas, New Mexico and Colorado. Edrozo began her career at the membership warehouse club Costco in 2001 in the Membership department, moving on to various positions in Operations and then transferred to the buying division in 2007. She started with an entry level position purchasing toys, seasonal items, sporting goods and foods for the Mexico division. She was promoted to Wine Buyer in 2019, and has traveled to many different wine countries including California, Washington, Bordeaux, Rhone Valley and Burgundy to gain additional insight and knowledge of the regions. Along with her daily duties as a buyer, she also is a contributor for wine columns to the member monthly publication The Costco Connection.
Edrozo holds WSET Advanced certification and is continuing her studies with the WSET Diploma program to further her knowledge, love, and passion for the wine industry.
Follow Chrissy on Instagram @chrissyedrozo.
Suzanne Denevan-Brown
Suzanne Denevan-Brown is a seasoned industry leader with a proven track record of turning concepts into results. She has an MBA, WSET Level 3 certification and is a Certified Sommelier. Passionate about food and wine, Suzanne has extensive sales, Retail, and Brand Marketing experience. Currently a Senior Brand Manager at EJ Gallo, the largest US winery, Suzanne has a front row seat to the industry and a powerful voice for creating positive forward progress. You can follow her on Instagram at @sdenevan.