International Wine Guild
International Wine Guild Director and President, GWM, MWE
Claude Robbins has over 30 years of experience teaching wine at the University level, propelled by his Guild Wine Master (GWM) and Guild Master Wine Educator (MWE) certifications. He has developed more than 500 wine dinners, is the director and a founding partner of Station Imports, a wine importing company specializing in New Zealand Wines, and a founding partner of Total Beverage, one of the largest liquor stores in Colorado.
He is a board member and sits on the education committee for the American Culinary Federation, a member of Les Amis d'Escoffier, and is a board member of the Denver chapter of Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, the oldest organization to promote gastronomy and the culinary arts in the world.
Claude has been a staff writer for Colorado Vine magazine and a freelance wine writer as well as the wine and food critic for D'zine and InSite and other trade publications. Additionally, he was host of "the wine guy" on ESPN Radio in Denver, Colorado. The show was heard weekly in eight states and was the most popular non-sports program on ESPN in the Western US.
He has worked as a wine consultant with restaurants, retailers and individuals, including evaluating rare wines for sale or auction, and worked with importers and wholesalers to expand their product lines. He has trained the white house staff on proper wine and food service for state dinners.
Corporate Executive Chef
Sherrie is one of the founding partners of the International Wine Guild. She has developed all the menus for the Guild's food and wine courses. Leading up to her current position with the Guild she was Executive Chef at the Greenwood Athletic Club and FBC Foods, which was a concept like Whole Foods. She is an Executive Chef of Wine Arts and Education Team Leader with the Guild.
Sherrie is also one of the co-owners of Corks and Forks Consulting, a food and wine consulting firm where she helps develop and test menu's for restaurants and wine bars.
Sherrie sits on the Executive Board of the American Culinary Federation and Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs. She also is a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier, which is a wine and food organization for women who are in the industry.
Senior Faculty
Jan's passion for wine probably began as a child, although she cannot recall the first sip she had. Jan's father was born in Italy and began serving "dago red" at family gatherings early in life. Jan attended college in California and that is where her passion for wine really developed.
While at the University of Southern California, her family made many weekend trips to wine country. After graduation they came back to Northern Colorado to live and continued to develop and add to their cellar. Jan took several wine courses in the continuing education program at the University of Northern Colorado.
In 2000 she began taking classes at the International Wine Guild and the rest is history. Mr. Claude Robbins asked Jan four years ago if she would be interested in teaching for the Guild. Today she is an Executive Sommelier, Senior wine educator, team leader and a master candidate for the Guild. She also has her own business, Perfect Pairings LLC that is a wine education, wine consulting, business in northern Colorado.
Jan is currently teaching professional Level I and Level II sommeliers at the Colorado Art Institute and Metro State College as well as classes for the public.
Certified Wine Educator
I learned about the restaurant business and developed my interest in wine at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. Currently I am the manager and executive wine director of the Bighorn Steakhouse and the Tenderfoot Lounge at Keystone Lodge where I recently developed a tasting program for the guests of the Lodge, which I hold twice a week.
Through my education at the International Wine Guild I have further developed the tasting program and have received positive feedback from the guests and upper management. I have developed a new bar menu, cordial list, as well as the wine list of the lodge and have increased the wine list from 190 selections to roughly 400 selections. I now feel comfortable holding wine tastings for large groups, which are booked through the resort conference center.
Because of my wine education through the Guild I am now comfortable training my staff as well as the student chefs who work at the resort. I am currently working on my Master Level classes and Wine Educator program. I find my job and my wine classes challenging as well as rewarding, and of course I get to taste a lot of wine!
Certified Wine Educator
Barney Treadway grew up in a home where wine always had a place at the table. Nearly half of his youth was spent overseas where exposure to different wines and cultures fostered a deep interest in the wonderful variety of people and their wine and food. Though he made his career in the technology sector after college, he has now joined his vocation to his avocation by returned to his true love - wine and food!
Barney now owns a wine store in Estes Park featuring an eclectic, hand-selected inventory of wines from around the world. He also manages a wine and cheese bar/restaurant offering an innovative menu and expansive flight program. His mission is to demystify wine and help people find the wines that suit their own palettes regardless of the wine's current popularity or rating.
Barney has recently joined the IWG faculty and is focused on expanding the number of classes that he is able to teach. His primary interests are in wine and food pairing, wine history, and professional level wine education.
Certified Wine Educator
Tynan Szvetecz has completed the International Wine Guild Level I and Level II certifications. He is currently applying for master-candidate status and has completed six master level courses, including the business of wine and the Certified Wine Educator program. Currently, he is teaching public and professional wine courses through the International Wine Guild and starting a pair of wine-related businesses, including a winery and wine merchant located in Paonia, Colorado.
Drawing on a strong background in Internet marketing, he consults regularly with wine businesses across the country and encourages harnessing the power of video and web to build visibility for brands.
CWI, EWS
After spending many years in Law and Real Estate Consultation, I am now enjoying learning about wine and teaching public classes at the Guild. I am an Executive Wine Sommelier, Certified Wine Instructor, and student, working on my Master Sommelier designation. I have also worked part-time the last year and a half in the wine retail industry.
CWS
Carey came to the Guild after working in the restaurant industry for 7 years where she worked the front of the house.
She is currently the office manager at the Guild and also works on the culinary team during the Guild Level I Certification Course.
Carey’s in charge of student registrations and transcripts, website marketing, and is the team leader for course material production.
She enjoys practicing Yoga, riding her bike, and listening to Jazz.
Nicole and Carey Robbins with the Marketing Director of Chappellet Vineyard. Carey is on the left, Nicole on the right.
CWS, ETM
Nicole recently changed her position with Southern Wine & Spirits as an off premise wine sales rep to become a Brand Manager. She has been a corporate trainer for PF Changs and Macaroni Grill restaurants. In addition to her corporate training experience she was the assistant wine buyer for one of Colorado’s largest retail beverage stores.
Nicole teaches the Bartending classes at the Guild and also is an Education Team Manager for the Level I Certification Course.
Nicole enjoys hanging out with her two new puppies, Axle and Magoo, likes to go camping and is a great cook!