Meet the Team

Jacqueline Strum
Editor & Publisher, Wine Enthusiast Media
In addition to being the President & Publisher of Wine Enthusiast Media, Strum also founded ThirstyNest. Previously, she worked in running communications and new business development for Wine Enthusiast Companies as well as holding public relations and digital media roles for global brands at Hunter Public Relations, Mission Media and UrbanDaddy. Strum completed an Advanced Degree with Distinction with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and graduated from George Washington University.
Editorial
Marco Turelli
Creative Director
Turelli joined the Wine Enthusiast team in 2006. He came from a colorful background of niche and entertainment magazines, and has been essential in successfully launching multiple titles as well as revitalizing creative for flagship magazines during his twenty years in publishing. While Marco was always destined for a career in the visual arts, he discovered a personal passion for wine, food and cooking in his early twenties and has been expanding his palate with reckless abandon ever since.
Monica Simon
Art Director
Originally from Medellin, Colombia, Simon joined Wine Enthusiast in 2016 after establishing herself as a go-to branding design professional for the event and hospitality industries. In addition to her fresh and modern design for the magazine, Simon possesses an acute attention to detail and unmistakable originality. She’s also created a wide range of bold illustrations for the website and the magazine and has inspired us to bust out our color pencils with her enviable interpretation of the site’s adult coloring pages.
John Capone
Managing Editor, Print
Capone began his editorial career at Blue Magazine, wrote listings and dining reviews for New York Magazine and BlackBook, blogged for NBCNewYork, edited two Zagat guides, contributed to the re-re-launch of Radar Magazine and was executive editor at MediaPost before editing Whalebone Magazine. Along the way he’s worked all or part of a few harvests in Northern California, wrote a wine and spirits column for San Francisco Magazine, and worked as marketing manager for the historic Gundlach Bundschu Winery in Sonoma. Read more
Stacy Briscoe
Senior Editor, Print
Reviews wines from California. Briscoe joined Wine Enthusiast in 2022 as senior editor after contributing as a freelance writer for several years. She is the former managing editor for Wine Industry Network and former assistant editor of Wine Business Monthly. She has also written for numerous publications including SevenFifty Daily, Sonoma Magazine, SF Chronicle, among others. Briscoe regularly speaks at wine industry events, has completed her WSET Diploma and now teaches WSET courses. She has her Bachelor of Arts in English-Language Literature from the University of California Santa Cruz and is often found with a book in hand (and a glass of wine in the other). Read more
Rachel Tepper Paley
Digital Managing Editor
Rachel Tepper Paley is a writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience in the food, drink and travel spaces. Her work has appeared in publications including Bon Appetit, Epicurious, The Kitchn, Eater, Mic, Travel & Leisure, VinePair, SevenFifty Daily and, of course, Wine Enthusiast. Prior to joining Wine Enthusiast in 2022, Rachel held staff roles at Delish, Yahoo and The Huffington Post. Originally from the D.C. area, Rachel has been proud to call herself a New Yorker for more than a decade. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two young children. Read more
Arielle Weg
Senior Digital Editor
Arielle joined Wine Enthusiast in 2022 after covering nutrition and health for brands like Prevention Magazine, The Vitamin Shoppe, Cooking Light, Women's Health, and more. She began her formal wine education journey in late 2020 and achieved her WSET level 2 certification. Arielle lives in Manhattan and spends her free time cooking through her cookbook collection, watching too much Food Network, and checking out food and wine spots in the city. Read more
Kristen Richard
Digital Editor
Richard joined the editorial team of Wine Enthusiast in 2017 after relocating to New York from her home state of Massachusetts. Her fascination with beverage history and the science of drinks acts as a guiding force in her work. When she’s not lost down a rabbit hole of esoteric booze knowledge, you can usually find her camping or rocking out to metal bands. Read more
Jacy Topps
Assistant Editor
Reviews Languedoc-Roussillon and Vin de France. Topps is an NYC-based writer and editor. With bylines in Plate, Oprah Magazine, Business Insider, Glamour, Cosmopolitan and Better Homes & Gardens, her writing covers wine, food, spirits, culture, race, health and the LGBTQ community. When she’s not writing, editing or traveling, you can find her binge-watching Lifetime movies and enjoying a glass or two of Burgundy. Read more
Samantha Sette
Digital Web Producer
Sette joined the Wine Enthusiast team in 2022 to explore how a full glass contributes to a full life. With a background in health sciences and fitness instruction, she is driven to explore the intersection of wine and wellness through her work. Sette completed her WSET Level 1 Award in Wines and 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. She is based in NYC and spends her free time watching college basketball, trying different foods and traveling. Read more
Jesse Reiter
Visuals Producer
While relatively new to the wine world, Jesse Reiter's knowledge and passion for photography runs deep. He brings over 15 years of experience in visual production and photo department management to the Wine Enthusiast team, which he joined in 2019. A native of New York City, Reiter enjoys trying new cuisines with his family (and then trying to replicate them at home), spending time in nature and rock climbing. He is now experiencing a new found passion for wine and has been working hard on growing his palate.
