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Jim Barker, President and Founder

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The man behind the Washington Wine Academy is President and Founder Jim Barker, whose fascination with wine is as extensive as his experience in staging interesting events- both extend to his college days nearly 20 years ago. Originally from Michigan where he attended Business College, Jim initially relocated to DC for a government job before realizing he was meant to pursue something entirely different: Education and Event Planning in the wine industry. “Our organization and faculty focus on ensuring that you have a pleasurable, enriching experience,” says Barker. "It's great to give people an opportunity to have a wonderful evening and know that it's due to our efforts."

 

Victoria Ferguson, Deputy Director

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A natural educator and consummate wine professional, Victoria graduated from Western Carolina University where she studied music education. While studying music, she assisted in brewing at Heinzelmännchen Brewery, a local craft brewery in the mountain town of Sylva, NC that specializes in German Altbier. Victoria was introduced to wine when she soon began working at a premium wine shop across the street from the brewery. There she began her love affair with wine that continues to today.

 

Following graduation, Victoria worked in wine stores across the country, while developing a keen sense of taste and knowledge of wines throughout the world. After moving to Alexandria, VA, she became wine manager at independent wine retailer Rick’s Wine and Gourmet where she quickly became the must-know wine expert in town. Victoria is an alumnus of the Washington Wine Academy and currently holds the Advanced Certificate Awarded with Merit from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

 

Victoria is very excited to be a part of the Washington Wine Academy and hopes to see you at our next great wine class or event!

 

If you have any questions/comments for Victoria, you can email her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it '; document.write( '' ); document.write( addy_text96183 ); document.write( '<\/a>' ); //--> This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Tom Finigan, Wine Educator

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Tom Finigan, CSW has been involved with wine and food for over twelve years. He came to Washington D.C. in 2005 after two years as Wine Director and Manager of James Beard Award winning celebrity Chef Ming Tsai’s sole restaurant, Blue Ginger. During his time there he also served as the wine and beverage consultant for seasons 2 and 3 of Ming’s acclaimed PBS cooking series “Simply Ming” as well as the companion cookbook “Ming’s Master Recipes”. While in D.C. Tom was the Wine Director of the award winning Butterfield 9 restaurant downtown.

 

He is currently a Senior Sales Consultant with Washburn Wine Company of Baltimore, Maryland managing Washington, D.C. and an Instructor with the Washington Wine Academy. Tom is currently a candidate for the Diploma in Wines and Spirits from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). In addition, Tom holds the WSET Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits, the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) with the Society of Wine Educators, The Rhone Valley Master with the French Wine Society and has completed the Napa Valley Vintner’s Association’s “Napa Rocks” program.

 

A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a degree in music, he is also a member of the Wine Century Club and holds a Black Belt in Enshin Kai-Kan Karate. Locally, he has appeared as a wine expert on Federal News Radio and the Fox 5 Morning Show. Tom has contributed articles to the American Culinary Federation and the International Wine Review and speaks regularly at food and wine events in both public and private settings throughout the D.C. Metro Area.

 

Thad Parsons, Spirits Educator

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Thad Parsons is a historian, a teacher, and a malt maniac. Having been exposed to fine beverages at a young age, his alcoholic knowledge matured in the pubs, breweries, and distilleries of Europe while pursuing his doctorate at Oxford and managing the city's largest whisky selection at the St Cross College Bar.

 

As a professional historian and experienced teacher, Thad has expanded his enjoyment of whisky and beer beyond simple consumption! From beautiful bourbons to single malt scotch, Dr. Thad has tasted many of the world's best whiskies and has been sharing his expertise through tasting classes since 2007.

 

Ray O’Mara, Wine Educator

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Thor Cheston, Beer Educator

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Despite initial training as a doctor-to-be, Thor decided to follow his passion for beer which has led him to be one of Washington’s DC’s preeminent beer experts. He built the beer list at Pizzeria Paradisio into a beer bar recognized by beeradvocate.com as one of the best in the world. After further cultivating his Belgian beer knowledge and experience in Philadelphia, Thor returned to DC to assist Chef Robert Wiedmaier latest DC venture, Brasserie Beck. Starting as a bartender, within two years Thor had worked his way to General Manager and in 2010, he partnered with Wiedmaier to open Mussel Bar, a Bethesda destination for Belgian food and beer lovers.

 

On September 4, 2009 Thor was given the honor of being inducted into the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff in Brussels, Belgium. The Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff (Belgian Brewers’ Guild) is an organization that is a direct descendent of the secular guild of Belgian brewers that works to perpetuate the traditions and nobility of the brewers’ trade.

 

In September of 2011, Thor left Wiedmaier to open his own brew pub, details coming soon.

 

Mike Reinitz, Beer Educator

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A software engineer by day, Mike discovered a love for all things beer while studying engineering at Cornell University. Understanding Wine & Beer, an elective class in Cornell’s food science department, spurred an interest in homebrewing post-graduation, and Mike dived into the world of beer head-first. Mike is a Certified Cicerone® and a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) Certified Judge. He is a member of the American Homebrewers Association and the Brewers Association, as well as the DC area’s local homebrew club, BURP, or Brewers United for Real Potables. In addition to being part of the staff of 3 Stars Brewing’s Homebrew Shop and running the Washington Craft Beer Enthusiasts, a local craft beer group on Meetup, Mike also helps bars & restaurants with their beer programs through Reinitzgebot Consulting (www.reinitzgebot.com). He frequently travels the country as well as the world seeking out great beer, and he’s particularly excited about the burgeoning craft beer scene in the D.C. Metro Area. Mike is thrilled to be working with the Washington Wine Academy/DC School of Beer to help promote beer education and give beer the respect it deserves!

 

Michael Franz, Wine Educator

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Michael Franz is a wine writer, educator, and consultant. He is editor of Wine Review Online, wine columnist for France magazine, and a freelance contributor to many national and international wine magazines. He wrote nearly 300 articles as regular wine columnist for The Washington Post from 1994 to 2005. Franz left the Post in 2005 to help found Wine Review Online as editor and managing partner. Wine Review Online has quickly become one of the world’s most widely viewed wine publications, now logging as many as two million hits per month.

 

Franz teaches wine classes for Washington Wine Academy and L’Academie de Cuisine, and is also a wine consultant for 13 restaurants in the National Capital area with combined annual wine sales of more than $10 million.

 

He has conducted more than 950 site visits and tastings at wineries across Western and Eastern Europe, South America, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. He tastes approximately 9,000 wines each year, and regularly serves as a judge at national and international wine competitions and as Chief Judge for competitions in Washington, D.C., San Diego and New Zealand.

 

Franz has testified as an expert witness in several cases related to the wine trade in Federal District Court. He has appeared on numerous television shows, and is frequently interviewed on National Public Radio.