Vanessa Conlin is a Master of Wine residing in Napa Valley with a passion for communicating about wine in a way that is engaging, elevated, and inclusive.
Her professional background includes strategy, e-commerce and email marketing, buying and category management, events, DTC and trade sales, marketing, strategic partnerships, importation, wine production, hospitality, social media, podcast hosting, and written and video content creation.
In 2010 Vanessa moved to Napa Valley from New York City where she was the wine buyer for two prominent Manhattan wine retailers and the Wine Director for a Manhattan-based wine bar. In Napa, Vanessa served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious wineries including Arietta Wines and Dana Estates.
Vanessa joined Wine Access, a national online wine provider, in 2017 and served as Chief Wine officer for six years, before joining Sotheby’s in 2023 as the Global Head of Wine Retail, dividing her time between Napa and New York City.
Vanessa is now a consultant for Sotheby’s, focusing on written and video content, events, and partnerships.
As an avid supporter of charitable causes, Vanessa is on the Board of Directors for Jameson Humane, a Napa Valley-based animal rescue and sanctuary, and has chaired the organization’s annual charity wine auction seven times. She also served as the Host for Auction Napa Valley in 2024, which benefitted youth mental health initiatives in the Napa Valley.
Prior to falling in love with wine, Vanessa worked as a professional musician, performing internationally and on Broadway, and holds a Master’s Degree in Music.