About Us

Monica Samuels is the VP of Sake & Spirits for Vine Connections.  Monica has worked in the sake business for over ten years, at the restaurant, distributor, and importer level.  Monica grew up bilingual and bi-cultural, speaking Japanese at home while living in Los Angeles, and spending every summer in Tokyo with her grandparents.  With a grandfather who was a sake brewer Monica has been around sake from a young age, but the turning point was working for the Japanese-Peruvian-Brazilian inspired SushiSamba, her first job after moving to NYC.  Monica’s insane love for eating, drinking, and meeting new people match perfectly with the demands of her travel schedule.  When at home in NYC she loves cooking, yoga, and making people laugh.  

Born and raised in Turkey, Dila moved to the United States after receiving her master’s degree in Japanese. Since moving to the US, she has worked in some of the most prestigious Japanese restaurants across the country (Ozumo, Alexander’s, Katana) and most recently worked as the Beverage Director for TAO in Chicago. Dila’s passion for sake & Japanese culture is contagious and she brings an extensive knowledge of sake, spirits & Japanese cuisine to the Vine Connections team.

Dila is currently based in the Chicago area and manages the VC sake & spirits portfolio in IL, FL, MA, GA, and NC. In her spare time you can find Dila cooking for friends or blasting music in her car & singing along with her son.

Nick is the co-founder of Vine Connections and has an extraordinary enthusiasm for championing unknown regions. The “VC Visionary,” Nick leads portfolio development, supplier relations, and sales strategy. His wine career started as a wine buyer at Vintage Berkeley while attending UC Berkeley. Upon graduation, Nick moved to France for a year to explore its wine country and later began working in wholesale distribution when he returned to the US. He and Ed started Vine Connections in 1999. Based in Jackson, WY, Nick can often be found on the mountain, skiing with his wife and two daughters.

Kelley is the VP of People & Marketing at Vine Connections. Originally from Texas, she is a graduate of TCU, and spent the first half of her career working for award-winning advertising agencies that brought great creative to life before moving to California. She worked for Vine Connections for several years before leaving to work at Instagram, where she led the global business marketing brand strategy. Her heart couldn’t stay away from the wine and sake world, and she rejoined Vine Connections in 2017. She marries her knowledge of alcohol and technology together by overseeing the company’s national marketing efforts across digital, insights, PR, partnerships, and events; as well as leading new business strategies and activation of major sales initiatives. In her spare time she can be found planning her next trip abroad and enjoying the California lifestyle – hiking, camping, enjoying good wine and sake, and Instagramming, of course!

Jonas is a 22 year veteran in the wine industry and joined Vine Connections in 2004.  He oversees all manners of Financial and Operational functions for the company as well as collaborating on long term strategy.  Outside of work he enjoys the trails of Southern Marin, and throwing a ball to his rescue dog. His introduction to wine came from working as a youth/teenager in his family’s bustling college town gourmet food store where wine was barely marked up over wholesale to draw customers in for baked goods and cheese.

Born into a family of airline pilots, Kristian lucked into a childhood of travel that’s kept him seduced by life on the road. His relationship with Vine Connections started during the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics when he added Rihaku Wandering Poet and Dreamy Clouds to the sake list at Ichiban Sushi. His love of snowboarding, wine, and sake have led to countless trips across South America, Japan, and Europe chasing snowstorms and a deep understanding of what makes the beverages from these places so captivating. Kristian has worked in all tiers and channels of the industry and is based in San Francisco, California.

Adrienne is the Director of Operations at Vine Connections based in the San Diego, California.  Before Vine Connections, Adrienne was working in the footwear and apparel industry.  She has a passion for ERP systems, purchasing, and operations.    When she isn’t working, she is exploring all that SLO has to offer while chasing around her two kids.

As the Senior Design & Marketing Manager at Vine Connections, Aisha works closely with the Marketing and Sales teams to design materials ranging from sales materials to store displays. Aisha is a Northern California native that grew up in the Napa Valley and graduated from CSU Chico. Growing up in Napa definitely had an influence on her interest in wine; however working in the hospitality industry sparked her love for wine. Aside from graphic design, Aisha is passionate about traveling, photography and exploring the outdoors. She loves enjoying VC wines and sake with friends, and can often be found with a bottle of Graffito Malbec or Bushido cans.

