company directory

	Company Directory
Name	Biography	Area of Work	Contact Information
Mike Stolese Owner	Mike Stolese, Owner, started VWM in 1996 with Joerg after owning several businesses of his own including Stoliz's Bar in Winooski. His specialties lie with his sharp-witted humor and broad knowledge of fine Italian wines. He is easily spotted around town in a Jeep Wrangler with a Great Dane by his side!	Burlington Area	802.658.6771 x11 802.355.8607 mike@vtwinemerchants.com
Joerg Klauck Owner	A co-founding owner of VWM since 1996, Joerg is a Burgundian at heart celebrating great Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs and with his Canadian background, gravitates to wines with good acidity, structure, balance, finesse and style. While having a love of good reds, he’s an advocate for the spectrum of white wines to be enjoyed year-round. Joerg enjoys wines that remember their vineyard origins, that are cultivated by wineries rooted practically and philosophically in the land and come from classic wine farms as varied as those of South Africa, the extreme Sonoma Coast, Germany’s Mosel valley, the north and south islands of New Zealand and the Pacific Northwest. When not swirling and sharing a refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, Joerg and his wife Ann enjoy life at 1,500 feet in the Green Mountains, running, hiking, kayaking, and cheering constantly, but forlornly, for the Toronto Maple Leafs.	Addison & Washington County	802.658.6771 x12 802.355.8611 joerg@vtwinemerchants.com
Office Staff:
Manon Eiker	Manon has been with the company since the fall of 2005. She is of Swiss heritage and spent her senior year abroad at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. After completing college with a Bachelor's degree from UVM, Manon resided in Copenhagen for a few years while working at the University's international program. During this time, she was able to travel throughout Europe, both with her program and on her own, where she discovered her love of wine, among many other interests. Manon manages the companies HR, AR/AP, bookkeeping & website maintenance and design.	Business Manager	802.658.6771 x10 manon@vtwinemerchants.com
Jenn Clayton	Jennifer joined the VWM staff the summer of 2007, only weeks after she made the trek cross-country from Southern California, where she had lived all her life. She worked in the bustling film and TV production industry, where she fell in love with images of Vermont via movies that have been filmed here. Jenn’s passion for wine stems from fond memories visiting vineyards, miles from her house, with family and friends. Jenn brings a little California sunshine to Vermont through her enthusiasm, which is evident in her interactions with customers, suppliers and shippers.	Purchasing & Logistics Coordinator	802.658.6771 x13 jenn@vtwinemerchants.com
Hilary DelRoss	Hilary is our newest recruit and joined us in April of 2011. A Rhode Island native, Hilary recently moved back from Oregon where she was able to combine her passion for marketing with her interest in sustainable agriculture and viticulture. She also has broadened her palate while traveling during her study abroad in Portugal and Australia. Hilary has recently taken on VWM marketing efforts as well as the continuation of Burlington Wine & Food Festival's branding. In addition to managing our large wine portfolio, she compiles post-off's and featured wine lists as well as depletion reporting to our suppliers.	Marketing Coordinator	802.658.6771 x14 hilary@vtwinemerchants.com
Michelle Miller	Michelle recently joined the team in the Summer of 2010. Originally from New Hampshire, Michelle fell in love with Vermont while vacationing here and recently made the big move from the Big Apple. When Michelle isn't involved with the theater she enjoys expanding her pallet with our fine wines! Besides aiding the Office staff and Sales Reps, Michelle is responsible for Bill backs to our suppliers and aiding with the companies AR.	Administrative Assistant	802.658.6771 x15 michelle@vtwinemerchants.com
Sales Representatives:
James Townsend	JT, as he is known in the biz, has been a sales rep with VWM since the very beginning and has since acquired a vast knowledge of everything wine. Prior to Vermont Wine Merchants, he worked in the restaurant business for many years.	Burlington Area	802.658.6771 x16 jt@vtwinemerchants.com
