Jorn Kleinhans

Jörn Kleinhans is a certified specialist of wine and a certified sommelier. As an independent sommelier, certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers, seminar instructor and professional speaker in the field of wine, he consults with leading hotels, major meeting planners and destination managers on the design of uniquely engaging and interactive events. He has designed countless wine experience programs for the destination and corporate meeting industry, as well as for private collectors and wine students. Kleinhans is an international authority on wine and highly visible expert on blind-tasting. He specializes in the systematic tasting appreciation of the classical wine styles of both the old and new world.

Kleinhans is the national authority on sommelier-guided wine tasting experiences and runs the best virtual wine tasting experiences in the country. Most speeches and events are delivered to Fortune 500 corporations at hotel-based offsite meetings and conferences, often including live tastings for all attendees. Thousands of people have enjoyed these systematic presentations that address corporate objectives for education, high-end entertainment and building of social skills.

Kleinhans is the founder of The Sommelier Company, the world's number one resource for wine & spirits expertise. He also founded The Wine Elite, Southern California's high-end wine appreciation event producer, and has conducted more than 150 formal wine tastings for many thousands of wine students, collectors and business executive. His California events have received critical acclaim by several publications, including the Orange Coast Magazine, the OC Register and the Newport Beach Independent. The Wine Elite is regionally known for its compelling workshops to blind-tasting methodology.

Kleinhans became a professional student of wine after many years in the investment industry as a chartered financial analyst. Kleinhans, a CFA charterholder and former Fulbright scholar holds graduate degrees in finance and mathematics and serves as the Vice Chairman of Board on the Board of Directors at the American Red Cross in Orange County. His former career in high finance allows him to speak to executive groups of the best American corporations at the same level.