Graduated in Economics at the University of Florence. In 1957 starts working in the family business and in 1966 becomes CEO of “Marchesi Antinori” and also President in 1988. In the course of the years has covered important positions as President and Board Member in professional associations and companies such as “Italian Association of Wine&Spirits Producers” (Federvini); Consorzio Vino di Orvieto; Casa Vinicola Alfredo Prunotto and Tormaresca Srl; Aeroporto di Firenze SpA; Agriventure Spa and Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze (Vice President), Savatore Ferragamo Spa, Eridania Béghin-say, Fondiaria Assicurazioni etc. President of the Istituto del Vino Italiano di Qualità – Grandi Marchi since its foundation on 2004 until 2014. At the time being he is actively involved in many organizations among which Accademia Italiana della Vite e del Vino; Accademia dei Georgofili of Florence. He is also involved in various charity organizations and culture activities in Italy and abroad. In 1995 has been conferred the decoration of “Cavaliere del Lavoro” – the highest honor given by the President of the Italian Republic.

Renzo Cotarella has been deeply immersed in the global wine business for decades, primarily in Italy but also spanning to Washington state and California.

In 1978 he graduated, at the age of 23, from the University of Agrarian Science in Perugia, specializing in soils and how to match them with grape varieties. His deep love for wine brought him to be the director of the Consorzio per la Tutela dei Vini di Orvieto since 1977, culminating in his role as president of the same consortium until 2009.

In 1981 Renzo Cotarella began his career working for the Antinori family, by becoming director of winemaking of the historical Estate Castello della Sala. In 1993 he became chief oenologist of Marchesi Antinori and was promoted to managing director in 1998. He has served as CEO since 2005 and is the chief oenologist of the company.

Renzo is active as wine consultant for two Antinori join ventures, Col Solare Estate in Washington state and Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars in Napa Valley.

Renzo serves on several board of directors and was named Best Winemaker of the World by Wine Enthusiast in 2001, and in the same year, also named Winemaker of the Year by the Italian Association of Sommeliers.

Marvin R. Shanken, Chairman of M. Shanken Communications, Inc. has built one of America’s most influential groups of lifestyle publications—including award-winning Wine Spectator, Cigar Aficionado and Whisky Advocate—all by sharing his personal pleasures with readers.

Fueled by his fascination for wine, Shanken began his career in publishing in 1972 when he bought Impact, a little-known wine and spirits industry newsletter. Today, Shanken’s Impact Newsletter is read in more than 200 countries. In 1979, Shanken purchased Wine Spectator, which is now the world’s leading authority on wine, delivering expert reviews of 18,000 wines annually and reaching more than 3 million readers worldwide. The brand hosts the web’s most comprehensive wine site (WineSpectator.com), mobile platforms and a series of high-profile signature events, including the prestigious New York Wine Experience.

In 1992, Shanken launched Cigar Aficionado as the definitive lifestyle magazine for men. Shanken also owns Whisky Advocate, the leading whiskey magazine in the U.S.

Shanken is also founder of the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation, which funds numerous charitable endeavors including a generous donation of $1 million to Washington State University’s Viticulture & Enology Program.

Headquartered in New York City, with offices in Napa Valley, M. Shanken Communications also publishes Wine Spectator Insider, Cigar Insider, Cigar Watch, Market Watch, Shanken News Daily and Shanken News Daily, Cannabis Edition.