Holly is the wine columnist for the Rochester Gannett Democrat and Chronicle newspaper where she has been writing for 12 years. She often speaks at special wine events, judges at international wine competitions, and leads many educational wine seminars and programs in Rochester and the surrounding areas. Holly loves to teach and she has a passion for wine, food and fun people! In 1975, Holly spent a full year abroad in France, where she learned to love European wines and French cooking. After several years of study in Hotel and Restaurant Management, she operated a Cooking School in Rochester, New York, where she coordinated and ran culinary programs with chefs from all over the world. She began to study wine in 1980, and continues her studies today with the Master Court of Sommeliers in London. Holly is a CS (Certified Sommelier) through the Master Court; a CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) through the Society of Wine Educators; and is also pursuing her diploma through the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). She is an enthusiastic supporter of the Finger Lakes wine region, and leads many tours to the local wineries, breweries, organic farms, cheesemakers, and other locavore destinations. She owns a business called “UNCORKED”, which focuses on wine education. Holly also writes monthly articles for Mountain Home Magazine in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania where she just received a literary Keystone award.