Instructors

Fine Vintage wine course instructors are considered amongst the best in the business worldwide.

Lynn Coulthard - Vancouver

Lynn is now in the final year of her Master of Wine studies. She holds the prestigious WSET Diploma, is a certified Sommelier and has qualified as a Spanish Wine Educator through the Wine Academy of Spain. With the study of spirits being a secondary passion she went onto to achieve her Certified Spirits Specialist credentials through the North American Society of Wine Educators.

She has worked in the hospitality and wine retail industries for over 20 years. Her wide range of experience includes over 6 years of Food and Beverage Management with Four Seasons Hotels, three years as Wine Director for both Cin Cin and West restaurants, and has held management positions with Liberty Wine Merchants running some of the largest stores in B.C.

Lynn is mad about wine and exudes passion when she teaches. Her laid back and entertaining style is always a big hit. She has traveled extensively, spending time in several wine regions such as Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Germany and the Americas. She has also run courses for the Canadian government's BCLDB, Fairmont Hotels and Qatar Airways in the Middle East. Lynn is the lead instructor for Fine Vintage and travels extensively to teach. In addition to working with Fine Vintage she teaches the wine programs for UBC Continuing Studies. You'll love Lynn!

Marnie Harfield - Calgary

Marnie Harfield, based in Calgary, has taught thousands of wine lovers in Texas, Arizona, and Alberta. She spent a year at Brock University taking Viticulture and Oenology, returning west to pursue her wine education, eventually achieving both the WSET Diploma and ISG Diploma. She strives to continually update her knowledge and education.

She is a qualified Sommelier and has spent over 20 years in the hospitality industry, including managing and running wine programs at a host of fine dining restaurants. She has in-depth knowledge on food and wine pairing, and experience building award winning wine lists.

She has almost 10 years of experience in wine education. To enhance her classroom experience, she has furthered her education with an Adult Educator Certificate. Her dynamic style is down-to-earth, interactive, informative and fun.

Michael Bartier - Okanagan

Michael Bartier is a consulting winemaker based in Penticton, BC.  Michael started his career working in sales with a wine importing company and soon made the move over to the production side of winemaking.  Working his way through the ranks in the cellar, Michael quickly made a name for himself.  He first established a reputation at the Canadian Wine Awards as a white wine maker with Canada's White wine Of The Year award twice in three years, and then as a red wine maker with multiple and consecutive Lieutenant Governor's Awards for his Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Red Blend.  The hallmark of Michael's winemaking career is that his wines, regardless of style or colour, are consistently at a very high level.  He understands the importance of personality and place in a wine and always strives for these in his wines. 

He is well travelled in the wine industry, having haunted some of the greatest cellars in France, the US, and Australia.  He is a perpetual student, "tagging" regions annually, learning what the best and brightest in those regions are up to.

Steven Trentholme - Toronto

Steven's 30 plus year career in the wine business has provided him with an opportunity to visit all of the world's major wine growing regions. He has worked with many famous wine brands and personalities. Steven graduated with a WSET Diploma in 1988, in the first group to complete the program in Canada. He is also a graduate of the German Wine Academy at Kloster Eberbach and studied culinary arts at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and at George Brown College in Toronto.

He runs a management consultancy practice specializing in the beverage alcohol industry. Working closely with brand owners, agents, wine promotional agencies and government, Steven develops brand strategy and promotional campaigns. He has taught wine education at Humber College in Toronto and provides training for new agents through his seminar "Importing Wine For Pleasure & Profit".

Katherine McEachnie - British Columbia

In terms of qualifications, Katherine is in the final year of the Master of Wine program, holds the WSET Diploma, is a French Wine Scholar, and a certified Wine Educator. She has studied Viticulture and Wine Production at Plumpton College in England, at UC Davis in California, and The Wine Academy in the south of France. Frankly, she's a walking encyclopedia.

Katherine has worked in the wine industry for over 20 years, including a job as a Buyer for BC Liquor Stores. She currently serves as a Judge at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in London and has travelled to almost every single wine region on the planet. If you'd like to know something about wine then ask Katherine.

Steeve Bryden - British Columbia

Steeve has travelled extensively through the wine regions of Europe, South America, Australasia and North America, and is set to complete the prestigious WSET Diploma in the spring of 2012. A self-professed aromaphile, he's been fascinated by scents ever since he was young. To him, wine is intriguing because the array of aromas is so wide-ranging.

An enthusiastic educator for more than 15 years, he obtained a BA in History from the University of Toronto and a diploma in Adult Education from the University of Cambridge. He is an engaging, dynamic presenter whose classes are fun and instructional. When not having his favourite glass of wine, he enjoys yoga, photography, learning new languages, sailing, and running with his dog, Tango.

David Hopgood - British Columbia

David Hopgood spent 19 years as the head buyer for BC Liquor Stores and was ultimately in charge of selecting most of the wines that we drink here.

He has visited almost every single wine region and since 1991 has spent most days meeting with producers and tasting at the head office in Vancouver.  David was inducted into the brotherhood of The Commanderie du Bontemps du Medoc et des Graves, Sauternes et Barsac, which is a great honor. He is also a respected judge at several wine competitions and sat on the VQA panel for many years.

Matt Browman - Alberta

Matthew Browman is studying to become a Master Sommelier. There are only 146 Master Sommeliers worldwide: a rare achievement in the wine industry. Browman completed the ISG Diploma in 2000, the WSET Diploma in Toronto in 2002, and has since completed the theory & service portions of the Master Sommelier exam in London & San Francisco.

Currently the General Manager at Vinestone Wine Co. in Cochrane, AB, Matt has experience as the lead judge for the Western Canadian Wine Awards, and has worked as the Sommelier at some of Canada's finest restaurants such as the Queen's Landing Hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and North 44 in Toronto. He has lived in Calgary since 2002. His fourteen years of experience in the wine trade include hospitality, retail, education, judging and journalism and he started the Fine Vintage WSET school in Calgary.

Brent Fraser - Ontario

Brent has over 17 years experience in the hospitality and wine business. Brent holds Diplomas from both the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the International Sommelier Guild (ISG) and has traveled extensively throughout the great wine regions of France, Italy, Spain, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and the U.S.. He is currently the Sommelier at the prestigious Granite Club in Toronto where he oversees the wine program.