Alessandra Esteves is the co-founder and Director of Wine Education for the Florida Wine Academy. She is a WSET Certified Educator and holds the WSET Level 4 (Diploma) in Wines & Spirits. She also has the French Wine Scholar, Spanish Wine Scholar and a Champagne Master Level by the Wine Scholar Guild, the Master of Rioja DOCa certification, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and the WSET Level 1 in Sake. She is currently a Stage 2 candidate for the Masters of Wine certification. Mrs. Esteves is also the co-founder of Miami Champagne Week, 305Wines, and VinoSummit, the first conference dedicated to wine professionals in Florida. Mrs. Esteves’ articles on wine and related subjects have been published in books and magazines in different countries. Mrs. Esteves has also served as an Associate Judge at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in London. More recently, Ms. Esteves participated as a Competition Judge at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America Convention & Exposition and as a Wine Judge for the American Fine Wine Competition. Previously, Ms. Esteves practiced as a corporate lawyer in Brazil and Germany, having joined the Brazilian Bar Association in 2000. She is fluent in Portuguese, German, English, Italian, and Spanish; and has acquired a primary proficiency in French.

Guilherme “William” Macedo is the Co-founder and Managing Partner for the Florida Wine Academy. Guilherme has a BA and MBA in Business Administration and has worked in the Chemical industry for almost 20 years. His professional career led him to work in Europe, Latina America and Central America and he is fluent in 4 languages. At the Florida Wine Academy, he is responsible for the Sake Education Program. Guilherme is a Master Sake Sommelier (MSS) by the Sake Sommelier Association (SSA). He is also a WSET Certified Sake Educator (levels 1, 2 and 3). He is an International Kikisake-Shi, Japanese Sake Adviser by the SSI (Sake Service Institute) and WSET Level 3 Sake Certified. He is also a Certified Sake Professional by the Sake Education Council. Additionally, he has the WSET Level 1 in Spirits, Court of Master Sommelier Level 1 and passed the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits with distinction.

Carolina Gonzalez is the Marketing and Events Coordinator for the Florida Wine Academy. She is a certified WSET Level 3 in Wines with distinction, and a WSET Level 1 in Sake. Carolina is also a Spanish Wine Scholar with the Wine Scholar Guild.  She graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in English Literature and Art History. From there she went on to become an Art Consultant, working for many years in the Contemporary Art world. Carolina’s love of wine and interest in its history sparked her journey to become an accredited Wine Scholar with the Florida Wine Academy. After years as a student she established The Epic Experience, a boutique wine consultancy service that provides curated tastings and experiences. Carolina believes that wine should be a unique journey of discovery and exploration to wine lovers of all levels and backgrounds. Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in The Bahamas, Carolina is fluent in both Spanish and English.

LYN FARMER

DipWSET

Lyn Farmer is a WSET Certified Wine Educator levels 1-3 for the the Florida Wine Academy. He is a James Beard Award-winning wine and food writer, broadcaster and arts educator. He is the author of the Engaging the Senses blog on this site, as well as director of VeritageMiami, one of Florida’s most successful charity wine events benefitting United Way of Miami-Dade. Additionally, Lyn leads seminars for many Italian, French and Portuguese trade groups and he has been a judge at international wine competitions.

 HENRY BRIMO

DipWSET, MW candidate

Henry Brimo is a wine professional based in Florida, with extensive experience across multiple facets of the wine industry. He currently serves as the Wine Category Manager for Southeastern Grocers. Additionally, Henry is a WSET Wine Educator at the Florida Wine Academy. Previously, Henry held the role of Lead Sommelier and Wine Buyer at Abaco Wines & Wine Bar, a luxury wine shop in the Miami Design District. Henry is a stage 2 candidate for the Master of Wine (MW) qualification, he holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and the Master-Level Bourgogne certification from the Wine Scholar Guild. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from Florida International University’s Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management and an MBA with a concentration in Business Intelligence and Data Analytics from Nova Southeastern University’s Huizenga College of Business & Entrepreneurship.

RAMON "RAY" GARCIA

DipWSET, CSW, CSS, Italian, French and Spanish Wine Scholar WSG, Sake Somm SSA, Master of Rioja, Champagne Specialist

Ramon “Ray” Garcia is a Miami-based wine educator, trade consultant, and WSET Level 4 Diploma holder (DipWSET) with a deep commitment to structured, professional wine education. Originally entering the hospitality industry as a restaurateur, Ray transitioned into wine education and consulting after recognizing the need for high-level beverage training and accessible wine program development within the trade. He is the founder of Wine Director Direct, a consulting platform that provides restaurants, private collectors, and beverage-focused businesses with wine program design, staff education, and strategic guidance.

DAISY PENZO

WSET Level 3 Certified in Wines, Italian Wine Scholar WSG

Daisy Penzo is a wine professional and educator with a focus on Italian wine and hospitality. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (with Distinction) and has completed the Italian Wine Scholar program through the Wine Scholar Guild. She is also an Italian Wine Ambassador certified by the Vinitaly International Academy and an Italian Wine Specialist with the North American Sommelier Association. As an educator at Florida Wine Academy, Daisy brings real-world industry experience into the classroom and is passionate about making wine education engaging, approachable, and rooted in cultural context.

PATRA LIU

WSET Level 3 Certified in Wines, French and Spanish Wine Scholar WSG

Patra Liu joins the teaching team at Florida Wine Academy in 2026 following a 30-year legal career in anti-fraud enforcement and inspector general oversight. Her lifelong appreciation for wine led her to pursue formal wine education while building an extensive personal cellar with a particular focus on the wines of Burgundy. In recent years, she has spent harvest seasons in the Côte d'Or gaining hands-on experience in vineyard and basic winemaking practices. She previously served as Director of Wine Education for the Salú Wine Community, helping host and present educational wine dinners featuring curated food and wine pairings. She holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and the French Wine Scholar and Spanish Wine Scholar certifications from the Wine Scholar Guild.