Roger has enjoyed a long and fulfilling career in wine. He joined the trade in 1973 after obtaining a MA in International Studies from Johns Hopkins University, where a chance encounter with a magical 1966 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou convinced him that wine was the obvious career choice. This, and the fact that he met Patrick Bernard, founder of Millesima in the 1980's, during the early years of the company, help explain why Roger is now a partner with the Bernard family in Millesima USA. Over the last twenty years, he watched admiringly as Millésima developed into Europe's leading fine wine mail order retailer, with customers in eleven countries, and realized the potential of Millesima in the US.
In early 2005, after more than 25 years with the same company, Roger decided to leave a comfortable corporate position to seek out new challenges. After working briefly in a consulting firm, he approached Patrick Bernard with the idea that the timing was right to launch Millésima in the USA. Roger has worked for two national importers, last as Senior Vice President-Marketing for Frederick Wildman & Sons, New York, where he directed and managed a team in sales promotion, advertising, and public relations. In addition, he acted as liaison with wineries in a dozen countries, and also developed training and education for the firm's staff and wholesale clients.
In 1993, Roger became one of the first Americans to pass the Master of Wine* ("MW") examination. For 10 years he dedicated himself to the MW cause, first as Education Coordinator of the North American educational program. He also served as Chairman of the No. American Advisory Board, leading the formation of the non-profit Institute of Masters of Wine (No. America), where he served three terms as its first President. There are still only a few Americans (24 in all) who have obtained the MW title, considered throughout the international wine community as the consummate professional accreditation. Above all, an MW must understand the global dimension of wine and demonstrate a high level of tasting ability covering all the tiers of wine and not simply the classics.
Roger has been very active as a speaker at U.S. wine festivals and conferences and has led seminars and tastings at hospitality schools, private clubs, and charity functions. Some of the topics he has presented include profiles of great wine properties; 'terroir' or the role of the environment in wine quality and character; profiles of regions such as Champagne, Burgundy, the Rhone, Alsace, Loire, Rioja and Port; and, more recently, tastings of mineral waters and how they harmonize with different wine styles.
Roger has been a frequent visitor to the classic wine growing areas of France and Italy, and has traveled those of Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia, Argentina, Chile and South Africa. He has also led groups of professionals and interested amateurs on tours of wine regions.
*Master of Wine is a registered trademark and may only be used by members of The Institute of Masters of Wine who have passed a rigorous examination of theoretical knowledge and tasting ability. Visit www.masters-of-wine.org to learn more.