Ashley Hausman MW, came into the wine industry in 2008 while completing her Masters in English and American Literature at New York University. She moved back to Colorado in 2009, earned her CSW through the Society of Wine Educators, gained certification as a sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and then attained her Diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust before completing her Master of Wine through the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW).

Currently, Ashley spends most of her time working remotely as Director of Operations and Education for Old World Wine Imports out of Vail, Colorado. Over the years, however, she has worked just about every facet in the trade, from retail and academia to consulting through Mistral Wine Co., which she formed in 2014. She has even gotten her hands dirty the past couple vintages, working harvest at the prestigious Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, Screaming Eagle in Napa, and collaborating with friends on her own wine project in Willamette Valley. Ashley is also currently co-writing a book on Pacific Northwest wines with a fellow MW.

Midwestern at heart, she just returned to the north country in Stillwater, MN where she can enjoy being closer to family. When she is not teaching, selling, judging, or drinking wine, she can be found reading, writing, running, rock climbing, cooking or obsessing over her dog.

Primary area(s) of work: Trade

Industry sector(s): Academic, Agency/Importer, Author, Business owner, Buying, Consultant, Distribution, Educator, Import/Export, Journalism, Marketing, Marketing research, Off trade, On trade, Sales, Wine business strategy, Wine buying, Wine judge, Winemaking

Wine styles: Champagne, Cremant, Dry wines, Fine and rare wines, Natural, Sparkling wine, Still red, Still white, Still wines

Wine region expertise: Austria, Burgundy, California, Champagne, France, Italy, Loire, Oregon, Spain, USA, Washington

Market expertise: France, Italy, North America, Spain

Specialisms: Branding, Distribution, Food and wine pairing, History of wine, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Importation, Independent retail, Marketing wine, Restaurant wines, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Wine and health, Wine labels, Wine tourism, Wine judging