Wesley Narron
Chief Wine AmbassadorWes got his start in the wine business as a telemarketer, nagging folks like you to buy a case of cheap French wine for $50 and promising you a FREE WINE RACK! (actually a flimsy wooden crate with slats) with each purchase. He later honed his knowledge as General Manager of The Wine Gallery—a chain of local wine shops—for six years, winning Boston Magazine’s “Best Wine Shop” accolades in 2007 and 2008. Afterward, he crisscrossed the state as a wine consultant for Café Europa Wines and Monsieur Touton Selections—selling wines to bottegas, packies, spas, trattorias, kitchens, and brasseries. Wes’s specialty is helping you navigate real-world wine situations, including: how to find a good, inexpensive wine that tastes like a far more expensive bottle; how to get a discount at any liquor store; how to remember which wines you love and which you hate; and (most importantly) how to deal with a wine snob.
Jo-Ann Ross
Wine AmbassadorJo-Ann is a lifelong wine enthusiast with considerable formal education in viniculture and public speaking. A Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and leading US wine expert, she is a frequent guest of French and Italian winemakers. Jo-Ann has over 30 years experience delighting corporate and private audiences at institutions such as The Boston Wine School, Boston Center for Adult Education, The Wine Gallery, and SieMatic Kitchens with multi-sensory presentations that ensure everyone leaves with both valuable information and fond memories.
Roz Angoff
Wine AmbassadorRoz’s passion for wine began when she took her first wine classes soon after graduating college. But she only began to study wine intensively after leaving her high-tech sales career. Roz has completed the OIV Wine Marketing Program at UC Davis and the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Studies Program at Boston University, and spent a summer harvesting grapes and making wine at a Tuscan vineyard. She is a member of the Society of Wine Educators and the French Wine Society, whose French Wine Scholars and Bordeaux Masters programs she recently completed. Roz has conducted many wine tastings and educational events throughout the Boston area, and loves sharing her enthusiasm for great wine and great food.
Rosalind Johnson
Wine AmbassadorRosalind is a retired educator who has her Masters in Education and who has spent many years in suburban school systems. Her humor and unique people skills is why many are attracted to her style as a tour guide. She brings over 11 years of vino experience via her former membership in a group known as "Divas Uncorked" whose mission is to make wine more consumer friendly. She has traveled extensively around the world experiencing the grape and participating in wine demonstrations. Rosalind believes in taking the snobbishness out of the industry while at the same time educating the public. She suggests a six-month action plan which is to begin by attending tastings and learning the grapes. You will then learn what you like and what you do not. Find a friendly, savvy wine store, find friends who also want to learn. Learn to marry food with wine (trial and error). If all the above fails, MARRY A WINEMAKER.
Melanie DeCarolis
Wine AmbassadorMelanie grew up in an Italian family where wine (albeit cheap wine) was always a staple of family gatherings. However, It it was not until she worked for a dot-com, getting paid to write snarky reviews of e-commerce websites, that her love of wine really kicked in. As a result of writing one of the first articles about the online wine-buying experience, four cases of not-so-cheap wine appeared—thus, her fixation was born. Melanie has passed the WSET Advanced Exam with merit and the first level of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and is a member of the Boston Sommelier Society and the Red White Boston Tasting Crew. In her spare time, she blogs about wine and makes a pest of herself in wine stores far and wide.
Sarah Cummings
Wine AmbassadorAfter graduating college with a degree in classical vocal performance, Sarah landed in the wine business, working for a private contractor who hosted wine tastings at liquor stores and restaurants. Over the years, she has also worked at the Wine Gallery, on both the retail and wholesale sides of the business; as a wine consultant and sales rep for Select Wine Imports, where she used her twin passions for wine and performing to give countless in-store and at-home tastings; and at Whole Foods, where she was a specialty buyer in Boston and then a wine consultant and co-wine buyer in Portland Maine. She also has completed Boston University’s Wine Program. As an former aspiring opera singer and current wine aficionado, she brings her varied wine experiences and entertaining approach to teaching to every tour.
Adam Centamore
Wine AmbassadorAdam comes to City Wine Tours with a degree in viticulture from the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Studies program where he studied under two Masters of Wine. He belongs to the Society of Wine Educators & American Cheese Society and is currently a Master's degree candidate in Gastronomy at Boston University, with a focus on wine studies. For the past 4 years, he has served as Manager at Formaggio Kitchen and currently teaches private wine and cheese classes at Boston Center for Adult Education. Adam loves to eat, drink, and talk about it!