Valeria’s work at Vine Connections combines her vast experience as a designer, an undeniable understanding of business and logistics in Argentina, and originality in planning and coordinating groups of people. She graduated from the prestigious Arts and Design School of National University of Cuyo in Mendoza, Argentina and, even as a student, excelled in her creativity and originality in designing wine labels. With the expansion of the wine growing business in Mendoza, the need for an indigenous artistic expression became obvious and Valeria was asked to transform her paintings into labels. Soon after, more of her illustrations and sculptures were adapted for use in the rapidly booming winemaking business that has brought overnight prosperity to the Mendoza region of Argentina. Valeria’s passion is to be a key contributor to the artistic side of this growing commerce and she stands out as one of the only artists who have successfully combined art with graphic design and communication. Her knowledge of the terroir as well as her fluency in communication with entrepreneurs willing to start marketing a product and trademark in Mendoza has distinguished her as not just a good communicator, but together with her creative talent and knowledge of the graphic arts has made of her a dependable and visionary designer.

Georgia Sugerman began pursuing her passion for wine in 2009 after spending her initial years studying math at Oberlin College and working on Wall Street. She spent 10 years directing sales at a NY-based importer and distributor T Edward Wines & Spirits, and obtained her WSET Diploma. After devoting a few years to her young children and a brief role in wine clubs, Georgia began working part time on Vine Connection’s data & insights team. More recently she started her own company, Better Half Partners, with her husband Will Sugerman. Georgia and Will met on a wine trip to South America and have worked alongside each other in this industry ever since. Together they manage the New York and New Jersey markets for Vine Connections and help educate others on Kome Collective and sake. Georgia is also the Portfolio Manager for Vine Connections. When not working, Georgia loves spending time with her kids Charlie and Lana, walking around her hometown of Brooklyn, cooking and doing gymnastics.

As Vine Connections’ Business Development Manager, Zach works across departments on a wide range of initiatives, utilizing his deep industry experience to ensure streamlined execution of chain programs and further company objectives. A native of Texas, Zach got his start in the restaurant industry in Minneapolis, where he first developed his interest in fine wine. This eventually led him to the Bay Area, now his adopted home. He spent several years in wine retail before landing at VC, and also spent time at a national distributor, but ultimately decided to bring his knowledge and experience back to imports. He is passionate about people, art, culture, food, the outdoors, traveling, and seeking out new experiences. He lives in San Francisco.

Jaime is the Digital Content Specialist for Kome Collective. After graduating with a degree in both Digital Arts and Journalism, from Sierra Nevada University in North Lake Tahoe, her passion for creating grew deep. She started her journey as a photographer and videographer creating content for a variety of businesses in the Bay Area. After continuing her craft out in the field she searched for a career in the beverage industry that would allow her creativity to flow within a team and Vine Connections was the perfect fit. When she is not creating for work, she lives an on-the-go lifestyle – a true outdoor adventurer, road warrior and lover of nature.

Valentina grew up in Mendoza, surrounded by vineyards, mountains, wine, and art. She has been familiar with Vine Connections since she was ten years old, and as a natural observer, Valentina discovered her genuine passion for packaging design and social media early on. She graduated with honors from the prestigious Graphic Design School of the National University of Cuyo in Argentina. In her free time she enjoys Mendoza’s landscapes and trekking the mountains with her family.

Nicole is the Marketing Associate at Vine Connections. She grew up in the heart of Sonoma Valley, surrounded by the rich culture of winemaking. After earning her undergraduate degree in Digital Media Marketing from Saint Mary’s College of California, Nicole returned to her roots to pursue a career in the wine industry, eventually joining Vine Connections. Nicole is passionate about blending creativity with market strategy to enhance brand presence and connect with audiences. Outside of work, she enjoys playing volleyball, tasting wine with friends, and spending quality time with her family while exploring all the beauty Northern California has to offer.

