Advisory Board

We are proud to have an excellent Advisory Board that guides our decisions regarding content and speakers.

Nancy Burgner

Nancy is Chief Marketing Manager of Touring & Tasting Marketing and Media, which provides a wide array of print, video, digital and mobile resources to help wine lovers plan a memorable trip to regions across the U.S. Previously she was the co-owner and associate publisher of Destination Wine Country Magazine and before that spend 16 years with ISLANDS magazine.

Tina Caputo

Tina is an experienced editor and writer, currently freelancing in wine, food and lifestyle subjects. For almost eight years she served as editor-in-chief of Vineyard & Winery Management magazine and, before that, she was managing editor of Wines & Vines magazine. Tina also produces and hosts her own podcast, Winemakers Drinking Beer.

George Christie

George is president of the Wine Industry Network, THE business resource for the wine industry. Winery and viticulture professionals use WIN for free to research products and services from premium industry suppliers, find contact and product information, and receive free supplier news, deals, and updates. George is also managing partner of Saini Vineyards.

Ray Johnson

Ray is Executive Director of the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University. His role includes operational oversight of the Wine Spectator Learning Center, scheduled to open on campus in 2017. Ray is also Assistant Director of the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and the Director of the People’s Choice Wine Awards of Lake County

Nancy Light

Nancy is Vice President of Communications at the Wine Institute, a public policy association of 1,000 California wineries and affiliated businesses dedicated to enhancing the environment for the responsible consumption and enjoyment of wine. Prior to her work at the Wine Institute, Nancy was Public Relations Manager at Kobrand Corporation and Vice President of Public Relations at Robert Mondavi.

Jackie Saunders

Jackie is vice president of marketing at Visit Loudoun, where she is responsible for the overall marketing and PR strategy as well as program development for this agency tasked with promoting Loudoun County, Virginia. She was previously Director of Media Relations at the Loudoun Convention and Visitors Association and before that spent 12 years at the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Colby Smith

Paul Wagner is president of Balzac Communications & Marketing and is also an instructor for Napa Valley College’s Viticulture and Enology department, Sonoma State’s Wine Business Program, and the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone.  Paul has judged many national and international wine competitions and, with Rick Kushman of Capital Public Radio, hosts “Bottle Talk”, a weekly conversation about wine.

January Wiese

January is Executive Director and was previously Event Director of Texas Hill Country Wineries, which represents 51 wineries in the popular (5 million annual visitors) Texas Hill Country.  Prior to that she served as Hospitality Manager at Flat Creek Estate. Her major experience in the wine industry came via almost 18 years spent at her family’s winery, JanKris.