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 his Jeep Wrangler with Cooper, his 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  

Drew Robinson
As a native Vermonter with more than a decade of experience in wine, Drew Robinson has a unique and intuitive understanding of the local market.  Drew was born into a restaurant family, and grew up waiting tables and bartending, before ultimately managing restaurants in college.  After leaving college, Drew walked straight into a job in the wine business and has never looked back, devoting his entire adult life to wine.  Drew is happiest when spending time with his wife and son, and most inspired when traveling and seeking out new vineyards and winemakers.
Sales Manager & Representative for Middlebury and Burlington

 

802.355.2669

drew@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 company's HR, AR/AP, bookkeeping & website maintenance and design.
Business Manager

802.658.6771 x10

manon@vtwinemerchants.com  

Jennifer Clayton

Jenn 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, just 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

Brita Hansen
Brita joined the team in the Winter of 2013. A Vermont Native, Brita tested the waters of Seattle and New York City before claiming Vermont as her adult home. She has been a part of the Burlington "restaurant scene" for many years and worked as a wine and beer sales representative before landing at Vt Wine Merchants.She is very passionate about food and wine and enjoys being surrounded by the same passion.
Marketing Coordinator 

802.658.6771 x14

brita@vtwinemerchants.com

Michelle Miller
Michelle joined the team in the Summer of 2010. Originally from New Hampshire, Michelle fell in love with Vermont while vacationing here and made the big move from the Big Apple. When Michelle isn't involved with the theater she enjoys expanding her palate with our fine wines! Aside from supporting the Office staff and Sales Reps, Michelle is responsible for Bill backs to our suppliers and assisting with the company's AR.
Office Administor

 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 the 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 is also known for his Tango moves and specializes in wines from Argentina. Gerd has recently earned a 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  

 
South Eastern Vermont

 

 Warehouse Drivers & Staff:
 
 

802.658.6771 x17

warehouse@vtwinemerchants.com

 

Steve Sharon

 
 
 
Chris Dunkle  
 
 
 
Erik Holenstein
 
 
 
Will Patlove
 
 
 
Jake Rifken
 
 
 
Chris Kutchukian
Eric Eickmann
Jamie Miller
Franky Andreas
Marty Reardon
       

Vermont Wine Merchants Co.

255 South Champlain St. | Burlington, V T | 05401

ph 802.658.6771 | fax 802.658.6775

Vermont Wine Merchants Co.

255 South Champlain St. | Burlington, V T | 05401

ph 802.658.6771 | fax 802.658.6775

 

 

Vermont Wine Merchants Co.

255 South Champlain St. | Burlington, V T | 05401

ph 802.658.6771 | fax 802.658.6775

Vermont Wine Merchants Co.

255 South Champlain St. | Burlington, V T | 05401

ph 802.658.6771 | fax 802.658.6775