Richard joined Vine Connections over a decade ago. He finished a two year run as an independent national wholesale wine broker and joined Ed and Nick as their first sales ambassador, helping Nick to open new markets across the United States for Vine Connections as the company expanded its distribution network. Prior to getting on board with Vine Connections he worked as a supplier for Cartlidge and Browne in 18 states after completing a 9 year stint as an Account Manager at Associated Wine Distributors in San Francisco. The Hotel and restaurant trade were the main influence on Richard’s passion for wine. Starting at the original Ritz-Carlton in Boston, then later moving to San Francisco to work at the Clift Hotel and numerous Bay Area restaurants in varied front of the house positions created the foundation for a career in the fine wine business. A New Englander by birth, growing up in Connecticut, Richard later attended Boston’s School of the Museum of Fine Arts, lived in MA and briefly in FL before permanently relocating to San Francisco in 1976.

Darryl Vennard began his career in the wine business over 35 years ago, first working in a research lab at Michigan State University, then as an assistant winemaker/cellar rat at a boutique winery. He spent three years as state-wide manager for a large California winery, and has logged almost 20 years of distributor experience. Darryl is a certified sommelier with training in enology and wine production as well as a contributing wine columnist for St. Louis Magazine. Representing Vine Connections for nearly 20 years, first as a distributor, later as a broker when 9 years ago he was brought on board as the Midwest Regional Sales Manager. It was then he discovered his love of Alpaca and Llama Ponchos. A certified Sake Specialist, Ponchosan loves to introduce this special beverage to his friends and customers in the Midwest. In his spare time he spends time in his “chemical free” flower garden listening to music, gardening and creating art (his Corked Tree project was the only one of its kind in the world until he began working on two others). An avid concert goer ranging from bar bands to the Symphony, he is also an activist for the unhoused and has organized local restaurants in feeding the people in his city of Saint Louis.

Originally from Boston, Matt went to college at what is now McDaniel College in MD. After school he moved to Florida where he started getting into wine and mixology through bartending in West Palm Beach. He continued to work and grow in Hampton Bays, Long Island and eventually met and teamed up with some people opening a small restaurant in Manhattan’s West Village and went on to bartend then run various operations for the high profile Sant Ambroeus group. In 2007 he made his most important hire, Molly, who would eventually become his wife in 2017. They now reside in Baltimore, MD with their two cats, Wilson and Hamilton. Matt is an avid golfer and huge Boston sports fan as well as a music fanatic.

Janiz has been a long-time champion for Vine Connections and joined the team in January 2020. She was awarded top sales rep at Prestige Wine Cellars before moving to Pioneer Wine Company where she received her Professional Sake Certification with John Gauntner at TexSom 2014. In 2015, she became the District Manager, and later Southwest Regional Manager with Terroir Selections. Southern Glazers stole her away as a Regional Sales Specialist due to her long-term & tight relationships with key account on-premise buyers in Houston, and now we are lucky to have this powerhouse on the Vine Connections team! A native Texan, Janiz graduated from the University of Houston.

Born in Louisiana and now based in Houston, TX, Rodney began his career in the wine industry at the age of 18 while studying Biological Sciences at Louisiana State University. What was originally a part time position became a full-time opportunity, realizing the parallels of his science studies and the processes that make each wine unique. After spending 10 years between both independent retail and restaurant operations as a Manager and Sommelier, he moved to Houston in 2014 and began his career in wine distribution with RNDC. Starting off as a dedicated on-premise sales lead, he progressed into the role as a Fine Wine Specialist over some of the top accounts in the city, was promoted to District Manager, and eventually became a Portfolio Manager where his focus covered fine wine to Asian beverages for the central and eastern US. Rodney has been a supporter of Vine Connections since early in his career as a buyer and believes strongly in the depth and carefully curated selections in the portfolio. Rodney holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Sake, WSET Level 3 Award in Spirits, WSET Diploma in Wine, Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, CSW from the Society of Wine Educators, and is a Certified Educator in Wine for WSET. Outside of work, Rodney enjoys traveling with his wife, Magen, spending time with their two daughters, LSU football, and the expansive diversity of food and different cultures available to him in Houston.