Tom Arena
Associate Photo Producer
Tom Arena works with the Wine Enthusiast art team to create photography and visuals that bring content from the magazine and website to life. If he’s not in the photo studio, Arena can be found arguing with his cat about what to watch on Netflix. He is a New York native and now resides in Rockland County.
Evan de Normandie
Digital Visuals Editor
Evan de Normandie is a Visuals Editor and photographer based in New York City with a passion for all things food and wine. Prior to working at Wine Enthusiast, he worked in the photo and creative departments at Food Network Magazine, Magnum Foundation, and most recently, DotDash Meredith where he sourced and produced visuals for Eating Well. Evan graduated with a bachelor's in fine arts in photography from Parsons School of Design.
Eric Defreitas
Associate Digital Designer
Eric DeFreitas joined Wine Enthusiast in 2019. He previously worked for Honest Creative designing for lifestyle and tourism brands such as The Valley Table and Hudson Valley Tourism. When DeFrietas is not working, you can find him checking out art galleries and enjoying craft beer.
Braxton Parr
Supervising Video Producer
Hailing from the DC, Maryland, and Virginia areas, Braxton Parr grew up influenced by video and music production throughout his entire life. He's produced various content for companies such as Nike, Fiverr, TV One, and more. Braxton also had an esteemed role in directing political content for the White House and government officials for several years. Aside from his career in video production, Braxton is a huge foodie and loves to taste wine or create cocktail recipes in his spare time. His career's primary goal is to uplift and inspire others to pursue their dreams with whatever creative medium they see fit.
Rob Martin
Video Producer
Rob Martin has been producing film and video since 1997. His work has been featured on MTV, Indemand and, the Logo channel to name few. Most recently, Rob has worked as a producer on the Howard Stern Behind the Scenes Show and has directed music videos for Rock and Roll Hall of Fame artist, DMC of Run DMC fame.
