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): Buying, Consultant, Distribution, Educator, Events, Fine and rare wines auctions, Import/Export, International trade, Investments, Journalism, Marketing, Off trade, Wine buying, Wine judge, Wine tourism

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

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

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

Specialisms: Whole cluster fermentation, Branding, Education, Events, Fine wine auction business, Food and wine pairing, History of wine, Importation, Independent retail, Investment strategies, Marketing wine, Motivation, Events, Restaurant wines, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Wine auctions, Wine labels, Wine tourism, Wine judging