Featured Guests
Kim Beto
Director of Key Accounts...
Southern Wine & Spirits
Kim Beto is known by numerous industry folk for his dynamic and inspired work with Southern Wine & Spirits, but prior to working with Southern, he was the Director of Beverage for the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas. Many also know him from his days as the Wine Director and GM at Postrio, and prior to that, he was at his restaurant, 231 Ellsworth.
Appearing at other events:
A Master Sommelier since 1997, Jay was tapped to be the opening Director of Wine for The Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. Currently he leads the Fine Wine division for Southern Wine & Spirits Nevada as Vice President – Fine Wine. Often featured in national print and broadcast media as well as many wine and food events, Jay currently serves as Vice President of The Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation and is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, where he is actively involved with the organization’s education and examination efforts.
Jay grew up in Atlanta, Georgia dreaming about playing guitar in a rock band (which he did) and flying jets (which he did not), and got into the wine business by accident - just like the rest of us.
Appearing at other events:
Geoff Labitzke is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Kistler Vineyards. Kistler Vineyards is an artisan winery dedicated to producing world class Chardonnay and Pinot Noir using old world Burgundian techniques. Kistler has consistently produced some of the best California examples of these varieties for over 30 years.
Geoff began his career as a retailer in Southern California in 1978. Early on Geoff was a guest speaker conducting wine classes at Saddleback College and Orange Coast College. In the early 1980’s Geoff developed a wine appreciation course geared toward restaurant servers. In 1989, he achieved the Certified Wine Educator credential from the Society of Wine Educators. Geoff would later serve on the Society’s board of directors and was chairman of the annual conference held in Sonoma.
Geoff has spent 22 years in wholesale representing some of the finest wines in the world. He has personally visited top wine estates in Austria, France, Germany, Italy Spain, Australia and New Zealand. In 2006, Geoff was one of two Americans to pass the rigorous Master of Wine examination. Currently there are only 30 Masters of Wine in the United States.
Appearing at other events:
Jordan Mackay is the James Beard Award-winning wine and spirits writer for San Francisco magazine. His writing on food, wine, spirits, and beer has also appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Decanter, Wine and Spirits, Food & Wine, Gourmet and others. His first book, Passion for Pinot, was published in 2009, and his second, Secrets of the Sommeliers, was released in October 2010, winning a James Beard award in 2011.
Appearing at other events:
Neal Fraser
The Downtown Project
Los Angeles
Bouchard Pere et Fils
France
Casa Silva
Chile
Flowers Vineyard & Winery
Sonoma County
Kutch Wines
Sonoma County
Saintsbury
Carneros
Sandhi Wines
Santa Barbara County
