The Woman Who Wrote
The Wine Bible
The Only American to Win Every Major Wine Award
Karen MacNeil has devoted four decades to understanding wine at the highest level. Author of The Wine Bible – over one million copies sold – she is recognized globally a definitive authority on wine. But, above all, it’s her entertaining, engaging style that wins her accolades and fans around the world.
For discerning organizations seeking exceptional wine experiences, Karen transforms corporate events, executive retreats, and client gatherings into moments of genuine connection and insight.
1,000,000+
Copies of The Wine Bible sold worldwide
40 years
Leading voice in wine
Only American
To receive all major wine awards
Media Savvy
Experienced in TV, radio and live presentations
Client Testimonials
What Defines a Karen MacNeil Experience
Unparalleled Expertise
Karen holds every major wine award in the English language. She founded the Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies at the Culinary Institute of America. She won an Emmy for her PBS series. Sommeliers worldwide credit The Wine Bible for their certification success. This depth of knowledge is unmatched.
Wine as Metaphor
Karen’s presentations explore universal questions through the lens of wine: What makes anything truly great? How do we determine value? What drives excellence? Her approach bridges wine expertise with business insight, making complex ideas immediately accessible and actionable.
Sophisticated Execution
From intimate gatherings of five to audiences of 500, Karen delivers experiences calibrated to your specific objectives. Whether conducting an exclusive tasting for board members or delivering a keynote at your leadership summit, she brings the precision and polish that C-suite events demand.
From Outsider to Authority
Karen’s path to becoming America’s leading female wine expert was neither predetermined nor straightforward. Entering a field that was profoundly rareified and insular, she built her reputation through rigorous scholarship, authentic communication, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
This perspective—of navigating challenging environments and redefining what’s possible—informs every presentation she delivers. Karen speaks not only about wine, but about the persistence required to master any craft and the courage needed to claim space in competitive arenas.
TWO DISTINCT OFFERINGS
Executive Wine Experiences
Private tastings and curated wine programs designed for corporate leadership teams, client entertainment, and relationship-building events. Each experience is tailored to your audience—whether wine novices or connoisseurs—and structured to create the caliber of impression that premium events require.
These are not conventional wine tastings. They are strategic investments in relationships, delivered by someone whose expertise commands attention and whose presence elevates any gathering.
Keynotes Presentations
Karen delivers substantive keynote presentations that use wine as a lens to examine leadership, value, excellence, and connection. Her speaking style is engaging yet intellectually rigorous—audiences leave entertained, equipped with practical insights, and having tasted great wines from around the world
Topics range from “What Makes a Great Wine?” (exploring universal principles of quality) to “Valuing Luxury” (examining how we determine worth) to her own leadership journey as a pioneering woman in wine.
Why Organizations Choose Karen MacNeil
When your event demands someone whose authority is immediately evident—whose presence signals that you’ve secured the premier voice in wine—the choice becomes clear. This level of expertise and execution represents a meaningful investment in your event’s success.
CEOs and managing partners who have engaged Karen for four, five, even ten consecutive years do so because the experience consistently exceeds expectations. The return—in client impressions, team engagement, and lasting impact—justifies the commitment.
Honors and Recognition
- James Beard Award: Wine & Spirits Professional of the Year
- Louis Roederer International Wine Writers’ Award
- IWSC Global Wine Communicator of the Year
- Emmy Award: Outstanding Service Show Host
- Named “100 Most Influential People in Wine in America”
- Women In Wine & Spirits Award 2020
- Wine Star Award’s “Person of the Year” in 2025 Nomination
- Founding Chair, Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies, CIA
- TIME Magazine: “America’s Missionary of the Vine”
- The Wine Bible: Named among best wine books ever written
- Keynote speaker: Leadership summits, executive retreats, global forums
- Featured: Major media including PBS, international wine conference
The Definitive Reference
Wine lovers love its entertaining style. Sommeliers preparing for certification examinations rely on it. Collectors reference it. Wine programs at leading institutions teach from it. When you engage Karen MacNeil, you engage the person who literally wrote the authoritative text on wine.