American Wine Society Wine Hosts’ Bios

Paul Wagner Wine Instructor Napa Valley College, President Balzac Marketing and Public Relations

Renowned Wine Expert and Author Paul Wagner, wine expert extraordinaire, has been an instructor for Napa Valley College’s Viticulture & Enology department for the past 17 years, is a regular columnist for Vineyards & Winery Management Magazine and is the president of Balzac Communications & Marketing. He is a highly regarded guest lecturer at universities throughout the world on wine business, communications, wine and wine marketing, and in 2007 he co-authored Wine Marketing & Sales, Success Strategies for a Saturated Market, an award winning wine book. In 2009 he was honored with a “Life Dedicated to Wine” award at the Feria Nacional del Vino (FENAVIN) in Spain.

Madeline Triffon Master Sommelier

Madeline is one of 147 professionals who have earned the title Master Sommelier in North America. Madeline was the second woman in the world, to have passed the M.S. exam. She is a Chairman Emeritus of the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers and has also served as Scholarship Chair. Madeline Triffon joined Plum Market in 2011 as the in-house Master Sommelier. Plum Market is a full-service grocery retailer with stores in Southeastern Michigan and Metro Chicago. Madeline directs wine tasting events, hand selects wines for in-store and online retail sales, and serves as a corporate wine educator.