Jennifer O'Brien
Wine AmbassadorJennifer became hooked on the idea of a career in the wine trade shortly after graduating from college with a degree in Education and Psychology. After taking a wine class through the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Studies Program, it dawned on her: people make a living out of tasting and talking about wine! Since then, she has continued educating herself through coursework and travel. She has spread her enthusiasm for wine through a career in the restaurant industry, as a Consultant for The Traveling Vineyard, and as a Wine Educator and member of the Society of Wine Educators. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and a WSET Diploma Candidate, having passed the WSET Advanced Exam with Distinction. Jennifer loves to answer any and all kinds of questions about wine and thinks the most difficult to answer is “What’s your favorite?” because she finds it impossible to pick only one!
John Fiola
Wine AmbassadorJohn’s passion for wine began when his competitive running career was winding down. His introduction to wines started by volunteering to get the wines for a holiday dinner one year where he met a fabulous retailer who got him hooked. A chemist by training, and after taking numerous wine courses geared for the consumer, he entered the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) certification program. John holds the WSET Diploma (with Merit) and is a Certified WSET Educator. He also holds the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) from the Society of Wine Educators. John has been teaching wine courses in the Boston area since 2006 and thoroughly enjoys the education aspect of wine.
Amy Ullman
Wine AmbassadorAmy Ullman has been working in wine for over a decade. She began her career waxing rhapsodic over the virtues of Vinho Verde and the vices of White Zinfandel on the patio of Shays Pub and Wine Bar in Harvard Square. Since that time she has worked in every facet of the industry: serving and bartending at award-winning restaurants in Boston and Aspen; selling wine for a boutique wholesaler; interning in the Christie’s wine department; educating future chefs at Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School; even pruning and weeding at an organic vineyard in Beaujolais. She is an Advanced Candidate through Court of Master Sommeliers, a Certified Specialist of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators, and is currently working on her Diploma of Wine and Spirits via the Wine and Spirits Education Trust.
Angela Sinni
Wine AmbassadorAngela was introduced to wine at an early age helping her Italian grandfather make homemade wine in his cellar each fall. After graduating with a chemical engineering degree, she worked in the financial industry and was exposed to a variety of wine through tastings and wine travel around the world. Eager to learn more, she completed Level I and II of the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Studies Program at Boston University. She holds the WSET Advanced Certification with Merit, a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and is a member of the Boston Sommelier Society. Angela loves to share her enthusiasm and wine tips for all levels of wine drinkers on her tour!
Judy Lebel
Wine AmbassadorJudy Lebel has 20+ years in the wine industry. She founded Best Year Ever, Wine Agency in 2010. The agency represents small production, sustainable, family run wineries from around the world to restaurants and wine shops in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Judy began her wine career in San Diego, presenting boutique wines to restaurants and hotels. Her education was unique, working with and learning from California winery founders. A move to Ohio gave her the exposure to fall in love with European wines and to launch new wine label. She is proud to have earned "Certified Specilaist of Wine" by the Society of Wine Educators.
Geoffrey Featherstone
Wine AmbassadorGeoffrey's introduction to wine was on a tour in Temecula, CA when he learned that the "flavors" in wine weren't added, but rather from the grapes themselves. After that epiphany, he began trying different wines and learning his favorite tastes. During a gap in careers, Geoffrey had the opportunity to work in retail wine sales for one of the largest liquor store chains in Massachusetts, Yankee Spirits. This allowed him to learn alongside experienced professionals, and taste hundreds of wines. He has now worked as a wine consultant for nearly a decade, and he still loves helping people enjoy wine, believing that the best wine for you is one that you like at a price that you feel good about. Most of all, Geoffrey likes tasting new wines and enjoying them with good food and great company.
Greg Bonosoro
Wine AmbassadorGreg is another Wine & Spirits Educational Trust Certificate pursuer! He's worked all over the wine industry for the past 14 years, from his role as GM of the Harvard Square Uno Chicago Grill, to Beverage Buyer at the Waterfront Cafe, to Trainer at Legal Sea Foods, to his current role as Wine/Spirits/Craft Beer Executive for Atlantic Imports, one of the premier distributors in Massachusetts. Greg was responsible for creating one of the first wine-on-tap programs in Boston. But those aren't the only reasons we've added him to our roster! He's a passionate wine and food enthusiast. And he likes spreading the gospel of the grape.
