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Our Staff
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Chris Cree M.W., Owner
Chris has been in the wine trade for over 25 years, beginning when a trip to
Europe after high school graduation developed into a life-long passion for
wine. He has worked in virtually all of its aspects including winemaking,
restaurant, import, wholesale, and retail. In 1996, he became only the
thirteenth American to have passed the demanding Master of Wine Examination.
Today, there are still only 23 Americans out of a total of approximately 235
people worldwide who have passed this most demanding wine examination since
it was first given in London in 1953. The exam not only covers winemaking
and grape growing, but the business of selling, marketing and distributing
wine as well. It also demands that successful candidates identify (in a
series of blind tastings held over three days), the grape(s) used, where
they were grown (country and region), vinification methods employed, the
vintage or age, alcohol, acidity, sweetness and the quality/maturity in a
line up of 36 wines. Chris has also worked as a lecturer and educator for a
wide array of clients including American Express, Merrill Lynch, Georgio
Armani, IBM, Accenture, The Television Food Network, J.P Morgan, The
Consulate Generale of Monaco, The Wall Street Journal, Crystal Cruise Lines,
and many more. His success as a wine educator/lecturer can be attributed to
a unique understanding of what people want to know about wine, a talent that
evolved during years of working with clients of his retail shops. The result
is a down to earth approach that is delivered in an intellectual but
entertaining manner. His style prompted Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher of
The Wall Street Journal to write the following: "Real wine experts aren't
snooty...they're simply passionate about wine. You'd enjoy sharing a bottle
with (him)".
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Joe Bembry, Director of Operations/Wine Buyer
Joe came to the business out of a pure love of wine. Previously owner of Home Brewed, a retail clothing shop in Beach Haven, NJ, he followed his passion first by attending the Wine and Sprits Education Trusts Certificate and Higher Certificate courses, passing "With Distinction". He is also co-founder of VinoCellar.com, an internet wine forum where he is responsible for content and site moderation. Working as a wine educator, Joe has trained staffs in restaurants in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, and has lectured for a number of corporations like McKinsey & Co., Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, Harbor Point, FEI and Citi Smith Barney, as well as numerous private clients. Starting with 56 Degree Wine at its February 2004 inception, Joe handles wine selection, client consultations, sales and has traveled extensively throughout the wine regions of France, Spain and Italy as well as California. Joe is certainly an admirer of all the deliciously complex factes of wines from around the world, but if pressed for one region to spend the rest of his drinking days, it would have to be his first love, Burgundy.
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Nita Bardolia, Sales Associate
Nita's interest in food and wine started over ten years ago, after completing culinary training courses in New York. It wasn't until she and her family moved to San Francisco, CA that her hobby became her career. Beginning in January 2001, Nita acquired a number of clients in the Bay area for whom she was a personal chef. Returning to the east coast and joining the team at 56 Degree Wine in January 2007, Nita has a great feel for pairing food and wine and is a wealth of knowledge for everyone who comes in the shop.
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