Anna-Christina Cabrales
Tasting Director
Reviews wines from Burgundy and Rhône, France. Cabrales comes from a well-rounded wine career that includes corporate world savviness, restaurant experience and social media entrepreneurship. She was Director of Education at Independence Wine & Spirits, a fine wine importer of Taub Family Selections; GM & Wine Director of Morrell Wine Bar; Project Manager in investor relations for Business Wire. She believes in mentorship and community and is a mentor for Wine Unify and Bâtonnage Forum and founder of Sommation, which promotes inclusion and conversation around all topics surrounding wine. Cabrales graduated with a culinary and sommelier diploma from The French Culinary Institute and a bachelor’s in economics and East Asian studies with a minor in psychology from Rutgers University-Douglass College. Read more
Jim Gordon
Senior Tasting Editor
Reviews wines from California. Having Joined Wine Enthusiast in 2014, Jim Gordon reviews wines from Sonoma and Napa. Gordon was the editor of Wines & Vines for 12 years and is the former executive director of the Symposium for Professional Wine Writers in Napa Valley. He was editor in chief for two books, James Beard Award-finalist Opus Vino, and 1000 Great Everyday Wines. He is the former managing editor of Wine Spectator and former editor in chief of Wine Country Living magazine, for whom he helped create Wine Country Living TV with KNTV in San Francisco. He lives in Napa Valley where he writes, cooks, gardens and is an amateur winemaker. Read more
Craig Chamberlain
Senior Tasting Coordinator
Reviews wines from Virginia. A native New Yorker, Chamberlain first learned of his love of wine during a trip to the Virginia's Rappahannock Valley with his wife. Coming from an extensive background in the hospitality industry, Chamberlain joined Wine Enthusiast's Tasting & Review department in 2017. When he's not pursuing his sommelier certification with the Court of Master Sommeliers, he enjoys pairing wines with game caught while hunting and fishing. Read more
Russell Peborde
Assistant Tasting Coordinator
Russell Peborde comes to Wine Enthusiast by way of wine retail, after spending the previous eleven years in nonprofit film education. With a background in photography and film production, he’s an avid cinemagoer and art lover. He can be found seasonally working in his tomato garden, and grilling year round. Russell is excited to continue exploring a burgeoning zeal for wine and spirits.
Cody Wexler
Senior Tasting Coordinator
Wexler comes to Wine Enthusiast with a background in wine retail and tech support. An avid traveler, he's visited wineries in Walla Walla, the Willamette Valley, Napa and Portugal. Wexler has also completed Level 2 Certification through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Beyond wine, his other hobbies include board games, snowboarding, soccer and cooking.
Elyse Estrella
Director of Social Media
Estrella joined Wine Enthusiast in 2016 and manages all aspects of the magazine’s social media program.  Originally from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Estrella developed a love of wine while living in California and continued to develop her wine knowledge working in wine bars, eventually completing her Level 2 Certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). She has a background in graphic design, a penchant for quirky coffee shops and never turns down a glass of bubbly.
Marco Bruno
Social Media Strategist
Prior to joining Wine Enthusiast, Marco Bruno designed video games in Vancouver, British Columbia, after studying computer science at Fordham University. He is a New York City native who now lives in Westchester County, New York.
Contributors
Roger Voss
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Portugal and France (except those from Burgundy, Rhône, Languedoc, Alsace and VDF). Roger Voss is a veteran wine and food author, and a journalist and has been writing about wine and food for the past 25 years. His books include France: A Feast of Food and Wine; The Wines of the Loire; Pocket Guide to the Wines of the Loire, Alsace and the Rhône; and Fortified Wines. He is based in Bordeaux, France, and reviews the wines of France (except those from the Rhône, Languedoc, Alsace and Burgundy) and Portugal. Read more
Aleks Zecevic
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Austria and Germany. Zecevic hails from Belgrade, Serbia. He grew up around a family table where love for wine was nurtured. After relocating to New York City for college, Zecevic worked in various facets of the wine industry. These experiences cultivated a greater appreciation, and he furthered his passion by taking WSET courses and working at Wine Spectator. After training at the magazine and pursuing professional studies in journalism at New York University, Zecevic became one of the lead tasters. He then moved on to become a fine wine specialist at the renowned auction house, Sotheby’s. Today, Zecevic specializes in reviewing Austrian wines for Wine Enthusiast and is an avid supporter of eco-friendly agriculture. Read more
