Alessia Botturi is an internationally recognized educator, certified sommelier, and
luxury wine sales specialist with over 20 years of experience in the wine, hospitality,
and professional training industries, both in Italy and United States.
Renowned for her engaging teaching style and deep-rooted knowledge of Italian wine
culture, Alessia has educated and inspired hundreds of professionals across the
United States and Europe. She brings a unique blend of academic insight, real-world
experience, and charismatic delivery to every audience.
Born and raised in Milan, Italy, Alessia began her career immersed in the rich
traditions of Italian hospitality and fine wine.
In 2006, she relocated to Los Angeles, where she co-founded the North American
Sommelier Association—a pioneering initiative that introduced authentic Italian wine
education to the U.S. market. As president and lead educator until 2017, she played
a key role in shaping a new generation of sommeliers while bridging cultural
knowledge between Italy and North America.
Her career spans nearly two decades of working with prestigious global wine
companies such as Marchesi Antinori, Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, and E. & J. Gallo
Winery, where she developed her expertise in luxury wine sales and client education.
Alessia holds advanced certifications from both WSET and the Italian Sommelier
Association with an additional master in technical wine tasting. She also brings a
strong foundation in communication, having studied Linguistics and Non-Verbal
Communication at Università Cattolica in Milan.
Her qualifications include certification as a Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
Master Practitioner, a graduate of the Tony Robbins Leadership Academy, and an
alumna of Richard Bandler's Public Speaking program—training that fuels her
dynamic and impactful teaching approach.
In 2023, Alessia relocated to Italia and co-founded Partners in Wine, a
Florence-based educational platform designed to make Italian wine education
engaging, accessible, and approachable for wine lovers at every level.
Through curated online courses and interactive learning tools, she brings her passion
and storytelling into every glass—helping others connect deeply with the wines,
regions, and traditions of Italy.
In her free time, Alessia loves taking camping trips with her 11 years old son, scuba
diving, exploring the beautiful arts of Florence and of course visiting new wineries!
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Shorter version
Alessia Botturi is an internationally recognized wine educator, certified sommelier,
and expert in Italian wine culture with over 20 years of experience in hospitality,
education, and luxury wine sales. Born in Milan and based in Florence, she lived in
California for two decades, working with professionals across the U.S., co-founding
the North American Sommelier Association, and working with prestigious producers
like Antinori, Gallo, and Ste. Michelle.
Alessia combines academic expertise in linguistics and communication with
sommelier certifications and NLP training to deliver impactful, engaging wine
education. She’s now the co-founder of Partners in Wine, an online platform making
Italian wine approachable for everyone through courses and interactive guides.