Robert Boehme	Born and raised in the heart of the Sonoma County wine region, Santa Rosa, Robert has wine running through his veins. He received an A.O.S. degree in Culinary Arts in 1995 from New England Culinary Institute. He has been in the wine business for ten years, the last seven have been with VWM.	Washington County	802.658.6771 x27 802.355.8609
Chris Kleeman	Chris joined the sales team in the summer of 2011.Chris began his journey into wine way back in the 1970’s as a touring musician, on the road in East Coast and the Caribbean for some 17 years. Introduced to the wonders of great food and wine from the many inns and restaurants he frequented as a performer, he began his career in the hospitality industry in 1988. He became assistant Sommelier at the Woodstock Inn in 1990, and since then has consulted for, and presided over many award winning wine lists in Southern Vermont. Jokingly referred to as “Captain Zinfandel” by some of his peers, Chris’s passion for wine is truly global, always searching out great wines of any hue from everywhere to work their magic with fine cuisine. We believe he might just be the only wine sales representative in the state of Vermont who may be found riding a motorcycle on his route on sunny days!	Windsor County	802.658.6771 x28 802.355.3144 chris@vtwinemerchants.com
Gerd Hirschmann	Gerd has been with VWM since the Summer of 2001. He has gathered his extensive wine knowledge over many years in the restaurant business & writes a weekly Column "Wine Experiments" in the Mt. Times in Killington. He his also known for his Tango moves and specializes in wines from Argentina. Gerd has recently earned his degree as a certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers program	Southwestern Vermont & St. Johnsbury Area	802.658.6771 x29 802.324.9540 or 917.863.6636 gerd@vtwinemerchants.com
Holly Kenyon	I've been with The Vermont Wine Merchants Company for seven years. The world of wine excites and interests me immensely. Working for VWM allows me to "walk the world" every day! Exploring and learning about wine, wine country, viniculture and people is fun and fascinating. The rapport I have built and developed with others, while absorbing and gaining knowledge about a field I am passionate about is rewarding and always an adventure. I look forward to the days, weeks and years of sitting..., sniffing..., swirling..., sipping...and soaking up whatever I can of a fantastic glass of wine.	Chittenden County, Vergennes & the Islands	802.658.6771 x30 802.355.8608 holly@vtwinemerchants.com
Nina Koch	Nina enthusiastically joined the Vermont Wine Merchants Company in February of 2011. Nina’s passion for food and wine began with her travels abroad in 2000 . Living in Vienna and studying opera, many weekends involved crisp and refreshing white wines and hearty portion of schnitzel! The summer following her studies, she and her sister took off to eat and drink their way through Italy. Over a bottle of Barbaresco and paper thin prosciutto, it was love at first sip! Upon her return, she became involved in every aspect of wine service and culinary arts and began the journey towards a career in the wine industry. Recently, she has become a Certified Specialist Of Wine through the Society of Wine Educators Nina enjoys teaching wine education and has created numerous programs for women featuring women wine makers and small family owned estates.	South West Vermont	802.658.6771 x31 802.343.5777 nina@vtwinemerchants.com
Vicky Adams	Vicky came across our path the summer of 2011. She has joined the team in order to focus efforts on building upon our existing customer base in the south eastern territory. Three passions drive this lady, food, wine and making people smile. With over 30 years experience in the restaurant business, several year in her own, she has been able to infuse the three passions.	South East Vermont	802.355.9015 vicky@vtwinemerchants.com
Kris Nelson	"More of anything? More of everything!" that's Kris's motto. Kris joined VWM's sales staff in the summer of 2006 with enough enthusiasm to melt any wine connoisseur's heart. Kris had years of experience in the restaurant industry and social work before joining the VWM team.	Northeastern Vermont & Burlington	802.658.6771 x32 802.355.2828 kris@vtwinemerchants.com
Warehouse Drivers & Staff:			802.658.6771 x17 warehouse@vtwinemerchants.com
Steve Sharon
Chris Dunkle
Erik Holenstein
Will Patlove
Jake Rifken
Chris Kutchukian
Eric Eickmann