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 |
|
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 |
|
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 |
| 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 |
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 |
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 |
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 |
| 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 |
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 |
|
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 |
|
|
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 |
|
South Eastern Vermont |
802.355.9015 |
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Warehouse
Drivers & Staff: |
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| Steve Sharon |
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Chris
Dunkle |
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Erik Holenstein |
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Will
Patlove |
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Jake Rifken |
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Chris
Kutchukian |
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Eric Eickmann |
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Jamie Miller |
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Franky Andreas |
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Marty Reardon |
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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