Last year’s special guests included:
Charles Thomas Curtis, Master of WineCharles Thomas Curtis trained originally as a chef, receiving the “Grand Diplôme” from Le Cordon Bleu Paris and working in the kitchen professionally for over ten years.
Since entering the wine trade in 1994, Mr. Curtis worked in a variety of capacities prior to his current position as Director of Wine and Spirit Education for Moët Hennessy USA. In addition to his wine educator duties, he works as a journalist, author, consultant and wine judge.
Charles is also a frequent speaker at wine and food festivals throughout the United States in addition to appearances as a guest lecturer at numerous colleges and as a speaker on several cruise lines.
Anthony Bell, Winemaker, Bell Wine Cellars 
Any Anthony Bell believes in terroir, the French term encompassing all the factors that differentiate one vineyard from another: climate, soil and clonal selection. “Wine is grown in the vineyard”, explains Bell. “We are merely stewards of nature while the wine is in our cellar.”
Perhaps this belief comes from a life lived with wine, from his birth into a South African wine family and through his youth at play among the vineyards. After completing his undergraduate viticultural degree at Stellenbosch University in South Africa and his Masters degree in enology at U.C. Davis, Anthony began a 15-year career at Beaulieu Vineyard, California’s royal house of Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition to their unique Cabernet Sauvignon, Bell Wine Cellars produces limited quantities of Syrah from the Canterbury Vineyard in the Sierra Foothills, and both Chardonnay and Merlot from the estate vineyard surrounding the winery in Yountville. Each vineyard has been specifically chosen for its unique terroir, true expressions of the land and varietal.
Gianni Abate, Winemaker, Morgan Winery 
Gianni roots began in the San Joaquin valley, where an Italian farming family raised him. So his passion for agriculture started at a young age. He tried to venture away from agriculture when he went to the University of the Pacific as a Pharmacy major. After working in a Pharmacy for a couple years he realized Pharmacy was not a career he enjoyed. So it was at this point that he switched his focus from drugs to alcohol. Winemaking was the best way to combine his knowledge of chemistry and agriculture. “I enjoy making wine. It is a nice balance of science and art,” Gianni says.
Starting his winemaking career in the San Joaquin valley lead Gianni to be employed by Woodbridge in Lodi, and Delicato in Manteca. But it was his passion for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that brought him to California’s Central Coast. “I really feel that the Central Coast and the Santa Lucia Highlands especially has the potential to make some world class wines.” With this strong passion for world class Pinot Noir’s and Chardonnay’s, it is no surprise that Gianni was drawn to Morgan Winery. Morgan Winery has a great reputation for producing amazing wines. “Good winemaking starts in the vineyard and we have some of the best vineyard here in Monterey.”
Gianni joined Morgan Winery in June of 2005. Together they have taken home numerous awards, and several 90+ points ratings from the Wine Spectator and the Wine Enthusiast, as well as other publications. It is a union that has proven to be beneficial for Morgan Winery, Gianni and especially the consumer.
“Life is too short to drink bad wine. Enjoy.”
Pat Henderson, Senior Winemaker, Kenwood Vineyards 
A veteran of more than 25 vintages in the wine business Pat Henderson is currently Senior Winemaker at
Kenwood Vineyards in the Sonoma Valley. In addition to his work at Kenwood, he is also a winemaking
instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College where he has taught since 1991. A graduate of the Viticulture and
Enology program at the University of California at Davis Pat supplemented his formal education by
apprenticing at five different wineries while he was still going to school. After graduation he worked in
both the Napa and Sonoma valleys before taking his first position as head winemaker at Hedges Cellars in
Washington State in 1995.
After returning from the Northwest he became winemaker at Valley of the Moon winery where he oversaw rebuilding the historic 19th century facility worked to introduce a new line of wines. After six vintages he returned to Kenwood Vineyards as Senior Winemaker where he previously served as enologist 10 years before.
Pat strives to make unique wines, which are multi-dimensional in character, and his philosophy of winemaking is one that relies heavily on the quality of a wine’s flavors and balance. “Wine is fascinating — so many different flavors in one beverage,” explains Pat. “The more concentrated and attractive flavors, the better. I feel particularly fortunate to be able to work with fruit grown in Sonoma’s distinguished appellations. Having access to fruit of this caliber makes my job all the more enjoyable, and certainly easier!”
Pat is a member of The American Society for Enology and Viticulture as well as the Society of Wine Educators and has been a judge at numerous professional wine competitions. In addition to his work as winemaker in 2006 Pat co-authored a textbook on wine for culinary students called About Wine. He lives with his wife Stephanie in the Sonoma Valley.
Kirk Lambert, Assistant Winemaker, Stanley Lambert Wines
Kirk Lambert has been with Stanley Lambert Wines since 2005. Kirk began redeveloping the Lambert Estate vineyard to become one of the first ISO14001 certified vineyards in Australia.
Now as assistant winemaker at Stanley Lambert he is studying for his Masters in Oenology at the University of Adelaide. Previous to joining Stanley Lambert, Kirk worked as a Mechanical Engineer for General Electric.
Kristine Nickel, Food Editor, STYLE Magazine 
In her "day job", Kristine Nickel is the CEO of Nickel & Nickel Communications, a public relations and marketing communications agency. This is the latest chapter in a career that includes intervals in communications, sales and marketing at Fortune 100 companies – PepsiCo, Johson & Johnson and Kimberly-Clark as well as not-for-profit health care concerns.
Kristine's other passion is food, wine and travel and she relishes the role of Food Editor of STYLE Magazine, a New York Times publication. She has a rich history of enjoying food and wine, beginning in 1983 when she became the Wine Columnist for the Chicago Tribune, writing the weekly Grapevine – an internationally syndicated column.
She moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1990 and shortly thereafter began reviewing restaurants for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune and Sarasota Magazine. She also assumed responsibility for the Gulf Coast Florida Zagat book for three years. Kristine dotes on her Australian Shepherds – Kayla, Liberty and Puppet and husband Jack, (but not necessarily in that order!)
Funky Monks 
Red Hot Chili Peppers Tribute Band headlining Bubbles By The Bay on Friday, June 6th at Ca d’Zan at the Ringling Museum
as we add more Special Guests!