‘Gus’ Jian Zhu is the first Chinese national Master of Wine (MW) with over 10 years of teaching experience and a Master of Science degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis.
His MW dissertation was about the sensory science of wine - “The Impact of Acidity Adjustments on the Sensory Perception of a Californian Chardonnay” (main author) and has a review paper in the chemistry of wine pigments - “A Quarter Century of Wine Pigment Discovery” (co-author).
“Most wine qualifications have excellent content and course structure. However, the textbooks themselves do not speak.”
Michael’s love for wine grew from his culinary experiences. He holds several certifications, including the Certificate in Winemaking from UC Davis. While pursuing his WSET Diploma, he drew from his background in technology to begin work on Envision.wine. Michael continues to mentor others on their diploma journey and make very slow progress on a vineyard in the Leelanau County AVA.
Kandra developed her love of wine while managing beverage lists. She transitioned to vineyard work and wine production during the pandemic to enhance her wine knowledge while pursuing the WSET Diploma. Now based in Canada's Okanagan Valley, she passionately advocates for organic farming and actively promotes the region's exceptional low intervention and natural wine producers.