Emily Saladino
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Georgia and Greece. Formerly the editor-in-chief of VinePair, Emily Saladino joined Wine Enthusiast in 2019. She has covered food, beverage, travel and culture for Bloomberg, BBC, Bon Appetit, Travel + Leisure and others. A graduate of International Culinary Center, Saladino has worked as a recipe developer, an editor at Google, a bartender and a line cook. Read more
Mike DeSimone
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Croatia, Spain and Eastern Europe. A native New Yorker who now spends half the year in Spain, DeSimone is an award-winning journalist and author. He is the co-author of five books, including Red Wine, which won the Gourmand International Award for Best Wine Book in the World of the Last 25 Years, and Wines of the Southern Hemisphere, which Gourmand named Best Wine Book in the USA. A wine educator who hosts tastings in person, online and on television, DeSimone studied journalism at NYU and marketing at FIT.   Read more
Christina Pickard
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Australia, New Zealand, England and New York. A native of New York who has spent years living abroad in London and Perth, Australia, Pickard’s work has previously appeared in publications such as Australia’s Gourmet Traveller Wine, James Halliday’s Wine Companion, Scoop Magazine, Decanter and Wine Enthusiast. She was the co-host of the popular podcast, The Crush, as well as a regular presenter on various TV shows. Pickard is excited to share her vast knowledge and great passion for the wines of both Australia and New Zealand, as well as those from England. Read more
Jesica Vargas
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Argentina, Chile, Other America, Central America and South Africa.   Vargas is an Argentinian journalist who has a background in marketing, specializing in wine. She has worked with several vineyards and wine related businesses in Mendoza, Argentina. In 2019, Vargas moved to the US where she launched her blog Andes Uncorked to share the stories of wine producers and to provide educational content about the wines and terroir of Argentina. She is a member of the Hispanics in Wine community and is passionate about seeing more diversity in the wine industry. Vargas is excited to be able to share her love for South and Central America wines. Read more
Matt Kettmann
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from California. Matt Kettmann reviews and reports on wines from the Central and South Coasts of California for the magazine. A fifth-generation Californian originally from San Jose, Kettmann is a senior editor for The Santa Barbara Independent, the weekly newspaper/daily website where he started his journalism career in 1999 after graduating from UC-Santa Barbara with an anthropology degree. He's reported on wine and more for for the New York Times, Time Magazine and Wine Spectator, among other publications. He is the author of Vines & Visions: The Winemakers of Santa Barbara County, a 632-page profile of the region, and is currently updating the Southern California chapter for The Oxford Companion to Wine. Kettmann has made small batches of noncommercial wine almost every vintage since 2012, and lives in the Santa Barbara suburbs with his Bordeaux-born wife and their two kids, where they grow one vine of Zinfandel, originally from Santa Cruz Island. Read more
Kara Newman 
Writer at Large
Reviews spirits. An active member of the New York cocktail and mixology scene, Kara Newman is the author of several cocktail books, including Shake.Stir.Sip., NIGHTCAP: More than 40 Cocktails to Close Out Any Evening and Cocktails With a Twist, released August 2019. Her articles have appeared in Wine Enthusiast, The New York Times, Imbibe, The San Francisco Chronicle, Gourmet and Saveur, among others. Television and radio credits include ABC’s View From the Bay, Martha Stewart’s Everyday Food on Sirius Radio, Heritage Radio Network, and The Splendid Table. She is also a cocktail consultant, national speaker and cocktail recipe developer. Read more
John Holl
Writer at Large
Reviews beers. John Holl is a journalist covering the beer industry. He is the author of several books including The Craft Brewery Cookbook (Princeton Architectural Press, 2022). He is the host of the Drink Beer, Think Beer podcast and co-host of Steal This Beer.  His work has appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal and more. John has lectured on the culture and history of beer and judged beer competitions around the world. Read more
Michael Alberty
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Washington, Oregon and Canada. Michael Alberty writes about wine for The Oregonian, the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast. He turned to wine writing after 16 years in the retail wine trenches of Illinois and Oregon. He has written about wine for publications based in England, Australia and the United States. He has also published work in the fields of international environmental politics and major league baseball. Earlier in his life he tended bar in Portland, pulled espresso shots in Seattle and made sandwiches with a famous bluegrass banjo player in Champaign-Urbana. Read more
