About Vine Connections
The VC Team
Click on our names to learn more!
Vine Connections Argentine Wine and Japanese Sake
argentineanwine japanesesake
Argentinean Wine Japanese Sake
argentine wine
Ed
Co-founder & Partner
Fun Fact: Ed was voted "Best Pledge" in his college fraternity class. His GPA that semester was not what it could have been.
Favorite Wine: "I can't pick a favorite--they are all like my children. I do like Malbec quite a lot. And Torrontes. And Bonarda..."
Favorite Sake: "They are all like my children too, but I have a particular fondness for Tentaka Silent Stream Junmai Daiginjo!"
Lives: Larkspur, California
Email: ed@vineconnections.com
Nick
Co-founder & Partner
Fun Fact: "I live where the Elk and the Buffalo roam."
Favorite Wine: Mendel Unus
Favorite Sake: Soul of the Sensei
Lives: Jackson, Wyoming
Email: nick@vineconnections.com
Melanie
Director of Sales
Fun Fact: "My Motto is: What would Rocky
Balboa do?"
Favorite Wine: "It depends on my mood, food, or location but if you must make me pick I guess Mendel or Susana Balbo Malbec"
Favorite Sake: "Also mood induced but my go to is Silent Stream"
Lives: Golden, Colorado
Email: melanie@vineconnections.com
Jonas
General Manager
Fun Fact: "My favorite personal halloween costume was The Greatest American Hero (which I donned in 1997 - Boston, MA)"
Favorite Wine: Tikal Patriota
Favorite Sake: Fukucho Moon on the Water
Lives: Noe Valley, San Francisco
Email: jonas@vineconnections.com
Damon
Director of Marketing
Fun Fact: "This is my 3rd tour of duty in the Bay Area; I was an urban chicken farmer in Seattle"
Favorite Wine: Luca Malbec
Favorite Sake: Fukucho Moon on the Water
Lives: Berkeley, CA
Email: damon@vineconnections.com
Emily
Operations Manager
Fun Fact: "Let's face it, most facts about me are fun."
Favorite Wine: "Tikal Amorio is my current squeeze."
Favorite Sake: "Mantensei Star-Filled Sky"
Lives: San Francisco, California
Email: emily@vineconnections.com
Richard
Regional Sales Manager
Fun Fact: "I fell off my horse in Mendoza!"
Favorite Wine: Mendel Malbec
Favorite Sake: Chiyonosono-Garden of Eternity
Lives: San Mateo, California
Email: richard@vineconnections.com
Steve
Director of Finance
Fun Fact: 'Farms' his own nine-vine vineyard from which he creates his own Bordeaux-blend, used to be pretty dangerous with a tennis racket in his day, and now enjoys hanging out with his wife, Trina, his son, Stuart and his Schnoodle, "Stan the Man".
Favorite Wine: Luca Malbec
Favorite Sake: Bride of the Fox
Lives: Napa, CA
Email: steve@vineconnections.com
Sharyn
Southwest Regional Sales Manager
Fun Fact: "Love my family, people and having fun. Believe in the philosophy that the glass is half full and life is a beautiful gift. Cooking, eating, drinking everything as long as it's good, travel and the beach."
Favorite Wine: BenMarco Expresivo
Favorite Sake: Divine Droplets
Lives: Santa Monica and Santa Barbara, California
Email: sharyn@vineconnections.com
Morgan
Southeast Regional Sales Manager
Fun Fact: "I volunteer at the Fairchild Botanical Garden here in Miami. Neither thumb is green though—I struggle to keep plants alive in my home!"
Favorite Wine: "Luca Chardonnay - anyone in my territory will tell you that I love this one best!"
Favorite Sake: Every Day: Wandering Poet High Dollar: Ancient Pillars
Lives: Miami, Florida
Email: morgan@vineconnections.com
Robert
National Accounts Manager
Fun Fact: "Give me seven days in Argentina and I can eat my body weight in sweetbreads."
Favorite Wine: Mendel Unus
Favorite Sake: Nanbu Bijin Ancient Pillars
Lives: Denver, Colorado
Email: robert@vineconnections.com
Julie
Field Sales Support Manager
Fun Fact: "I've never lost a limbo contest."
Favorite Wine: "Always in love with Luca Malbec."
