Our Clients

Lincoln International is a trusted investment banking advisor to leading private equity firms and companies around the world. Our signature event for our West Coast clients takes place every year in Napa Valley. Karen has done a wine tasting at the last four of these gatherings and is always the highlight of the event.

“Karen’s topics are always creative – they capture the attention of the audience immediately. But it’s her presentation style – deeply substantive but also light and casual – that carries the audience along and leaves them wanting another serving.”

-William Bowmer
Managing Director & Co-head of Technology

Recognized as a national “Top 20 Trial Law Firm” and a “go-to firm for bet-the-farm litigation,” Hueston Hennigan focuses on high-profile, high-stakes disputes in forums across the country, amassing a remarkable record of precedent-setting victories. Hueston Hennigan worked closely with Karen MacNeil & Company to create a dynamic and memorable experience for a professional women’s retreat.

“Karen’s unique combination of wine connoisseur and journalist brings the experience alive in a very engaging and magical way. Karen arranged for stunning settings for our wine and food pairings, creating a memorable experience for our group. Meeting the owners, managers and vintners was extra special.”

—Alison Plessman and Allison Libeu, Partners, Hueston Hennigan LLP

The Auction of Washington Wines supports the growth of the Washington state wine industry through a series of celebrated events, including the Auction of Washington Wines, for which Karen recently served as the Honorary Chair. In the lead-up to the gala, Karen and her team conducted live virtual tastings with 40 Washington winemakers and vintners, attracting viewers and buyers from around the United States. An in-person retrospective tasting with Karen also became one of the auction’s top grossing lots.

“Karen attracts, educates, engages, and inspires a global audience about the world of wine. As the Auction of Washington Wines Honorary Chair for two years, 2020-2021, and especially during the pandemic crisis, Karen was able to share the Washington wine story with well-orchestrated virtual shows featuring dozens of Washington winemakers, keeping the auction and the industry top-of-mind. Her appearance in person in 2021 had incredible appeal to our wine-loving donor base. Karen’s credibility and expertise is immeasurable.”

—Jamie Peha, Executive Director, Auction of Washington Wines

“I have been visiting Napa for several years. Without a doubt, the single best day spent was on the private tour hosted by Karen MacNeil and her staff. We visited wineries I have tried and failed to visit before; saw a side of the winemaking process I had never thought about before; and accommodated my wife and daughter’s passion for cooking with a private tour of the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone. Thank you.”
—Carl Camden, CEO, Kelly Services

“Karen McNeil’s tasting seminar was fantastic! My wife and I enjoy wine but are novices when it comes to knowing about wines. Karen’s seminar was very educational from not only the tasting perspective but also the history perspective. She is a delightful presenter that makes you feel like an old friend. We would highly recommend any Karen McNeil wine experience!”
—Mike Rogers, Founder, Rogers & Willards, Inc.

Founded in 1875, Audemars Piguet is a manufacturer of ultra luxury Swiss watches, and is considered among the finest watch companies in the world. Tiffany, Cartier and Bulgari all use Audemars Piguet movements in their products. In 2015, Audemars Piguet brought sixty of their most discerning clients from around the world to the Napa Valley for two days of luxury wine experiences, including a special tasting seminar with Karen entitled What Makes Great Wine Great?

Karen works with the Napa Valley Vintners on an on-going basis, giving in-depth seminars on Napa Valley and its wines for groups from around the world. Each year the Napa Valley Vintners conduct a number of creative marketing and educational programs in which Karen plays a role. She was the on-air host and narrator of the association’s educational video series Napa Valley Rocks. Karen created the Wine Educators Academy, now a bi-annual event for the association.

“Karen MacNeil is one of the most knowledgeable wine educators and thoughtful communicators we work with. Our programs are always more polished, meaningful and relevant when Karen is involved.”
–Patsy McGaughy, Communications Director, Napa Valley Vintners

“Karen brought the pleasure of wine tasting to a whole new level.”
–Charlene Begley, President and CEO, GE Enterprise Solutions

The Wine Institute represents California wine around the world. For the last two years, Karen has been the lead presenter-instructor at the California “Summit,” during which the most influential wine experts around the world are brought to California to experience California wine firsthand. Recently, to amplify their marketing efforts in Asia, the Wine Institute hired Karen to create and give Master Classes on California wine in China.

It has been a true pleasure and honor to work with Karen MacNeil on our category building efforts for California Wines on the world stage. Karen is a master educator in the wine space – able to connect with and captivate audiences around the world with her engaging style, approachable content and wonderful sense of humor. She is the consummate wine professional – hardworking, meticulous and at the same time a lot of fun to work with. Karen has helped herald and hone our key messages about the quality and diversity of California wines to our top export markets around the globe.
–Linsey Gallagher, Vice President International Marketing, The Wine Institute

Disney’s Epcot Center has hired Karen numerous times to give presentations on the wines of the world during Epcot’s famous international Food and Wine Festival. Karen has given tasting seminars for consumers, as well as internal wine training sessions for Disney hospitality staff.

Singapore Airlines, considered one of the luxury airlines of the world, hired Karen to be one of its three global wine consultants. From 2004 to 2009, Karen evaluated more than 2000 wines per year in Singapore at SA headquarters in order to choose wines for all classes and all routes on the airline. Karen also conducted private tastings for Singapore Airlines’ VIP clients, conducted classes for Singapore Airlines’ in-flight sommeliers, and aided in the airline’s marketing efforts, helping to establish its reputation for consummate in-flight gastronomy.

“Karen is the most charming, pleasant, understanding and insightful mind in the wine world…her expertise has strengthened and improved our programs , at all levels…strategy, education, experiences, knowledge and inspiration….she is a true talent, sophisticated, worldly, timely and extremely efficient”

—Jean-Charles Boisset, Owner Boisset Family Estates

“Karen MacNeil brings a unique combination of intelligence, knowledge, insight and charm to her role as teacher of wines. She was tirelessly committed to the success of our annual partners retreat. Our experience was more than sensory. It was emotional and poetic.”
—Mark Hanson, Executive Director, Irell & Manella

“At Lexus, our philosophy is to make the most of every moment in a way that makes a difference. Karen MacNeil’s experience combined with her extraordinary ability to engage our dealers made for an incentive trip of a lifetime. “
–Steve Waddell, Lexus Central