Wine Hosts

Mike Owen’s lifelong wine journey has taken him from California to France, from the cellar to the judging table, from a wine aficionado to a wine businessman. Mike and his wife Melissa own and operate Crystal Basin Cellars in the Sierra Foothills of the El Dorado appellation. Working with almost 20 different grapes provides an extensive line-up of award-winning wines. Mike has great success with Rhone varieties planted at high elevations. You can literally taste the difference on these flavorful wines. Who doesn’t want to talk about and sip great Syrah and Mourvedre?

Mike’s palate, easygoing informative approach, plus his serious, wine-geeky patter all set him up to be an All-Star host for AmaWaterways. Crystal Basin’s winemaking history extends back nearly 40 years. Mike and Melissa lived on the Cote-d Azur for three years in the 90s. This was their playground – let them share their enthusiasm on an unforgettable trip.

David Akiyoshi followed his father’s path to become a second-generation winemaker. His father worked as a Lab Researcher in the UC Davis Enology Department for 25 years and then he worked for Gallo Winery until he retired. David attended UC Davis originally as an engineering student, but after taking a winemaking course, he changed to major in Enology and studied the academic theory of winemaking. After graduating in 1981, he was hired by Robert Mondavi Woodbridge to eventually become the Director of Winemaking. Working with the Mondavi family and their talented winemakers, he was able to experience the world’s winemaking regions where he developed his own artistic mastery of winemaking. In the simplest of terms, his winemaking respects the variety, the vineyard and the vintage. He currently works and lives in Lodi, CA as the Director of Winemaking for LangeTwins Winery and makes eponymous wines for Naked Wines.

Born in Syracuse, New York, Nancy Bailey spent a good portion of her school years overseas in England. Her interest in food and wine was sparked by family travels abroad. After attending Hamilton College where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in government and The Fletcher School at Tufts University earning a Master of Arts degree in international relations, Nancy ventured to California where she discovered a true passion for wine country living. She lent her many marketing talents to well-known brands as Chalk Hill Estate Vineyards & Winery, Champagne Perrier Jouët, and Kendall-Jackson. Her creativity and communication acumen placed her in high demand when she went on to work as a freelance marketing consultant for a number of Sonoma County wineries. Before accepting her current role at Gary Farrell in 2011, Nancy was General Manager of Wine Creek LLC (Quivira Vineyards & Winery, La Follette Wines and Torbreck Vintners) for 4 years.

Theresa Heredia joined Gary Farrell Winery team as winemaker in 2012. She earned a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, before becoming a Ph.D candidate in chemistry with an emphasis in enology at UC Davis. She left the program to follow her calling as a hands-on winemaker. Coming off a long stint as winemaker at Freestone Vineyards in Sonoma County, Heredia brings considerable experience working with cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and small-lot, single-vineyard wines. During her tenure at Freestone, Heredia’s Pinot Noir and Chardonnay brought the Joseph Phelps-owned winery significant critical acclaim. In early 2012 she was named “Winemaker to Watch” by the San Francisco Chronicle, reflecting her interest in wines that offer a pure expression of their vineyard site and her willingness to experiment with different winemaking techniques.

Paul Wagner, Wine Instructor, Napa Valley College Renowned Wine Expert and Author Paul Wagner, wine expert extraordinaire, has been an instructor for Napa Valley College’s Viticulture & Enology department for the past 17 years, is a regular columnist for Vineyards & Winery Management Magazine and is the president of Balzac Communications & Marketing.

Mike & Mary Ward own WOW Productions as well as Ward on Wine, a wine education and consulting company. Mike Ward is a Certified Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Spirits, Certified Wine Educator and has successfully completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust Level 2 Intermediate exam. Mike completed certification at the Napa Valley Wine Educators Academy. His passion and expertise have led him to become a member of the Society of Wine Educators. He is also a member in the Chaine des Rotisseurs.

Ward on Wine can be a great friend, learning tool, or reference as you explore on this amazing wine cruise.

