Vanessa Conlin is a Master of Wine residing in Napa Valley.

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She began her wine career in New York City as a wine buyer for two retailers and the wine director for a Manhattan wine bar. Drawn to the vineyards, she relocated to Napa Valley in 2010, where she held leadership roles as Director of Sales and Marketing for prestigious wineries, including Arietta Wines and Dana Estates. Vanessa later transitioned into the online space as Chief Wine Officer at Wine Access, where she remained for six years. Following that, she served as the Global Head of Wine Retail for Sotheby’s for two years.

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She is currently an Ambassador for OVID in Napa Valley and the North American Ambassador for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. She also consults on various projects and reviews wines from Italy for The Wine Palate.

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An avid supporter of philanthropy, Vanessa serves on the Board of Jameson Humane, a local non-profit, and has chaired its annual charity wine auction twelve times. In 2024, she hosted Auction Napa Valley, supporting youth mental health initiatives in the region, in 2025 she served as Auction Chair and Auctioneer for From Ashes to Hope, a charity event which raised funds for children and families impacted by California wildfires, and also co-chaired the Institute of Masters of Wine auction held in conjunction with Sotheby’s.

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Prior to her passion for wine, Vanessa enjoyed a career as a professional opera singer, performing internationally and on Broadway. She holds a Master’s Degree in Music.