Kenneth Lipsmeyer, DWS Ken Lipsmeyer’s love affair with wine began in the early 1980’s while a studying in Budapest. Friends in university were headed out to harvest grapes inviting Ken to join in. What followed was a week-long adventure of grape picking, wine making, and Hungarian Goulash made by camp fire while drinking Egar Bikaver, a local wine. That early experience preceded years of exploring wine regions across the globe including France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Canada, and the USA. Much of this time, Ken worked in the industry as a Sommelier on cruise ships and in formal restaurants, including one that he owned, 9 Jones Restaurant, in New York City. Ken has been teaching and training about wine and spirits since the 1980’s. He has been a full-time wine instructor since 2010, when he joined Pulaski Tech’s Hospitality program. His credentials include certifications with several international wine-education organizations, but he is most proud of his Diploma of Wines and Spirits, awarded by the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Ken’s philosophy of wine education is to start by understanding the flavor preference of one’s own palate and then try to understand the impact nature plays on wine so that students can better navigate the wine list and shelf to find wines they enjoy.