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Shari Gherman
Four years ago Gherman co-founded the American Fine Wine Competition. This is the only competition in the country that limits its entries to “premium level” American produced wines. The media and winery buzz over this competition has garnered press from around the nation and interest from notables such as Robert Parker Jr. The AFWC and its associated marketing arm, The Gold Medal Wine Tour, are based on Gherman’s passion for wine. The GMWT markets the Gold and Double Gold medal winners from the competition in exclusive dinner venues while benefiting local charities. Gherman has melded her love for wine with her drive to give back to the community. In the last three years, Gherman has raised over $350,000 for local charities through the marketing of these great wines and the associated charity dinners. Earlier in her career, Gherman worked in the publishing industry, and with wineries, suppliers, and distributors. This experience helped her learn both the technical and logistic arm of the wine business. Working with wineries and suppliers developing marketing plans, reviewing budgets and market penetration goals exposed the “business” side of the industry. Working with the distributors rounded that education with knowledge of distribution and related concerns. It also gave her a firsthand look at commercial customers, how they think and more importantly why they purchase certain brands over others. Gherman has sat on wine judging panels, participated in hundreds of formal and informal industry tastings. She is a certified Sommelier and has traveled extensively throughout the USA to search out new wineries and products. She has also toured the wine regions of Italy, France and South Africa. Her palate “is one of the best I’ve ever seen” according to Fred Tasker, the wine writer for the Miami Herald. However, what really makes Gherman different is her combination of advertising and promotional expertise that complements her wine knowledge. Gherman worked 15 years in advertising. Starting as a sales representative and moving up to the Advertising Director, her knowledge in that arena has been a great asset. Gherman was the brain child and developer of the wine section for the iconic Ocean Drive magazine. This section continues today more than 10 years after Shari’s departure. Passion, expertise and drive separate Shari from the pack. Her skill set of wine and marketing knowledge have been the basis for her outstanding successes. It is this combination that will continue to help Gherman, and those associated with her, to move forward into the ever changing wine industry. A Miami native, Shari resides with her husband Joel and their pets, Brunello, Max and Chase, in Boca Raton.
Henry Barrow He retired from radio in 1999 to go into the wine business at Henry was one of the first to tout the beauty of Henry’s interest in wine was sparked when he met most of the legendary
Henry is a member of Iron Arrow, the highest honorary at the
Barry Alberts
Barry also runs the wine programs at the very popular Jaguar Restaurant in Coconut Grove, Talavera Restaurant in Coral Gables and Peacock Garden Restaurant-Coconut Grove writing the wine lists and running staff training as well as a weekly wine event on Thursdays at Jaguar. For eight years, Barry was the Wine Director for Scotty's Gourmet Market in Coconut Grove. In 1996, Wine & Spirits Magazine named him one of the top 100 wine retailers in the US. He works nationally with private and corporate groups conducting wine pairing dinners & events with some of the country's top chefs in cities including New York, Chicago, Minneapolis, San Francisco, Napa Valley, Portland, Seattle, Orlando and Miami. Originally from Missouri, Barry lived most of his life in Portland, Oregon where he discovered his passion for wine in the early 70's. He's been residing in South Florida since 1989.
Chip Cassidy’s wine experience began over 40 years ago in New York. He has served as head sommelier for the prestigious Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach, and as the wine buyer for a major chain of wine stores, Crown Wine and Spirits.
A member of the entering class of FIU's inaugural year, Chip graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management. His teaching career began in 1984. Today he teaches Wine Technology, The Business of Wine and recently has developed a Wine Certificate Program offered to professionals already working in the wine or related fields.
A noted speaker and fundraiser, Professor Cassidy was instrumental in developing the concept to build the Southern Wine and Spirits Beverage Management Center, a state of the art wine teaching laboratory. A man of many "hats", Chip is a decorated Vietnam War veteran, avid reader, passionate fisherman. Today he resides in South Miami-Dade County with his wife Christine and beloved golden lab, Darius.
Sommelier Roberto Colombi
 Roberto Colombi, started his career at age 14 in a local restaurant in the province of Bergamo, Italy, called Abacanto. His uncle was both the restaurant manager and sommelier, and Colombi got right to work, tasting wines and tagging along on trips to wine fairs and cellars around Northern Italy. After working and traveling through his early teenage years, Colombi went to hotel school in Darfo Boario Terme in Brescia, Italy. He completed his diploma in 2000, at age 18, and continued working in wine at his family’s restaurant, Le Terrazze, joining the Associazione Italiana Sommelier in 2002. Colombi worked at Antico Albergo, a traditional Italian restaurant in Milan, before joining renowned Italian Chef, considered to be the founder of modern Italian Cuisine Gualtiero Marchesi at his 2 Michelin Star Restaurant in Erbusco in Franciacorta, a region famous for its sparkling wines. At Ristorante Gualtiero Marchesi, Colombi had the opportunity to work with Nicola Zanini, recognized as the “best sommelier in Italy” in 2002.
In late 2003, Colombi relocated to England to learn English and work for Gordon Ramsay and Angela Hartnett at the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, London. While working for Gordon Ramsay, Colombi complited the Wine & spirits education trust in 2004, and the Certified level of the Court of Master Sommelier in 2006.In 2005 he was promoted to Assistant Head Sommelier, and in 2007 he left England for a Head Sommelier position at Cielo in the Boca Raton Resort and Club in Boca Raton, Florida. In 2008 Colombi was awarded Rising Star sommelier of South Florida by Starchefs.com
Colombi is now the Beverage Director of Cielo at the Boca Raton Resort and club a Waldorf Astoria Resort.
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Barry Alberts has been teaching wine appreciation for over three decades. Barry does consulting with wine distributors in Florida for direct importation of wines for distribution in Florida and the US Market. For 19 years he's organized one of the longest-running weekly wine tastings in the country, hosted every Friday evening, now at the Sonesta Hotel in Coconut Grove. 
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