Joe's wine education includes the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma, the Certified Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers - Europe, and the Wine & Spirits MBA from the Burgundy School of Business in Dijon, France.  Joe began his journey with the WSET in 2020, achieving a perfect score in the Level 1 Award in Wines and passing Levels 2 and 3 with Distinction.  Joe is currently a candidate for the Institute of Masters of Wine (MW) program and is preparing for the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) Advanced Sommelier qualification. Joe also received top marks completing the rigorous programs through the Wine Scholar Guild, including the French Wine Scholar (Highest Honors), Italian Wine Scholar (Honors), Spanish Wine Scholar (Honors), and Sherry Wine Scholar (Highest Honors). ​ Joe dedicates himself to his pursuit of educating others and democratizing wine while staying committed to his core principles of Honor and Integrity.  Joe leads wine education, social media content creation, and the 500 Wineries Blog.

Gris was born and raised in Mexico, where she lived until when she started her professional life. She’s lived and worked in twelve countries, speaks three languages fluently and is learning German. She's worked in high-tech industries, from oil and gas to cyber security. She's a product manager at Google and a Co-Founder at the Zürich Wine Academy.  Her multicultural experience has taught her that in order to truly understand and appreciate a new culture it’s necessary to experience and enjoy food and wine, because they are two universal concepts that occur everywhere around the world and yet are so different. They tell so much about the history, social transformation and economic dynamics of a place. Griselda is passionate about building and delivering experiences that connect people with new cultures through the art of wine making. Gris leads the product and business development for the Zürich Wine Academy.

Nic hails from London, and has lived in Berlin, the San Francisco Bay area, Washington DC, and for the last few decades in Zürich. His formal wine education had to wait until he retired from a 30-year career as a professor of materials science at ETH Zurich. His decision to pursue wine qualifications came during an unfortunately timed visit to Mendoza in 2020, which led to an unexpected two months of lockdown in a winery. Following his rescue from Argentina by the UK Government, he set about studying for WSET exams, first in Switzerland and subsequently with the Austrian Wine Academy in Rust, where he received his DipWSET (with merit) and Weinakademiker qualification (with distinction). Nic’s scientific career involved research into the chemistry of surfaces, as well as friction and lubrication, all of which turn out to be crucial for an understanding of wine mouthfeel. Nic now spends some of his time researching the subtle interactions between wine, saliva, and the tongue at Imperial College, London, where he is a visiting professor. Teaching materials science students was a rewarding part of Nic’s career at ETH, and teaching wine enthusiasts and professionals at Zürich Wine Academy is something he does with passion and great enjoyment.

After completing his master’s degree in history and geography, Julian had planned on becoming a teacher in these two subjects before he caught the wine bug and decided to pursue a career in this field in 2019. Since then, he completed his WSET Level 3 and WSET Diploma. He is currently working as a buyer and product manager for a wine import company in Zürich.While he could not be happier with his job as a professional wine buyer, he never let go of the idea of being able to follow his original idea of teaching people. With Zürich Wine Academy he found the perfect place to combine his two passions by teaching WSET courses.Julian is a passionate amateur cook, and his happy place is at a full table with many wine friends. He is crazy about Jerez, Riesling, Nebbiolo and Pinot Noir.

Matteo is Italian, and a passionate beverage expert with a unique blend of scientific knowledge and practical experience. With over a decade of bartending behind the bar in London and Zurich, he has developed a deep understanding of spirits and cocktails. Currently pursuing a degree in Food Science and Technology, Matteo combines his scientific expertise with his love for spirits. He is a certified WSET Level 3 Spirits professional and has honed his sensory skills through IBD courses. His goal is to share his knowledge and enthusiasm with others, making complex chemistry concepts accessible and engaging. By understanding the science behind the spirit, you can truly appreciate the artistry of the cocktail.

Brodi has been immersed in the world of wine since he was a young pup. It's safe to say that he was born into the wine industry. He has had the opportunity to visit more wineries than most humans, and has rated over 300 wineries throughout his life. Because of him, the team visits mostly wineries that are Pet Friendly, and he has developed his own rating methodology.  Brodi particularly enjoys visiting wineries with vineyards, where he can run, play with sticks, and drink the water that is infused with the same soil that helps produce the wine. Despite his lifelong exposure to wine culture, Brodi has remained sober.