Bella Pearson is a Northern California native, born and raised in Livermore. She went across the country for college, attending Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, to study Baking and Pastry Arts. She minored in Sommelier and fell in love with the alcohol industry. She moved back to Livermore to manage a bakery while also working at a winery, Murrieta’s Well. Bella quickly realized that wine was her true passion, so she decided to make the transition into distribution. She started with Southern Glazer’s in the Chains as a Merchandiser before moving over to the RNDC Chains team. Bella then transitioned to On Premise with RNDC joining their new Wine Team in San Francisco. After a year and a half on the wine team, she transitioned to an On Premise Full Book role before making the leap over to Vine Connections to manage the Northern California, Hawaii, Arizona, and Northern Nevada markets. In her time in the industry, she has received her WSET Level 2 in both Wine and Spirits as well as Level 3 in Sake. 

Born in Massachusetts, Michael grew up in the hospitality industry working in the family business. After moving to Washington, DC for college pursuing East Asian studies, he developed an appreciation for wine and sake while working in fine dining. He moved to Japan where he spent over 8 years working in various sectors. Spending a week at a sake brewery in Nagano was one of the many highlights of the Japan chapter. He has lived in Los Angeles for the last 10 years and he was very fortunate to be on the opening team for Wally’s Beverly Hills in 2014. His relationship with Vine Connections began when he took over the sake buying and curated the sake by the glass program for Wally’s, complementing the retail offerings. He covers Southern California, Southern Nevada, and New Mexico for Vine Connections.

Born in the Boston area, Justin spent his early years in North Carolina where he studied cultural anthropology at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.  After graduating Justin fell in love with cooking and the restaurant world, which in turn led to a love of wine & spirits. After moving to Boston in 2017 Justin spent time in the financial services industry, but felt a strong calling towards the alcohol beverage industry. In 2020 he moved to an account management position with a distributor in Boston, later managing the sake portfolio. When an opportunity to work with Vine Connections in New England became available he did not hesitaste at the opportunity.  In his spare time Justin still enjoys cooking, is an avid kitchen knife enthusiast, and loves spending time with friends, family, and his best friend, Duke the dog.

Operations Manager at Vine Connections. Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, she moved to San Luis Obispo to attend Cal Poly, where she studied Business Administration and Graphic Communication. Post-graduation, she moved to Guatemala to complete an internship and study Spanish, before returning to the Central Coast to put down roots. She spent nearly 8 years in the specialty coffee industry working as the Head Roaster and Operations Manager for a small-batch roastery, where she developed a fascination with the global supply chain. Steph now helps to monitor and communicate shipping timelines for all Vine Connections product coming from Japan and South America. In her free time, you can find her ticking off climbing objectives in the mountains, exploring new trails on her gravel bike, or taking a beach stroll with her dog and partner.

Mary is the Data & Insights Manager at Vine Connections and a recent MBA graduate from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She was first introduced to the wine industry through her mother's love of Makgeolli, a Korean rice wine. Though she was exposed to wine at an early age, her passion truly began to form after spending time in Paso Robles wine country during college. When she's not creating data-driven narratives, you can find her exploring the bay area food scene, at a spin class or painting portraits.

Born and raised in Northern California, Ryan has a degree in Accounting from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an MBA from CSU, Chico. Before Vine Connections, Ryan was working in Silicon Valley, consulting with early-stage startups on all matters accounting and finance. Outside the office, you’ll find Ryan out on a hiking trail, in a record store sifting through dusty old vinyls, at the ballpark cheering on the Giants, or reading a book at his favorite coffee shop.

Danika is the Order Entry Specialist at Vine Connections. She is a California native raising her son in sunny Arizona. Her interest in wine developed when her parents, who are wine enthusiasts, followed their dream and moved to Paso Robles. She visits as often as she can and loves all that wine country has to offer. Danika has a degree in Communications from Azusa Pacific University and loves the customer service aspect of her role. She is also organized and detail-oriented. When she is not working, Danika enjoys being with her son, exercising, and hanging out with her friends.