VESTA - Regional Center of Excellence

Ray Johnson

Director, Wine Business Institute

Sonoma State University,

Sonoma, CA

Phone: (707) 824-8100

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Website: www.rayjohnsononwine.com

Course(s): VIN 266 - Sensory Evaluation, VIN 274 - Wines of the World

PRESS RELEASES

• SSU Names New Wine Director
• ZAP Launches $500,000 Scholarship at Sonoma State's Wine Business Institute

 ACCOMPLISHMENTS and QUALIFICATIONS

          Published author and skilled public speaker

·         Professional wine judge accredited at the California State Fair

·         Special expertise in wine business, sensory evaluation and the wines of Europe

·         Adept in management and training of employees and volunteers

·         Certified TCA threshold of 1 part per trillion

·         Editor and author of one of the Google’s Top 100 Wine Blogs

 

EDUCATIONAL HISTORY

 

·         Master of Wine Business, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 2006

·         Associate of Science, Viticulture:  Wine Marketing and Sales, Santa Rosa Junior College

Santa Rosa, California, 2000

·         Bachelor of Arts, English Writing and Honors Philosophy, University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1984, Mathematics Minor

·         Sonoma State University, Wine Business Program, Professional Development Series

Understanding the Intricacies of Wine Labels and Their Approval – 2001

·         UC Berkeley Extension - Training and Human Resource Development Certificate

4 of 7 courses completed in 1999 – A average

Writing the Feature Story

·         UC Davis Extension

Introduction to Winemaking for Distance Learners

Winegrape Variety Identification Workshop

Introduction to Wine Analysis

Introduction to Sensory Evaluation of Wine

Advanced Tasting Seminar

·         Dale Carnegie Course:  Effective Communications & Human Relations

·         Tom Hopkins Sales Training

 

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

 

Sonoma State University, Rohnert Park, CA, 2009

Instructor, Wine Business Institute in the School of Business and Economics

·         Teaching Wine Entrepreneurship

People’s Choice Wine Awards of Lake County, Middletown, CA, 2009

Director, Professional Wine Competition

·         Developing and managing the first professional wine judging in Lake County

VESTA, Springfield, MO, 2007 – Present

Instructor, Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance

·         Teaching 2 Sensory Evaluation classes to distance learners

Santa Rosa Junior College, Santa Rosa, CA, 2000 – Present

Instructor, Agriculture Department

·         Teaching 5 Wine Business and 10 Sensory Evaluation classes

·         Developing new curriculum and contributing to department projects

TasteWine, San Francisco, CA, 2000 – Present

Partner

·         Leading winetastings and seminars for groups of 6 to 600

·         Creating events on themes of team-building and enhancing client relationships

San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, S.F. & Cloverdale, CA, 2000 – Present

Assistant Director

·         Managing the annual professional judging of over 3500 entries

·         Directing the annual public tasting for over 3000 participants

UC Berkeley Extension, San Francisco, CA, 1998 – Present

Instructor, Wine Studies

·         Teaching 6 wine classes and developing curriculum

Draeger’s Markets, Menlo Park, CA, 1997 – 1999

Wine Consultant

·         Advised customers on their wine selections

Safeway, Redwood City, CA, 1993 – 1997

Wine Department Manager

·         Purchased inventory and drove sales to #3 in the Nor. Cal. Div. – $40K weekly

Breakthrough Seminars, Santa Rosa, CA, 1992 – 1993

Partner

·         Instructed and managed seminars in personal growth and business leadership

Johnson Business Accounts, San Jose, CA, 1989 – 1992

Owner

·         Managed and developed a sales staff and independent contractors

·         Presented business seminars to groups of 20 to 1000 people

·         Awarded Leader of the Year by the Silicon Valley Leads Club

 

Safeway, Los Gatos, CA, 1988 – 1989

Wine Department Manager

·         Purchased inventory and drove sales to #1 in the district – $25K weekly

 

Christian Brothers Winery, St. Helena, CA, 1987 – 1988

Sales Representative, Tour Guide

·         Sold and merchandised wine in chains stores from Palo Alto to Monterey

·         Introduced the winery’s products and history to the public and trade partners

Papillon Restaurant, Pittsburgh, PA, 1986 – 1987

Dining Room Manager

·         Wrote wine list with General Manager and trained staff

La Normande Restaurant, Pittsburgh, PA, 1984 – 1986

Dining Room Manager

·         Hired, trained and managed dining room staff of a fine French restaurant

·         Began visiting French wine regions in earnest

 

PUBLICATIONS

• ‘Appellation as an Indicator of Quality’, International Journal of Wine Business Research, to be published in late 2009

• ‘Place-based Marketing and Regional Branding Strategy Perspectives in the California Wine Industry’, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 2009 Vol. 26 (7)

• ‘Balancing Regionality with American Viticultural Areas’, Practical Winery & Vineyard, 2009 January/February

• ‘Importance of Region in Marketing Wine to US Consumers’, Decision Sciences Institute Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, 2008

