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.

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.

Anny Chen has meticulously worked in the wonderful world of Fine Wine for 13 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.

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 @annerz35.

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.

Katherine Wallace is a Principal Category Merchant on Whole Foods Market’s Global Wine Buying Team, overseeing our domestic wine and sake assortment in partnership with regional buyers across the country. Katherine began her career at Whole Foods Market as a logistics intern and spent several years as a global buyer on the Produce team before joining the Global Specialty Team.Katherine is focused on how wines are made, winemakers’ stories behind them and bringing the best value and assortment to the customer. She is passionate about supporting local brands, in addition to wineries with organic regenerative farming practices and that are female/owned operated. Katherine received her degree in Agricultural Business from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She is currently a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier Austin Chapter and an industry mentor for the Roots Fund.

Alexandria (Alex) Sarovich is the Wine Director at Little Saint (a restaurant, cafe and wine shop), Single Thread’s more casual sister restaurant in Healdsburg, CA. Her vision is to create an accessible wine program and be part of a dedicated team committed to creating a unique gathering space that will foster and support the community. Alex’s career in hospitality has included SingleThread, E2 Hospitality and Melbourne’s fine dining, Attica.

Alex’s love for all things food and wine began with the joy she experienced gathering around the dinner table with her family. Her passions have led her to study Sustainability and farming extensively as well.

Sarovich is a native Chicagoian, an avid traveler and a passionate teacher. Her interests also include using food and herbs as medicine, cooking, being outdoors, biking, hiking and yoga.

Mentorship is a huge passion of hers and it means the world to her to pass on the knowledge that has been with her along the years. This will be Alex's second year of Battonage Mentorship. She can provide insight on building confidence, running wine programs both on and off premise, trends in wine, Sustainability & Climate as it relates to the wine world & more!

Follow Alex on Instagram @alexannsarovich.

Rachel Gross is the Sr. Category Manager of Retail Wine at GoPuff. For her entire career Rachel has worked on the retail side of the business. Initially starting in fashion and then transitioning into wine. She joined GoPuff in May 2022 leading their brick & mortar wine business, which includes BevMo! And Liquor Barn. She was previously the Director of New World wines at Total Wine & More for 12 years.

Gross loves the complexity of the wine industry and helping others dissect and navigate through the 3-tier system. She excels at building strong relationships and negotiation skills, while many times she has been the only woman at the table.

A big supporter of women in the industry, she strives to help all women grow and build relationships. Rachel is looking forward to helping mentees navigate entry and exploration into the wine industry, providing insight on remote work vs. office work environments and the positivity of career transitions.

Rachel resides in Gaithersburg, MD with her husband Stephen and two children Jacob and Eliana. Gross attended Indiana University; she is a huge foodie who will make her way through any Best of Washingtonian or Michelin list. Her hobbies also include hiking, being outdoors with her family and traveling.

Paula de Pano is the founder and owner of Rocks + Acid, the mission-based wine shop and tasting room opening this Spring in Chapel Hill, NC. Named for the terroir and acid-focused wines that she will feature, Rocks + Acid is based on a set of core principles, which de Pano refers to as “basic human kindness” and will have a strong focus on wine education.

The award-winning sommelier, wine educator and one of the leading wine professionals of the South, recognized by Wine Enthusiast as one of the country’s “Five Filipino and Filipino-American Sommeliers helping to change the narrative in the United States, is the former Beverage Director for the Five Diamond, Relais & Chateaux Fearrington House Inn and Fearrington Village in Pittsboro, NC.

In addition to her nine years at Fearrington House Inn (2010-2014; 2016-2021), she spent two-years (2014-2016) as Senior Sommelier at Eleven Madison Park, New York City’s prestigious, three Michelin star restaurant and “Best Restaurant in the World,” during which time the restaurant received the “Outstanding Service” award from the James Beard Foundation.

Originally from Manila, de Pano attended the Culinary Institute of America and holds the Advanced Sommelier title from The Court of Master Sommeliers Americas, the second-highest sommelier ranking, following Master Sommelier.