2010-2011 Wine Club Co-Chairs

Stephen Hammond: Stephen first became interested in wine while an undergrad at Ohio State. After graduating he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area, where he spent a substantial portion of his time and paychecks learning about wine by traveling frequently to the Napa Valley, attending tastings and auctions, and ordering wine pairings with everything – occasionally even breakfast. Stephen particularly enjoys the balance and elegance of French wines and has a real soft spot for properly-cellared Bordeaux, Burgundies and Champagnes.

Hui Zhu: Hui originally hails from China, where wine is sometimes served in mixed drinks. While she firmly believes that one should drink what is tasty regardless of the opinions of others, she also believes in the importance of wine education. Hui is a better educated and happier wine drinker as a result of Wine Club events. For fun, she loves to experience new foods and wines while traveling whenever she has a chance.

Sara Weis: Sara began developing her affinity for wine the day she landed in Spain to study abroad. Long afternoon lunches were planned around the wine selection and no football game could be properly enjoyed without a good bottle of vino. Sara’s combined love of wine and travel grew as she visited wineries around the world, from South Africa to Germany. Her favorite vacation was biking through Northern Europe, visiting Riesling wineries along the Mosel River. In Chicago, Sara enjoys sharing a bottle of wine with friends in a cozy living room or at a picnic concert in Millennium Park.

Ricardo Goldberg: Ricardo grew up in Mexico where at an early age he was introduced to wine by his family in weekly Sunday reunions. Then when he lived in Florence he started his formal training in wine at the Lorenzo Di Medici School, where through bicycle rides through Greve and Luca found his own passion for wine. Ricardo has visited many wineries in the Santiago, Yarra and Napa Valley’s as well as France and Mexico, where he discovered that no matter the quality of the wine the most important part of the experience is good company. Ricardo also enjoys travelling, scuba diving and getting to know new people and cultures.

Daniel J. Haskell: Dan gained exposure to wine at an early age through numerous trips to Europe with his parents. Later he even gave up his job as an investment banker in London to join the Founder & CEO of India's most prominent wine company (most don’t even know India produces wine!). Separately, Dan’s family owns a winery in California. Dan has lived and worked all over the world and is always keen to continue his wine education. Outside of wine, Dan loves sports, good restaurants, travel, and spending time with friends.

Sandya Swamy: Sandya is a woman of mystery and intrigue! Perhaps she will reveal more about herself soon...