Claire is a California-based wine professional with certifications including DipWSET, Certified Sommelier, French Wine Scholar, Certified Specialist of Wine, and Certified Rhône Specialist. With plans to pursue the Master of Wine qualification, she brings both academic rigor and hands-on experience to wine education, evaluation, and communication.

Beginning her journey with an enology program and expanding on that with winemaking courses at UC Davis, Claire spent time in the lab at a major Livermore winery and worked harvest with several producers. Her areas of focus include traditional winemaking techniques, regional expression, and thoughtful food and wine pairing.

She serves as the Wine Director for the International Wine & Food Society and is the Executive Sommelier for the Knights of the Vine in both Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. In these roles, she manages cellar acquisitions, curates wine selections, and develops educational content for masterclasses and events. Claire also consults for wineries and private clients, writes tasting notes for wineries, and leads seminars for wine professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Beyond her certifications and deep roots in California wine country, Claire has traveled extensively through the world’s wine regions—meeting with winemakers, walking the vineyards, and tasting at the source. These immersive experiences inform her perspective and enhance her ability to connect wine lovers with the stories behind each bottle.

A passionate communicator, Claire contributes articles to various print magazines including Wine, Food & Friends and The Arbor, as well as to LocalWineEvents.com. She also shares her insights on Sudsy’s Cellar, her blog devoted to thoughtful wine exploration.

The Support Team

Dan Torbeck, CSW, is the ‘Cellar Rat’ for all my winemaking projects and a second set of capable hands when we are delivering an educational seminar or an organized tasting.