Italian Wine Podcast Ep. 2441 Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Sarah Heller MW | Masterclass US Wine Market
Welcome to Episode 2441 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Barbara Fitzgerald interviews Sarah Heller MW, a US-based Master of Wine and one of the leading experts on Italian wines. As a Vinitaly International Academy Faculty Member, Sarah shares her insights into the world of wine education and the VIA certification.
Key Takeaways:
- Sarah’s personal approach to wine education and her distinctive teaching style.
- How to prepare for the VIA Italian Wine Ambassador certification?
- Why the VIA qualification and its global network are valuable for wine professionals.
Learn more about the VIA Italian Wine Ambassador Course: https://www.vinitaly.com/en/academy/vinitaly-international-academy/
More about the guest:
Sarah Heller MW is a U.S.-based Master of Wine and a leading voice in Italian wine on the global stage. She has been a faculty member of the Vinitaly International Academy since 2018, after being part of the first group of VIA Ambassadors to pass its inaugural edition in 2015.
She is the Italian wine reviewer and a columnist for Club Oenologique, wine editor for Asia Tatler, a host of the television series Wine Masters, and co-designer of the award-winning Elements Collection of crystal stemware with Lucaris.
Her educational video series has reached over 10 million students, and she is regularly invited to speak on Italian fine wine, Champagne, wine investment, and collecting. Sarah’s work explores wine’s cultural and sensory dimensions. Her Visual Tasting Notes and other artworks have been exhibited and published internationally. She is a Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy and an Honorary Advisor to Hong Kong’s International Culinary Institute. A Yale graduate in fine art, Sarah began her wine career in New York and Hong Kong and has worked with wineries across Europe. She speaks multiple languages, including Italian, French, German, Chinese, and English.
Connect:
Website: www.sarahheller.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-heller-mw-96a9713
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahhellermw/
More about the host:
With a career of nearly two decades in the wine industry, Barbara specializes in D2C marketing and business development. She's led roles from entry level to senior management, combining her extensive experience with data analysis, critical thinking and storytelling while driving revenue growth and brand recognition for California wineries. As a part of the 4th generation of an Italian-American family among the California wine industry pioneers, Barbara has spent her life around wine growing, production, marketing, distribution and hospitality. A Syracuse University graduate, she returned to California to gain diverse industry perspectives from a range of wineries.
As an Italian Wine Ambassador, she brings her expertise to the Italian wine market, known for its authenticity and consumer demand. Barbara now runs Apri La Creative Consulting, coaching wineries in Italy and the US to strategically develop their D2C channels in line with their brand values. Together with her husband, Barbara also owns and operates a boutique wine production company, and a small import company specializing in Italian wines to the US.
Connect:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarajeanfitz/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbara-fitzgerald-iwa/
Website: https://www.aprilacreative.com/
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