• ‘Tasteful inquiries’, USA Today, August 15, 2008

• ‘The Balancing Act Between Regionality and American Viticultural Areas’, Journal of Wine Research, 2008 Vol. 18 (3)

• ‘Consumer Impressions of Sonoma and its Appellations’, Vineyard & Winery Management, 2007 November/December

• ‘Perceived Wine Quality and Regional Brand Image - The Consumer Perspective’, International Journal of Wine Business Research, 2007 Vol. 19 (4)

• ‘Sonoma County’s Regional Brand Image’, Bacchus at Brock Conference,St. Catharines, Ontario, 2007 – top 3 paper selection, Wine Business track

• Ray Johnson’s Wine Blog, News and reviews of wine around the world, from 2007

• The Good Life Guide to Enjoying Wine, a book that serves as a primer to the world of wine, distributed nationally and in the United Kingdom, 2006

• Through the Grape Vine in theSonoma-Marin Farm News, a monthly column covering the wine and viticulture industry of Sonoma County, 2004 – 2006

• ‘A Guide to the Wines by Grape’, San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition Special Section, a primer for the public tasting of the medal-winning wines, 2003

• Wine News from Ray Johnson, a quarterly wine newsletter subscribed to by over 2000 former students, from 1998

Editor of the following wine education games and guides:

·         WinePassport California – 2005

·         WinePassport Italy – 2005

·         WineNotes – 2004

·         Wine Party – 2004

·         WineSmarts – 2003

 

Curriculum for New Wine and Wine Business Classes:

·         Wines of the World – 2009

·         Cabernet Sauvignon – 2008

·         Napa Valley Appellations – 2008

·         Sideways:  An Examination of Pinot Noir – 2007

·         Wines of Australia and New Zealand – 2007

·         Introduction to Agriculture & Wine Business Management – 2006

·         Wines of France – 2004

·         World Viticulture and Wine Styles – 2003

·         Wine Industry Event Planning – 2002

·         Wine Service and Hospitality – 2002

·         Sonoma County Appellations – 2001

·         Wine Regions of California – 2001

·         Wines of California and Europe – 2000

·         Great Wines of Northern California – 1999

 

Professional Appearances and Presentations

 

Wine Festivals, Meetings and Conferences

• Zinfandel Advocates & Producers Meeting – 2009

• Illinois Grape Growers & Vintners Association Annual Conference – 2008

• Bacchus at Brock – 2007

• Cal Italia Wine & Food Festival – 2004

• Kendall-Jackson Tomato Festival – 2004, 2005, 2006

• San Francisco Crab Festival – 2003 & 2004

• World Wine Market – 2003 & 2004

Television

• CMC Santa Rosa

• KNTV News, NBC San Jose

• KRON 4 Weekend News, San Francisco

• KTEH Wine Auction, PBS San Jose

• MSNBC

• Pittsburgh Today Live on KDKA-TV, CBS 2 Pittsburgh

• View From the Bay on KGO-TV, ABC 7 San Francisco

Radio

• Afternoon News on KGO in San Francisco, CA

• AM Ocala on WOCA in Ocala, FL

• The Barbara McFadden Show on WFHG in Bristol, VA

• Conversations with Larry Meiller on Wisconsin Public Radio

• Dining Around with Gene Burns on KGO in San Francisco, CA

• Don Bleu in the Morning on Star 101.3 in San Francisco, CA

• The Drive on KSRO in Santa Rosa, CA

• Everyday Food on Martha Stewart Living Radio

• Food Philosophy Podcast with Rosina Tinari Wilson

• Good Food Hour on KSRO in Santa Rosa, CA

• Late Morning Edition on KVON in Napa, CA

• Les’ Wines & Vines on the Cable Radio Network

• Living Today on Martha Stewart Living Radio

• The Morning Show on WWI-AM/WWI-FM in Brainerd, MN

• Mouthful on KRCB in Santa Rosa, CA

• News Now on Voice of America

• Noon News on KSRO in Santa Rosa, CA

• Norman Mark Show on KNWZ in Palm Springs, CA

• Rendez Vous on J-WAVE in Tokyo, Japan

• The Shelly Show on KDKA in Pittsburgh, PA

• The Sonoma Report on CRN, Digital Talk Radio

• A Touch of Grey syndicated across America

• Tron in the Morning on KCMN in Colorado Springs, CO

• Trends, Taste and Travel Podcast with Cy Emerus

• What’s Cooking on the Cable Radio Network

• Wine and Dine on VinVillage Radio

• Wine Barrel on KWNE in Ukiah, CA

• Wine Biz Radio on KSVY in Sonoma, CA

• The Wine Show on WIST in New Orleans, LA

• The Wine Show on AM1440 in Santa Maria, CA

• Wine Wednesday on KRUSH and KTOL in Santa Rosa, CA

 

WINE JUDGING

·         California State Fair – 2009, 2007, 2005, 2004, 2003

·         People’s Choice Wine Awards of Lake County – 2009

·         Sonoma County Harvest Fair – 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002

