Meet Liza Zimmerman

I have been writing, educating and consulting about wine, cocktails and food for more than two decades. I have also worked almost every angle of the wine and food business: from server and consultant to positions in distribution, education and sales. My approach to wine education, coverage and training is savvy, down to earth and unpretentious and she is one of a very limited number of award-winning journalists in the education field. She completed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma in 2000, is a Napa Valley Wine Symposium Fellow, passed the one-day BAR program and audited the five-day BAR program.

I focus on demystifying wine and transforming it into a daily joy and tool for business and networking for my clients and readers. I have visited all the world’s major wine growing and spirits producing regions—60 plus countries and counting—I am one of several hundred people in the U.S. to hold the Diploma of Wine & Spirits (D.W.S.), the three-year program that is the precursor to the Master of Wine.

What Liza Offers:

Engaging tastings that strengthen collaboration and spark conversation among colleagues.

Intimate wine tasting experiences designed to create lasting memories with family and friends.
Tailored story telling about wine and spirits that elevates brand identity and connects with audiences.

Structured classes and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) training cut , for professionals and enthusiasts who want to deepen their wine knowledge.

Trusted by Leading Brands

From global corporations to intimate events, I’ve had the pleasure of working with an exciting mix of partners:

1000+

Stories

Stories featured in publications such as Forbes, WineSearcher.com, Decanter, Wine Spectator, Corriere Vincolo and more

60+

Countries

Visits made to all the world’s major wine and spirits’ producing regions.

40+

Media features

TV, print, online and radio interviews focused on Liza the Wine Chick’s educational programs, travels and perspectives.

Are you interested in doing a virtual or IRL tasting with me?

How Liza the Wine Chick can help you:

  • Content, strategy and marketing writing
  • Newsletters
  • Branded content
  • SEO writing
  • Blogging
  • Ghostwriting
  • Capturing the perfect tone and style for writing projects
  • Book projects
  • Website generation and updates

Testimonials:

Words of praise from clients, readers, and colleagues who have worked with me.

As an Italian I have a passion for wine. I found the same passion in Liza, her knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing so much information and so many details about wine made her the center of the party!

Federico Brocero Ghersi, Realtor, Alain Pinel Realtors, San Francisco, California

Liza has a sharp take on the modern wine industry, offering insights and recommendations that stand out from the crowd. Her writing is informative and enjoyable to read, and hopefully opens you up to something new in the wine world,

Max DeNike, Managing Editor, The San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California

What an elixir! I sort of know one is not supposed to enjoy one’s own publicity but I couldn’t help enjoying how well you write even if it was about my firm and myself.

David Rockwell, CEO; Rockwell Group (restaurant architects), New York City

Liza’s ‘How to be Wine Savvy in Business’ was a big hit with our alumni. Liza’s warmth and natural ability to pique her students’ curiosity ensured that everyone went home learning a lot. We tasted some great wines, answered all our burning wine questions and had tons of fun. Liza took care of all the details making sure the whole night ran smoothly,

Anna Kharbas, San Francisco Regional President, Cornell Alumni Association of Northern California

I was very impressed with the depth of knowledge and expertise you so eloquently shared with our attendees. You did a great job balancing a very knowledgeable group of wine enthusiasts. I would highly recommend your services to anyone.

Renee Feeney, Business Development Manager, Fireman’s Fund Insurance Co., Arizona

Liza is a pleasure to work with. She creates interactive and fun wine experiences that are enjoyable for everyone. She really knows her wine and you can just tell how much she loves sharing her passion with all kinds of groups

Carissa Zenorini, Principal; Absolute Adventures, Inc. (event planner), San Jose, California

Liza’s years of writing about the wine business gives her ready access to experts across the industry. In her seminar at Sonoma State, her first-hand knowledge and experience was complemented by first-class panel of colleagues,

Ray Johnson, Director, Sonoma State University Wine Business Institute

I’ve worked with Liza for nearly a decade and have always been impressed by her passionate knowledge of wine and spirits. Over the years, she’s helped me craft brand and corporate messaging that truly resonates with trade and consumers. Working with an experienced journalist is an asset for any communications professional and I’ve found my relationship with Liza to be invaluableHolly Evans

Holly Evans, Director of Communications, PURPLE WINE + SPIRITS, Graton, California

Liza is unmatched for her enthusiasm and pursuit of knowledge, all while retaining charm and humor while bringing it to her audiences. I always enjoy her ability to challenge me.

Todd Smith, Wine Director and Manager, DOSA South Indian Restaurants, San Francisco, California

Liza is one of our most trusted writers. Her professionalism, expertise, and ability to meet tight deadlines make her a go-to choice when assigning stories on the wine and spirits business.

David Gadd, Vice President and Executive Editor, The Tasting Panel and The SOMM Journal, Encino, California

Liza’s creative, approachable style captivates her audience in an engaging, immersive experience. She is a unique wine educator in terms of her professionalism and ability to stay at the top of the game while demonstrating her vast knowledge of the wine, food and spirits. She is truly the quintessential Wine Chick who has the innate ability to evangelize any brand she promotes.

Beth Schnitzer, Co-Founder and President, Spritz, San Francisco

We had a great night! Liza’s events are a true delight. Her knowledge about wine is jaw dropping. She knows how to educate about wine in a playful way. The experience was excellent!

Hermine Baker, Owner, Atmani Wine Country Tours

Liza throws her extensive knowledge and passion and into her group wine tastings talks. She recently led a private Latin wine tasting for Northwestern and University of Chicago alumni in Miami that kept us all intrigued, as  she paired the wines with cuisine to bring out the flavors the unique flavors. A fun, educational evening.

Maria Atanasov, NU Club of Southeast Florida, President

Liza is an invaluable source of accurate and timely information on pressing wine industry issues and, she is tenacious [as a legal reporter]

John Hinman, founding partner of Hinman & Carmichael, LLP, a San Francisco-based law firm specializing in drinks law

Liza is the rare host whose presence feels like opening a perfect vintage. She blended generosity, expertise, and sparkle to turn our event into something we will savor long after the glasses were cleared.

Alessandra Baldeschi, of Blancdenoir, an Italy-based company specialized in using European Union funds for educational purposes

Liza is incredibly passionate about wine and loves to discover new wines and countries. I have so much respect for her as an education and am impressed with what she has done for the wine industry in the last decades.

Elena Spadoni, Miami-based wine broker