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2011 Minnesota Monthly Food & Wine Experience:

Show Floor | The Reserve | Macy's Gourmet Gathering | Best of Wines | Winemakers

Winemakers

ANGELA CALAD
Angela Calad was born in Medellin, Colombia, and grew up in Bogota. She graduated from Hospitality and Tourism Management at Ecotet University, in Bogota, but soon chose to switch gears and pursue a career in the wine industry. She moved to Miami, Florida and earned a "Mastery of Wines" certification at Florida International University. A passion for wine led to a three-year stint as a sales manager at IBESC Wine Distributors.

After IBESC she went to TGIC Importers—one of the foremost U.S. importers of South American wines—and stayed there for seven years, working as area manager for South Florida.

In the spring of 2009, she moved to Chile and was recruited by Montes Wines as brand manager for USA. Montes Wines has objectively become the bench marker for the majority of new Chilean vineyards. This status, as well as the achievement of concentrating on quality, has been their major contribution to the Chilean wine industry. When Montes began (as Discover Wine Ltda.) there were only 14 wines exporting vineyards in Chile. Today the Chilean central bank has over 200 registered wine exporters, with key markets in Europe, North America, and the Asia-Pacific rim.

"I am excited to be with Montes as a brand manager as I have an intimate knowledge of the Montes wines," Angela comments.

Enrique Toso
Enrique Toso was born in 1953 to an Italian family in Mendoza. He is the great-grandson of Pascual Toso, the founder of the oldest and most prestigious winery in Argentina—Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso.He studied at the Universidad de Buenos Aires, where he finished his accounting studies in 1978. After graduation, he worked at a consulting firm in Buenos Aires. In 1980, he shifted gears and began working at the family company. After a year, he had earned the title of general manager.

In 1995, the company was purchased by the Llorentes family of Buenos Aires. The new owners asked Enrique to stay on with them—collaborating at the management of Bodegas y Viñedos Pascual Toso—and he accepted their offer.

In 1995, Enrique took the challenge of brand internationalization and achieved international requirements by changing the areas of production, packaging, and quality controls. In 2001, following the modernization of Argentina's wine industry and to improve the quality of the wines, Enrique contacted Paul Hobbs, who was hired on as a consultant winemaker. Paul, the California-based winemaker, was the perfect choice—given his deep knowledge in Mendoza's terroir and a successful career in winemaking.

Today, Enrique works very hard to represent the company and to improve the development achieved by Pascual Toso around the world.

Julia Cahiza
Julia Cahiza, with a double citizenship in Argentina and Spain, is the USA's key account manager at Bodega Norton (a winery in Mendoza, Argentina). The Bodega Norton Winery is over 100 years old, founded by Sir Edmund James Palmer, an Englishman credited as the pioneer of Argentine viticulture. In 1895 he founded the very first winery in the Mendoza area, Bodega Norton, located to the south of the Mendoza River in the district of Perdriel, in the department of Luján de Cuyo.

Norton recognized the Mendoza region's potential for wine cultivation and production, and planted grapes with vines imported from France. He devoted the rest of his life to winemaking. The vineyards, through a combination of hands-on work and state-of-the-art technology, produce varietals like Malbec, Torrontes, and Syrah, as well as blends such as a Malbec-Cabernet Sauvignon-Merlot mixture.

Julia's experience includes serving as South American brand manager for the Codornîu Group, AV Brands, Inc. (Maryland), marketing assistant/logistics for Codornîu Argentina, and director of the visitor center at Finca Flichman S.A. in Mendoza, Argentina. She earned a university degree in hotel management at Universidad del Aconcagua, Mendoza (graduating with honors), a university degree in etiquette at Universidad del Aconcagua, and became a trained sommelier through the Sommelier Society of America's wine program in New York.

Dave Hughes
Dave Hughes was born in the district of Gatooma, Southern Rhodesia in 1938 (now Kadoma, Zimbabwe). He served an apprenticeship as a distiller at African Distillers in 1956 and filled several positions before moving to South Africa in 1986. He served as operations manager at Stellenbosch Farmers Winery (now Distell), general manager at SFW Natal, winery manager at SFW Stellenbosch, and marketing manager/consumer relations at SFW until 1989. Since that time, he has been doing independent and freelance work.

In 1979, he founded the Cape Wine Academy, offering a range of entertaining and educational wine courses. He has been involved with the Nederburg Auction, an auction of rare Cape wines, since its inception in 1974. He serves as a consultant to the Veritas National Wine Competition, South African Airways Wine Selections, and the International Wine and Spirit Competition in Britain.

He is a life member of the International Wine and Food Society, a member of Worshipful Company of Distillers (the first non-resident of Britain to be given this honor since the guild was formed in 1638 to control and protect the production of spirits in the city of London), and Keeper of the Quaich (to honor those who have contributed to the Scotch Whisky Industry).

He has authored numerous books on wine and is one of South Africa's most respected international wine experts and most popular wine ambassadors abroad.

Vittorio Navacchia
Wine has been part of Vittorio Navacchia's life since the Tres Monti ("Three Mountains") winery was established in northern Italy by his parents, Sergio and Thea, in 1968.

The couple planted vineyards on 124 acres of land—one in the Flori area, the other in the hills of Imola—with estate-grown grapes vinified in the cellar. Over the years, close relationships were established with the best talent in the Italian wine world: Francesco Spagnolli in the 1980s, followed by Vittorio Fiore, and then Donato Lanati.

The fruit of their expertise underpinned the steady growth of the winery, directed by Vittorio and his brother David with the help of their father Sergio. The driving force behind the winery, Thea, passed away in 1989.

In 2000, the Navacchia brothers had detailed soil studies done and began planting grape varieties specifically suited to each site. A year later, new vineyards were planted on both properties. In 2004, Vittorio and his wife, Roberta, took over the winemaking operations, focusing on the principles of sustainable viticulture and minimal intervention. Every step is carried out with full respect not only for the integrity of the fruit, but, above all, for the unique character of each growing year.

Twice now, Gambero Rosso, a prestigious wine guide, has awarded Tre Monti wines (the Boldo and the Petrignone 2006) with the highest prize possible.

Chris Leamy
California native Chris Leamy received his degree in biological sciences, emphasis in microbiology, in 1991 from the University of California, Davis. After graduation, he pursued a career as a microbiologist, testing food, milk, and water for five years, making sure they were safe to eat and drink.

In 1997, Chris was hired as wine microbiologist for Sebastiani Vineyards and was subsequently promoted to enologist. He joined Terra d'Oro Winery, a winery owned by the Trinchero family, as assistant winemaker in 2000, honing his winemaking skills under head winemaker Jeff Meyers. In 2004, Jeff assumed the role of vice president and Chris was promoted to winemaker.

Chris is deeply committed to Amador County as a premier California growing region, particularly for Zinfandel and Barbera. His passion is showcasing the truest expression of varietal character from vineyards in Amador and beyond.

In a recent interview in the Wine-Oh! Guide, Chris commented, "I like going and talking with people and seeing how they respond to the wine. A lot of the time, if people don't know who I am, that's even better. It's fun to guide people to wines they will enjoy. There's a wine out there for you and sometimes it's not mine, it's the person's two tables down. That's fine; as long as you're drinking wine, I'm happy."