Originally from the Chicago area, Robin is presently based in Lugano, Switzerland where she is working as an independent wine consultant, wine judge, speaker and educator. Following studies in French and English literature, she changed career paths in 1998 when she left her teaching position to study wine at the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse in France's Rhône Valley. It is there where she first learned of the Institute of Masters of Wine and aspired to attain this prestigious professional goal. She then worked as a wine specialist at Christie's auction house in Los Angeles, California for numerous years before returning to Europe where she lived for ten years in London, spending seven of them as a wine buyer for Burgundy-specialist, Goedhuis & Co. Her greatest wine passions are Burgundy, Piedmont, Champagne, Sherry and Madeira. Robin's free time is spent planning her next travel adventure, cooking and learning Italian.

Current employer: Robin Kick MW Wine Consulting

Primary area(s) of work: Trade, Communication

Industry sector(s): Events, Marketing, Distribution, Off trade, Buying, Journalism, Educator, Consultant, Wine judge, Wine tourism

Wine styles: Sparkling wine, Champagne, Sherry, Madeira, Still white, Still red, Still wines

Wine region expertise: Lombardy, USA, France, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Loire, Champagne, Jerez, Italy, Piedmont, Veneto/Friuli, Tuscany, Sicily, Alto Adige, Switzerland

Market expertise: North America, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Switzerland

Specialisms: Whole Cluster Fermentation, Marketing wine, Investment strategies, Supplier/customer relationships, Routes to market, Importation, Independent retail, Events, Food and wine pairing, Restaurant wines, Wine auctions, Wine labels, Wine tourism, Branding, History of wine, Wine judging