WEBINAR

Kristen Bieler joined Wine Spectator as a senior editor in 2021. An Arizona native, Kristen graduated from Cornell University with a degree in history, and moved to New York City to pursue a career in journalism. For the past two decades she has been writing professionally about wine, spirits and food, and has traveled to many wine regions around the world for her reporting. Prior to joining the Wine Spectator team, she was the editor in chief of SevenFifty Daily and Beverage Media Group, two leading trade publications for the wine and spirits industry.

Over the past 25 years, Shelley Lindgren has channeled her deep-seated appreciation for Italy into an award-winning career in wine. In 2004 A16 opened, a neighborhood restaurant inspired by the cooking of Campania with an emphasis on certified VPN Neapolitan pizza. When she curated the wine list for A16, Shelley sought to showcase Italian wine beyond the well-known Barolos and Brunellos. A research trip that began in Naples quickly evolved into an exploration of southern Italy’s rural, family-run wineries that had remained otherwise unknown outside of the country. Driving from village to village while relying on paper maps, Shelley unearthed lesser-known grapes, such as Fiano di Avellino and Nerello Mascalese, which she returned with enthusiasm to share stateside. In 2015, Shelley received the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Wine Program” at A16. In 2012, she co-authored her second book, SPQR: Modern Italian Food & Wine. Shelley’s reputation as an industry pioneer and advocate for the wines of Italy was recognized in 2019, as she was recently knighted by the Consulate General of Italy in San Francisco receiving the "Cavaliere dell'Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana" recognition. Also recognized as a Culinary Institute of America ambassador, Shelley was named “Best New Sommelier” by Wine & Spirits magazine; “Best Wine Director” by San Francisco magazine; and received Gourmet magazine’s Wine Educator Award and the Golden Goblet Award by the Association of Women Chefs and Restaurateurs.

Gabriela Davogustto is Clay's in-house wine director since its 2017 opening. She is a graduate of the Culinary Arts program as well as all wine programs offered at the Institute of Culinary Education. Combining her knowledge of both food and wine, Davogustto curated Clay's wine program, hand-picking more than 200 international labels that compliment the farm-to-table establishment's new American restaurant. In addition to running Clay's front of house, Davogustto continues to develop the wine program. Clay's thoughtfully curated wine list celebrates sustainably produced, clean-tasting and affordable limited-released wines from California, France, Italy, and beyond. Gabrielas goal is to inspire her guests to try something just as new, fresh, and exciting as their meal

Originally from Naples, Italy, Gianfranco Sorrentino carries over 44 years of experience in restaurant management at properties including Quisisana Hotel in Capri, Dorchester Hotel in London, Four Seasons Hotel in Tokyo, and Bice Restaurant in New York. In 1990, he opened Sette MoMA Restaurant at The Museum of Modern Art of New York (1990-2002). In 2002 he opened Union Bar and Grill in Great Barrington, Massachusetts (2002-2006), and in September 2001, he opened Il Gattopardo, across the street from MoMA, along with his wife Paula Bolla and his Executive Chef Vito Gnazzo. In May 2011, he opened The Leopard at des Artistes, his restaurant in the New York landmark Hotel des Artiste and, in 2014, his newest restaurant Mozzarella & Vino opened in the old Il Gattopardo space, directly across from MoMA. Il Gattopardo moved down the block to its current location in the historically landmarked Rockefeller Townhouses