HELEN MACKEY, DWS, Co-Founder & Lead Instructor
Helen arrived in Napa in 2001 and promptly started a wine of the month club called California Reds, which became a big success and enabled her to taste thousands of wines from around the world. Her business partner and husband dedicated himself to California Reds while Helen started her career with global wine and spirits producer, Diageo. At Diageo, Helen held multiple positions including brand management, new product innovation and national sales. Today, she is the National Director of Beverage Strategy for the largest fine dining chain in the US, Ruth's Chris Steak House and Mitchell's Fish Market, under the Ruth's Hospitality Group umbrella. With a WSET diploma, she was able to embed an in-depth understanding of the commercial side of wine and the consumer to her roles. She developed a deep knowledge of worldwide wine regions and a honed palate that gains her the respect of retailers, wholesalers, educators and winemakers. Helen is an acclaimed WSET instructor, wine industry panelist and guest lecturer since 2005.

ADAM CHASE, DWS and MW Candidate
Adam Chase owns Grape Experience of Boston, where he teaches all levels of the WSET program. As well, he partners with Wine and Spirit School, and is responsible for the Diploma Program of Northern California. He won't admit to it, but he is one of the "favorite" WSET instructors in America - his love and in-depth knowledge of wine always makes for an exciting class. Adam has worked in the wine industry for 10 years as an educator, retailer and consultant. He is an Associate with the Institute of Wine and Spirits and holds the Honors Diploma certification from London's Wine and Spirits Educational Trust. He is also a candidate for the Master of Wine.

PETER MARKS, MW
Peter Marks, Vice President of Wine Education for Icon Estates, is responsible for all wine education programs at Icon and manages the wine education team – The Academy of Wine. Marks is one of only 26 Masters of Wine residing in America, which he received in 1995. Before joining Icon Estates, Marks was the Senior Vice President of Wine at COPIA: The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts in Napa. Marks graduated from the University of California at Davis in 1976 with a B.S. degree with highest honors in Food Service Management. He is the Education Coordinator for the Institute of Masters of Wine tasting exam in the United States, is on the Board of Directors of the Napa Valley Wine Library, judges at many international wine competitions and he also assists with many charitable fundraisers throughout the year.

HELEN M CLAYDON B.Sc, DWS
Helen was born in Thornbury, Nr Bristol in the UK. A student of Hospitality Management at Oxford Brookes University she gained her BSC Honours degree including studies on her exchange program at Florida International University in Miami. On completion of her degree Helen moved to New York City and worked for several key Restaurant and Hotel Companies including Restaurant Associates, Ark restaurants and Affinia Hotels. Helen has been an Intermediate Level Educator with the WSET focusing on the Southern Hemisphere. Helen recently traveled to New Zealand and South Africa and enjoys teaching the Advanced Level Courses focused on these countries. Recently she relocated to San Francisco, California and continues to teach with the WSET and is working with the Distributor, Youngs Market as their Hotel Fine Wine and Spirit Specialist.

ERIC SOTHERN, DWS
Eric's dad bought a case of '85 Il Poggione Brunello, aiming to test his suspicion that this particular wine, even when consumed in inadvisable quantities, wouldn't engender a hangover. Sadly, research did not bear the theory out, but did serve to spark Eric's passion for fine wine. After graduating from Cornell University with a BA in English, Eric hightailed it to the West Coast where he worked in San Francisco's vibrant restaurant industry for several years before realizing that the wine business was where he wanted to be. He worked independently with several small importers and then a distributor before joining Robert Sinskey Vineyards as Trade Sales Director in 2002. Eric resides in Napa with his wife Amy, two small children, Phoebe and Alexander, and his cattle dog Tex. He balances his obsession with food and wine with similar dedication to family, cycling and skiing.

SAMANTHA FORD COLLINS, DWS
Samantha started her career as an intern for Ursula Hermacinski where she learned to appraise fine and rare wines for auction.  After her internship she was offered a full time position and eventually became the top Account Manager for the auction house.  After Samantha went to work for Schieffelin-Somerset (now the Moet Hennessy group) where she managed the fine dining accounts for their champagne and spirits portfolio.  She completed her DWS at the very end of 2009 and currently she is the Sr. Marketing Manager of Diageo California.