Robin Kelley O’Connor enjoys 30 years of experience in the wine trade and a stellar reputation as a leading wine educator, international wine judge, wine writer, and sommelier. Mr. O’Connor was ‘Lead Business Specialist’ and Director of Wine & Beverage Education at Italian Wine Merchants (IWM). IWM is a leading purveyor of fine Italian wines in the country, and as a specialist in providing great, rare and collectable wines of Burgundy, Bordeaux, Champagne, California, Italy and Rioja. He was Head of Wine & Lead Specialist, Americas, for Christie’s Auction House. Prior to Christie’s, he was Director of Sales and Education for Manhattan wine and spirits retailer Sherry-Lehmann, winner of Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2010 Wine Retailer of the Year Award. A native of Maryland, Mr. O’Connor began studying wine while still a student at University of Maryland. He started his wine career in London as head sommelier at Le Chateaubriand Restaurant in the prestigious May Fair Hotel and went on to earn a diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (DWS). He holds Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certified Sommelier exam.