Favorite Wine Regions:

Extensive travel through France's most renowned wine regions contributed to my decision to pursue a formal education in wine tasting and evaluation.

Why I Chose a Career in Wine:

I'm someone who's always loved to read and express herself in words, which is a big reason wine appeals to me - there's so much to talk about!

Wine Philosophy:

Every bottle of wine is unique in some way, and these differences play into the different foods with which you pair wines, the occasions on which you sip them, and the people with whom you share them. It's an adventure every time you try something new.

What I Really Enjoy About Wine:

More than anything, it's the wonderfully varied stories and personalities behind every bottle I uncork and each new vintage that really get me going. I love that each and every bottle has its own story to tell.

A Few More Words about Courtney:

Courtney holds her sommelier diploma from the International Sommelier Guild and a sommelier certification from the American Court of Master Sommeliers. Courtney grew up in California's Central Valley, where she gained an early appreciation for wine while sampling the abundant produce at local farmer's markets and traveling frequently to the state's numerous wine regions on vacations with her family. Courtney authored the recently released "Hip Tastes: The Fresh Guide to Wine," which was published by Viking Studio, an imprint of Penguin Group (USA). The San Francisco Chronicle said owning "Hip Tastes" is like having "a sommelier in your pocket" and San Francisco magazine called her popular HIP TASTES Events "Wine minus the snob factor."