
Caroline Hermann MW
Became an MW 2018
Based in United States
Nationality American
Languages English
Caroline brings a unique perspective to the wine sector as an attorney with a focus on corporate sustainability, environmental law, and international trade.
Based in Washington DC, Caroline leads the Import-Export Program for wine, beer, and spirits at the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), and is the former head of Wine Labeling. Prior to joining TTB, Caroline was a Federal Enforcement Attorney for over a decade in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Civil Enforcement. She has also served as the General Counsel to an environmental non-profit organisation. There, she focused on corporate financial and sustainability risk management and reporting, with a concentration in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment factors.
Caroline began her wine journey in 2005, working in retail wine sales while pursuing her studies with the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). Now a certified WSET instructor, Caroline teaches wine and sake industry professionals at the Capital Wine School.
Caroline consults for wineries, trains restaurant wine and beverage staff, and judges international wine competitions. She is active on a number of non-profit Boards, including the IMW Council as well as the Governance and Sustainability Advisory Committees.
Current employer: US Department of the Treasury - Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Tax & Trade
Primary area(s) of work: Trade, Strategy
Industry sector(s): Agency/Importer, Consultant, Corporate sustainability reporting, Distribution, Educator, ESG, Import/Export, International trade, Market access, Wine judge
Market expertise: International trade, import/export regulations and policy, treaties and trade agreements
Specialisms: Acquisition of vineyards, Commercial advice on vinyard establishment, Environmental impacts, Organic viticulture, Sustainability, Legal compliance with land use, water, air, waste handling regulations, Economics of wine production, Legal compliance with authorised oenological practices, Legal compliance on authorised packaging and labelling, Packing and labelling, Supply chain efficiency, Corporate sustainability reporting, Customs clearance, Distribution, Direct to consumer, ESG, Financial and commercial structures, Importation, Investment strategies, Marketing wine, Routes to market, Supply chain efficiency, Tax, Wine labels, Wine laws and regulations, Wine judging