Danielle Callegari
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Italy. Danielle Callegari joins the Wine Enthusiast tasting team as one of the two new tasters for Italy, Tuscany, Sicily, Puglia, Abruzzo, Campania, Sardinia, Lazio, Basilicata, Calabria, and Molise. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of French and Italian at Dartmouth College and Councilor of the Dante Society of America. Dr. Callegari’s teaching and research focus on premodern Italian literature and food and beverage studies. She has published on a variety of subjects including Dante, early modern women’s writing and religion, and Italian food and politics from the premodern to the contemporary. Her first monograph, “Dante’s Gluttons: Food and Society from the Convivio to the Comedy,” was published in 2022. Callegari is also the co-host of Gola, a podcast on Italian food and beverage culture. Read more
Jeff Porter
Writer at Large

Reviews wines from Italy. Jeff Porter joins the Wine Enthusiast tasting team as the second new taster for Italy and covers wines for Piedmont, Veneto, Northeast Italy, Lombardy, Northwest Italy, Emilia-Romagna, Marche, and Umbria. His sommelier career began in Napa Valley working at Tra Vigne Ristorante. He joined the Bastianich Hospitality Group in 2009 at Osteria Mozza under the auspice of James Beard Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton. Porter then served as the Wine Director at Del Posto Ristorante in NYC and grew to be the Beverage Operations Director for the company. In 2019, he filmed a travel docuseries, "Sip Trip" and began a consulting business. Helping clients create beverage lists and elevate service standards, Porter’s roster includes Hometown BBQ, Red Hook Tavern, the ecoresort Casa di Langa in the Langhe region of Piedmont, and the Barclays Center, home to the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.

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Nils Bernstein
Contributing Editor, Food
Based in New York City, Bernstein is an exhaustive traveler who is constantly in search of new and unsung chefs and restaurants, innovative wine and food pairings, and eating and drinking at the source. Prior to Wine Enthusiast, Bernstein authored culinary content for Bon Appetit, Men’s Journal, New York Times, Hemispheres and Kinfolk, among others. Bernstein has a personal passion for regional Mexican cuisine and agave spirits as well as old-school Rioja, Sauternes and sour beers. Read more
Layla Schlack
Writer at Large
Reviews wines from Alsace. Layla Schlack is editorial director at Whetstone Media. The award-winning journalist and editor has written for outlets including Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, Epicurious and Food52, among others. She holds an MFA in creative and professional writing for Western Connecticut State University and lives in Connecticut with her husband and pets. Read more
Advertising
Emily Matson
Director of Client Success
Mattson joined Wine Enthusiast in 2021 with a background is in client services, campaign planning and project management. She previously recently worked at Influential and Gallery Media Group. A native Midwesterner, Mattson has called Brooklyn home for the last seven years. In her free time, she can be found baking, thrifting furniture and sewing, a childhood hobby she picked up again during the pandemic.
Sherrill Flaum
Advertising Director
As an East Coast Account Manager for WE, Sherrill Flaum develops relationships while building successful marketing plans to fit the goals of her clients. Previously, she was director, network development at TV Guide, where she created cross-platform initiatives for entertainment clients and was able to meet her TV idol, Mariska Hargitay. She is a proud, hardworking mommy.
Karen Hackett
Senior West Coast Account Manager
Karen Hackett lives in Southern Oregon and manages accounts in the Pacific Northwest and parts of California. She is a California Wine Appellation Specialist and attended the San Francisco wine school for three years.
Laurie Robertson
Central Coast Account Manager
Prior to Wine Enthusiast, Laurie Robertson was in advertising sales at iconic publications such as USA TODAY, Taste of Home, and Sunset.  Her enthusiasm for the wine industry and media experience provides a valuable combination for her clients. Robertson is a California native, who is passionate about wine, food, and travel.
Margaret Kalaher
East Coast Account Manager
After years of experience in the production, planning, buying, research and development of marketing campaigns, Kalaher took a role at a start-up called Real Simple and joined the world of publishing. There, she realized her passion for the sales role and loved working on the front line hoping to help clients by providing custom solutions. Although she is new to the wine world, Kalaher loves the challenge of this evolving category and meeting people from all over the world.
