About Us
Founded by Laurie and Stellie, Operated by Chris, Bob and Cody.
Our Name, pronounced "ga-vinos", is the Georgian name for wines. Our logo which looks like a heart symbol is actually from the Georgian alphabet for the sound "GH". Our symbol is the clay vessel, Qvevri, prounounce "ka-vev-ree", where our Georgian wines are fermented underground and often aged.
Laurie Schlueter
Founder, Head of Design
A long time Alaskan, Laurie has traveled extensively to many countries of the world, with residence in Scotland, Russia, Angola, Switzerland and, most recently, Georgia where she developed close ties and deep love and respect for Georgia’s people, culture and history, natural beauty and wine. With husband Chris, she produced and bottled excellent wine while in Georgia, a healthy stock of which resides in her home cellar in Alaska!
Stellie D'Angelo Quinn
Founder, Head of Strategy
It was Stellie's idea! Well connected through family to the wine industry, Stellie saw the impacts on the California wine industry from fires, drought and evolving trends in consumer interests. After tasting Georgian natural wines and unique indigenous varietals, Stellie pulled us together and suggested we start a wine import business. Our primary objective was set; bring the best wines that our founders will approve of!
Chris Schlueter
Chief Executive Officer
Serving a career in the energy industry throughout the world, Chris' assignments included five years in Georgia managing multibillion dollar investments, the most prominent source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Country. Chris and his wife Laurie recently returned to home base in Alaska. He adores Georgia’s magnificent mountains, fertile valleys, brilliant and diverse climate, people, history and wine making. He retains close ties to Georgian friends, government and business leaders and society.
Bob Quinn
Chief Operations Officer
Bob knows global business, technology and start-ups. With experience throughout the US and internationally, his career has focused on Business Development, Finance, IT, Logistics and Sales. He has held senior level positions in several prominent Silicon Valley companies and has also lived in Spain and Sweden as an IT and Cybersecurity Consultant. Bob and his wife Stellie reside in Del Mar, California which is also our headquarters of Ghvinos Wine Group LLC.
Cody
Food Critic, Sock Collector
Cody knows happy hour and the food part of pairings. He’s our inspiration to be the people he thinks we are.
Irakli Cholobargia
Marketing Consultant - Ghvinos Agent in Georgia
Irakli is a deeply experienced wine professional whose career has spanned prominent roles with Georgian Wineries and with the Georgian National Wine Agency. 'On the ground' in Georgia, Irakli helps Ghvinos Wine Group find and select special wineries with excellent wines truly representing the unique characteristic varietals and quality of wines Georgia has to share.
Lado Uzunashvili
Master Winemaker, Georgia & Australia
In addition to being vintnor at multiple wineries in Georgia and Australia, and Lead Vintnor at Vazisubani Estate (a principle Ghvinos wine producer), Lado advices us on wine sourcing and marketing.
Deborah Gray
Wine Importer, Author, Educator, Consultant
Deborah has written the "book", literally, on How to Import Wine into the United States. She also is an instructor in San Diego State University's "Business of Wine" curriculum. Deborah advises us on business strategy, operations, sales and marketing.
We have partnered with an elite set of winemakers who are have both conventional European and Georgian traditional skillsets, and in all cases employ natural and bio-dynamic production techniques without compromise.
Lado Uzunashvili
Master Winemaker Georgia Wine Holdings and Vazisubani Estate
Wines of the Georgian Wine Group are created by the well-known winemaker Lado Uzunashvili, who has more than 40 years of experience in his field. More than 150 wines created by him have been awarded medal recognition at various wine contests of the world. Lado Uzunashvili creates the wines with the Georgian character by the fusion of Georgian traditional methods with
modern technology.
Khatia Darguashvili
Founder, Winemaker - Anapea Village & Qarvani Winery
Khatia started Anapea
Village and Qarvani Winery as a “wine village-museum”, a true Kakhetian village with its houses, cellar, vineyards and indigenous varieties all based on cultural and historic values, including emphasis in natural, organic, and sustainability production traditions. Anapea Village & Qarvani Winery
produces exclusively using qvevri technology from 7 Georgian indigenous varieties.
David Maisuradze
Winemaker - Head Winveria, Chateau Mere
David produces high quality and small quantities of wine. He is famous in Georgia for producing the best Saperavi, Mukuzani, and Ais Vine in Georgia using a mixture of modern and ancient methods. He produces wines from Winiveria/Chateau Mere's own vineyards and also produces wines from the highest quality vineyards of partners (grape growers) in the Alazani Valley.
Given Surname
Founder
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