Alejandro Lopez, Owner & Winemaker of PIENSA Wines, is not only passionate about his craft but is always looking for new perspectives in the world of wine. He began his wine journey in Argentina over 19 years ago working for one of the most prestigious wineries in the country, and after five years of mainly learning what's "outside" of the bottle: the design, the image and how to communicate it, he decided to move to France and learn the other half: the wine itself and how to produce it. He arrived at the internationally renowned Château Léoville Las Cases, a Second Growth winery, where he started winemaking, understanding the vineyard and the optimal grape maturity. Tireless traveller, Alejandro flew back to Argentina and then lived in the USA for a couple years for his final wrap up: improving sales skills and having a 360 degree understanding of the wine industry before jumping into his own project.

Alejandro is now living in France with his family, runs and directs PIENSA Wines and has been chosen among the 20 most influential wine personalities in 2021 by the prestigious french magazine, Vitisphere. Alejandro has a Master Degree in Biology and did a Solo Moto trip from Miami to Buenos Aires. Alejandro is looking forward to sharing his wines, his passion and knowledge on this fantastic cruise.

Boich Family Cellar is a boutique Napa Valley winery with a keen focus on extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon. At the Boich Wall Road Estate, the family offers a unique tasting experience high on a mountainside, providing a breathtaking view of a “hidden valley” in the Mount Veeder AVA. The winery was founded by John Boich, a visionary and renaissance-style innovator who discovered the winery’s secluded site and assembled a talented team including Winemaker Jeff Ames.

Under his grandmother’s influence, John Aver developed a passion for wine at an early age. John ventured into planting vineyards and making wine which evolved into a professional venture for both John and Carolyn. The highly-rated wines from Aver Family Vineyards feature Rhône varietals crafted from grapes that John grew on their estate using holistic farming practices. The Rhône region, especially Châteauneuf-du-Pape, produces his favorite wines.

Jean-Noel Fourmeaux

Sent to the Napa Valley by the French government “to spy” for six months, Jean-Noel Fourmeaux reported back home “Looks good, I stay”. This son of Bordeaux created VGS Chateau Potelle 39 years ago on Mount Veeder in Napa Valley. Originally seduced by the exuberance and generosity of the Napa Valley fruit, Jean-Noel makes wines that have dimension, subtlety and definitive character. A true French-American blend, he travels the world sharing the culture of wine with his customers and friends, from Bordeaux where he is from, to South Africa, Europe, and beyond.

Matthew Regan

With 22 years experience at Chateau Potelle, Matthew has become the right hand to Jean-Noel’s left. Born and raised in New England, educated at the CIA in Hyde Park, New York, seasoned at Blackberry Farm in Tennessee and maturing (at least trying) in the Napa Valley with his amazing wife Lindsay and twin daughters, Aubrey James & Madison Anne Marie. When not working at or drinking VGS, Matthew can be found in the hot tub or sleeping!

Join Liz Barrett and Elizabeth Filippi, Certified Specialists of Wine awarded through the Society of Wine Educators, on an insider’s journey through the rich history and culture of wine, beer and cuisine of 5 countries along the beautiful Rhine river.

For more than 7 years Liz managed AmaWaterways’ Wine Cruises and helped build it to the award-winning level and experience it offers today. Elizabeth holds the degrees of Advanced Certified Sommelier with the International Sommelier Guild, French Wine Scholar with the Wine Scholar Guild, and is also pursuing her Italian Wine Scholar advanced certification.

They will be your co-hosts on the ship to combine their incredible passion and expertise for shining a light into the world of European wine culture with their fellow adventurers on board the elegant AmaSerena. This unique sailing is sure to dazzle all the senses and create extraordinary travel memories that will last a lifetime.

Jeff Branco is the third American to graduate from the University of Bordeaux’s prestigious Master of Science in Viticulture and Enology program since its founding by Louis Pasteur over 140 years ago. He translated the university’s Handbook of Enology, a worldwide winemaker’s reference.

Jeff has helped shape quality grape growing and winemaking in Paso Robles. He is the first winemaker in the Paso Robles region to make the Wine Spectator Top 10 list out of over 15,000 wines and the only Justin winemaker to have every received a 95 Robert Parker score. He has garnered over thirty scores in the 90’s in the Wine Spectator, Wine Advocate and Wine Enthusiast. Jeff fuses his French training with his Californian winemaking experience to create Bordeaux style wines with a California twist.