Denise Valenza
Director of Sales, Buying Guide
Denise Valenza oversees the sales and marketing for our Wine, Spirits and Beer Buying Guides. Since joining Wine Enthusiast in 1996, she has been responsible for identifying & developing creative sales opportunities and growing partnerships. She resides in Tampa, Florida, with her husband and three daughters.
Taylor Termine
Buying Guide Advertising Coordinator
Termine joined Wine Enthusiast in 2021. She collaborates with spirit and beer clients, helping them advertise their products that were tasted and reviewed for our buying guide. Outside of work, Termine enjoys all things food and drink. She is eager to learn more about the wine, spirits and beer world.
Jordan Norris
West Coast Account Manager
Norris lives in Sonoma County, California, and has a background in hospitality. They attended undergrad at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, studying Business with a concentration in Tourism and Hospitality. Prior to joining Wine Enthusiast in 2021, Norris was at The Culinary Institute of America gaining more knowledge about the food and beverage industry. Norris spends lots of time with their family and dog, Ryder.
Irvin Vidals
Advertising Social Media Manager
Vidals manages the advertising group’s sponsored social media activations. A Brooklynite who previously ran social media marketing for Leon & Son Wine in Clinton Hill, Vidals is an avid wine lover and has completed Level 2 certification from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).
Marketing
Itzel Wittlif
Digital Product and Marketing Manager
Wittlif ensures we always keep user experience in mind and monitors performance and consumer research for the website. Before joining Wine Enthusiast in 2021, Wittlif gained international experience in Germany working with corporates, such as DHL Supply Chain and C&A, and a startup named FOND OF. Her hobbies include travel, social work, cooking, learning a new language and enjoying a glass of wine paired with cheese in the park.
Events
LaShana Daniels
Events Manager
LaShana Daniels joined Wine Enthusiast in 2022. She is a proud New York native with a passion for hospitality, spirits, and event planning. Her previous roles include serving in notable New York City restaurants, organizing celebrity-studded Soho art openings, and managing large-scale Fox Emmy parties in Los Angeles.
Web Development
Irakli Khakhviashvili
Senior Web Developer
Originally from Georgia, one of the oldest wine regions in the world, Irakli Khakhviashvili joined Wine Enthusiast in 2017. His lead role is essential in managing, updating and maintaining the company's online presence. When Irakli is not immersed in his code, he likes spending time with his daughter, hanging out with friends, going out hiking, running and exploring new places.
Christopher Jangl
Full Stack Developer
A veteran of the web, Chris helps brings Wine Enthusiast to life online. Just as enthusiastic about drinking a New World Pinot Noir as a he is a Pilsner, Chris joined Wine Enthusiast in the fall of 2019. When not working on the site, Chris gravitates toward other projects at the intersection of his hobbies and technology.
Finance
Suzanne Normoyle
Controller
Suzanne Normoyle is the controller at Wine Enthusiast Companies, where she oversees the publishing business. Normoyle previously worked at Micro Warehouse, first as an accounting clerk and eventually becoming the manager of financial controls. She received a bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound, and lives in Westchester, New York with her husband and son.
Circulation
Barbara Gianisis
Senior Director Print Production
Barbara Gianisis maximizes circulation and distribution strategies for Wine Enthusiast's Media and Catalog departments. With a background in database marking and prior experience working with Micro Warehouse, Best Buy and Tabcom, she can keep production costs in check while maintaining the beauty of our printed products.
Wine Enthusiast Companies
Adam M. Strum
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer/Editor & Publisher Emeritus
Sybil Strum
Co-founder
Erika Strum
President, Wine Enthusiast Commerce
Jacqueline Strum
President & Publisher, Wine Enthusiast Media
Robert Rockman
Chief Operating Officer
Glenn Edelman
Chief Marketing Officer
Marshall Tilden
Chief Revenue and Education Officer, Commerce
Eric Roelofs
Chief Technology Officer
Dara P. Kapoor
Vice President Of Content
Bonnary Lek
Director of Public Relations