Chris Blanchard
Master Sommelier
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 4 Master Sommelier Diploma
EXPERIENCE
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Wine List Creation
Winemaking
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Chris Blanchard, Master Sommelier, started his career in the music
business when he was 14 years old, with a late night radio show mixing
and scratching records. He released his first 12 inch single "That's The
Way Girls Are" on Profile Records, and toured with RUN/DMC and DJ Jazzy
Jeff & The Fresh Prince, performing as the "first white rapper on
record." Around this time he developed an intense interest in wine after
being inspired by Torres' Spanish wine "Sangre de Toro" and other
affordable California Chardonnay and Cabernet.
Chris left the music biz and went on to gain experience in all aspects of the wine business, from working as a cellar rat, a winery rep, a winery sales manager, wine buyer and sommelier, managing director for a large wine distributor, and eventually passing the rigorous Master Sommelier exam in 2008. To fulfill a lifelong dream of making affordable high quality wines, like the ones that inspired him early in life, he teamed up with his sweetheart and wine veteran, Lauren Watters and the genius Napa Valley winemaker, Jon Engelskirger.
Chris left the music biz and went on to gain experience in all aspects of the wine business, from working as a cellar rat, a winery rep, a winery sales manager, wine buyer and sommelier, managing director for a large wine distributor, and eventually passing the rigorous Master Sommelier exam in 2008. To fulfill a lifelong dream of making affordable high quality wines, like the ones that inspired him early in life, he teamed up with his sweetheart and wine veteran, Lauren Watters and the genius Napa Valley winemaker, Jon Engelskirger.