Cynthia Chaplin

Cynthia Chaplin is a Vinitaly International Academy certified Italian Wine Ambassador, a professional Sommelier with Fondazione Italiana Sommelier and the Worldwide Sommelier Association, a member of Le Donne del Vino, and a Professor of Italian wine and culture. She is the Host of VOICES covering DEI in the wine industry for Italian Wine Podcast. Cynthia consults for Vinitaly International and The Old Vine Conference.  She is an experienced wine writer, presenter and judge, as well as a WSET Certified Educator.

Throughout her 20 years working in the wine sector, Cynthia's clients have included embassies, corporations, students, universities and private groups and individuals.  She creates and presents wine tastings, wine events, seminars and in-depth courses. Her writing has featured Maze Row VOICES Magazine for Gallo, Italy Magazine, Bellissimo, winery websites and other publications, both in print and online. She is a co-author of Wine Democracy (2022) and Editorial Curator and Contributor to Italian Wine Unplugged 2.0 (2023), the winner of the OIV Award in 2023. 

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Cynthia judges international wine and sake competitions including Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, LA International Wine Competition, 5Star Wine & Wine Without Walls and others. She consults with restaurants and wine shops developing comprehensive wine lists and excellent food pairings, as well as advising private clients and curating bespoke, personal Italian wine collections. 

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In her role as Italian Wine Expert for Martin Randall Travel, Cynthia joins tour groups to personally share her expertise and profound knowledge of Italian wines, producers, vineyards and regions, selecting and presenting wines for each regional travel program.

Born in the USA, Cynthia moved to Europe in 1990 where she has lived in Spain, Belgium, England and Italy.  In 2012 she chose to centre her career in Italy and immerse herself in the Italian wine sector, with a special focus on rosé.