Favorite Sake: "Silent Stream, with Soul of the Sensei as a close second."
Lives: Fort Collins, Colorado
Email: julie@vineconnections.com
Chad
Regional Sales Manager
Fun Fact: "I'm from Iowa."
Favorite Wine: La Posta Pizzella Malbec & Crios Torrontes
Favorite Sake: Takatenjin Shrine of the Village & Ama No To Heaven's Door
Lives: Manhattan, New York
Email: chad@vineconnections.com
Katie
Marketing Manager
Fun Fact: Katie was on one of the very first episodes of "elimiDATE."
Favorite Wine: "I'm seasonal: in the summer, Luca Chardonnay or Crios Rosé of Malbec. On a cold day, I like Luca Malbec or BenMarco Expresivo"
Favorite Sake: Star-Filled Sky
Lives: Sausalito, California
Email: katie@vineconnections.com
Katie
Marketing Coordinator
Fun Fact: "I was a vegetarian for 15 years until the undeniable need for bacon lured me back."
Favorite Wine: "Anything from Luca - yum!"
Favorite Sake: Konteki Pearls of Simplicity
Lives: Petaluma, California
Email: katies@vineconnections.com
Carri
Manager of Events & Administration
Fun Fact: "My middle school career assessment test came out "Auctioneer"—and it wasn't even a verbal test!"
Favorite Wine: "I'm loving the Lunta"
Favorite Sake: "I would have to say Silent Stream and I'm not sure if this is PC, but it makes an awesome Bloody Mary."
Lives: Napa, California (I'm an original "Napkin")
Email: carri@vineconnections.com
Vic
Representing VC in New England including RI, ME, VT, NH, MA
Fun Fact: "My grandson and I just celebrated our fifth birthdays together. Of course I count Jupiter's orbit around the sun not the earth's orbit around the sun when I determine my age. Oh to be three again"
Favorite Wine: "BenMarco Malbec. A little Bonarda goes a long way."
Favorite Sake: "Rihaku Dreamy Clouds. Cool Nigori."
Lives: Millis, MA
Email: vzelinsky@verizon.net
Don
Regional Sales Manager
Fun Fact: "I'm a huge dog lover... my best friend and running partner is my chocolate lab, Ronan"
Favorite Wine: Tikal Patriota
Favorite Sake: Mantensei Star-filled Sky
Lives: The Emerald City of Seattle
Email: don@vineconnections.com
Tanya
Administrative Assistant-Sales
Fun Fact: "I have a deep love for the outdoors. Anything from scuba diving in the beautiful ocean, to roughing it in the Rocky Mountains."
Favorite Wine: Nothing beats a Malbec, but I also love Torrontes served over frozen mandarin oranges in the summer. Yummy.
Favorite Sake: Kanbara Bride of the Fox and Konteki Tears of Dawn is yummy too
Lives: Greeley, Colorado
Email: tanya@vineconnections.com
Valeria
Argentina Manager
Fun Fact: My motto is "achieve your dreams, talent is not enough, and a strong will and hard work should always accompany it. And the best university is LIFE!"
Favorite Wine: Sparkling Reginato Rosé of Malbec or Torrontés-Chardonnay! And Mendel Unus later at night.
Favorite Sake: New sake drinker, initiated into sake with Sake2me, but tasted Star-Filled Sky and loved it!
Lives: Mendoza, Argentina
Email: valeria@vineconnections.com
Ryan
Controller
Fun Fact: "I am the Imelda Marcos of Vans"
Favorite Wine: Susana Balbo Brioso
Favorite Sake: Soul of the Sensei
Lives: San Rafael, CA
Email: ryan@vineconnections.com
Joni
Administrative Office Assistant
Fun Fact: "I am a native Southern California girl. I spent my summers growing up going to the beach and Disneyland."
Favorite Wine: Mendel Malbec
Favorite Sake: Blossom of Peace
Lives: San Anselmo, CA
Email: joni@vineconnections.com
Samantha
Mid-Atlantic Market Manager
Fun Fact: "Dogs and Cookies & Cream ice cream – 2 of my favorite things!"
Favorite Wine: Nico
Favorite Sake: Bride of the Fox
Lives: Marin County
Email: samantha@vineconnections.com
argentine wine