·         Wine & Spirits Magazine – 2009, 2008

·         Cabernet Sauvignon Shootout – 2007, 2004, 2003

·         International Eastern Wine Competition – 2007

·         Pinot Noir Shootout – 2007, 2006, 2003

·         Sign On San Diego.com – 2005

·         California and Australia Wine Shootout – 2004

·         World Wine Market International Wine Competition – 2004

·         Chardonnay Shootout – 2003

·         Santa Cruz Mountains Wine Competition – 2002

·         San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition – 2001

·         West Coast Wine Competition – 2001, 2000

·         California North Coast Wine Competition – 2000

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Academic classes

Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University, U.C. Berkeley Extension and VESTA

Napa Valley Appellations – from 2009

Wine Component Tasting – from 2009

Wine Entrepreneurship – from 2009

Wines of the World – from 2009

Sideways:  An Examination of Pinot Noir – from 2008

Sensory Evaluation – from 2007

Wines of Australia and New Zealand – from 2007

Zinfandel – From Grape to Glass – from 2007

Wines of France – from 2006

World Viticulture and Wine Styles – from 2005

Wine Service and Hospitality – from 2004

Agricultural and Wine Marketing Fundamentals – from 2003

Agricultural Sales and Communication – from 2002

Wine Regions of California – from 2002

Wines of Italy – from 2002

Wine Industry Event Planning – from 2001

Sonoma County Appellations – from 2001

Agriculture & Wine Business Management (Intro. to Ag. & Wine Bus. Mgmt.) – from 2000

Country Wines of France – from 2000

Professional Wine Judging – from 2000

Winemakers of Sonoma County – from 2000

Great Wines of Northern California – from 1999

Wines of California and Europe – from 1998

 

Short courses and Seminars At:

• Arkansas Tech University  2009

• Missouri State University – 2009, 2008

• Northeast Iowa Community College – 2009, 2008, 2007

• SRJC Community Education – 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002

• Sonoma State University – 2009, 2008, 2003, 2002

• San Francisco Chamber of Commerce – 2004

• Duquesne University School of Business – 2001, 2000, 1999

• Sonoma County Wine & Visitor Center – 2000

Modules Include:

Errors in Perception

Faults and Flaws in Wine

Formal Sensory Analysis in the Winery:

Sensory Components

Sensory Test Methods

Tasting Methodology

Wine Club Marketing – Making Your Wine Club a Long-Term Profit Center

Working the Channel – A Professional Selling Workshop

California Cheese

California Wine and Food:  A Guided Exploration of Pairing

Champagne 101:  Exploring the Myths and Mysteries of Champagne

Discovering Your Favorites

Entertaining with Wine at Home

Food and Wine Pairing

Harvest Fair Stars

Hot Days and Cool Wines

Restaurant Rituals and Wine Lists

Retail Strategies

Tasting and Talking About Wine

Tasting Wine:  A Primer for People Who Just Want to Enjoy It

US Wine Labels

Wines of Burgundy

Wines of France

Wines of Italy

Wines of the Rhône Valley

 

Professional Service

·         SRJC Agribusiness & Wine Studies Advisory Committee – 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001

·         SRJC Shone Farm Foundation Presentation – 2009

·         SRJC Wine Studies Curriculum Committee – 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000

·         VESTA Curriculum Conference – 2009

·         SRJC Wine Marketing Presentation to the University of Boras Delegation – 2008

·         SRJC Agribusiness & Wine Studies Advisory Committee Winetasting Presentation – 2007

·         SRJC Agriculture Department Adjunct Faculty Hiring Committee – 2008, 2007

·         Sonoma County Showcase – 2008, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003

·         SRJC Warren Dutton Agricultural Pavilion Dedication – 2006

·         U.C. Berkeley Wine Studies Curriculum Committee – 2006, 2005

·         Bay Area Community College Consortium, Wine Studies Major Review – 2005

·         California Community Colleges AG & NR Midwinter Institute Wine Presentation – 2005

·         SRJC Ag Expo – 2005, 2004, 2001

·         SRJC Career Fair – 2005

·         SRJC Warren Dutton Agricultural Pavilion Agstravaganza Auction Committee – 2005, 2004

·         Santa Rosa Women’s Leads Club Winetasting Presentation – 2004, 2001

·         SRJC Ag Trust, Occasional Agriculture Department Representative – 2004, 2003, 2002

·         Slow Food Russian River Valley Convivium – 2004, 2003

·         California Community Colleges Statewide Wine Studies Curriculum Review – 2003, 2002

·         North Bay Career Fair – 2002

·         Spring Lake Retirement Community Winetasting Presentation – 2002

·         SRJC District Appreciation Social – 2002

·         SRJC Harvey Hansen Memorial Social – 2002

·         SRJC Agribusiness and Wine Studies Advisory Committee Curriculum Presentation – 2001

·         SRJC Agriculture Department PDA Winetasting Presentation – 2001

·         SRJC Richard L. Thomas Classroom Agstravaganza – 2001

·         SRJC Shone Farm Wine Sales – 2001

·         SRJC Viticulture Hiring Committee – 2001

·         Santa Rosa Wine Club Winetasting Presentation – 2000