I am a Certified Sommelier, wine writer, wine educator, wine event moderator and frequent judge at prominent regional, national and international wine competitions.

For several years, I served as Sommelier at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay, and for 20 years was Wine Director and Sommelier at Landis Shores Oceanfront Inn on Miramar Beach, which I built and co-owned with my husband, Ken Landis, who is himself a frequent wine judge, and former chef at Landis Shores. Landis Shores was named one of the top 15 Inns for Wine Connoisseurs in North America and achieved great acclaim and numerous awards. We named each room of the inn for an esteemed wine appellation, and kept an extensive wine list (of course!) that anticipated our guests’ every need. We sold the inn in 2015 to focus more time on the world of wine. We felt sad to say goodbye to so many wonderful and loyal guests who stayed with us over the years, many who became friends, but take great memories with us into our new endeavors.

My wine education includes UC Davis courses, Society of Wine Educators Certified Specialist of Wine certification and the Court of Master Sommeliers Certified Sommelier program.  I serve as a judge at various wine competitions including the International Women’s Wine Competition, Grand Harvest Awards Challenge, Press Democrat North Coast Wine Challenge, Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, California State Fair Wine Competition, International East Meets West Wine Challenge, Great Northwest Invitational Wine Competition, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, Cascadia Wine Competition, Amador County Wine Competition, Savor Northwest Wine Competition, Wine Press Northwest Platinum Judging, Sonoma Harvest Fair Wine Competition and Affairs of the Vine wine competitions. I also host and participate in numerous blind tastings and various wine events as a moderator, speaker and panelist.

I have traveled to many wine regions throughout the world including France (Bordeaux, Champagne, Burgundy, Rhone), Italy (Tuscany), Spain (Priorat, Tenerife), Portugal, South America (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay), Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and of course, North America (California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Michigan, New York, Virginia, Ohio, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Hawaii and Canada). As Wine Journalist, Wine Educator and Sommelier, I attend numerous trade events to review wines from around the globe. I hold wine seminars, focused on wine topics such as “Basic Wine Components,” “Wines from around the World,” and “Food and Wine pairings.”