STEVEN KOLPAN (born in New York City), BRIAN H. SMITH (London), and MICHAEL A. WEISS (Montreal) are the leading wine educators at The Culinary Institute of America. They have traveled to virtually every wine-producing region in the world, and have trained more than 30,000 students to understand and appreciate wine. The authors are active participants and organizers of professional and consumer food and wine events, write for several wine and food publications, and lecture and teach extensively in educational programs, seminars, and conferences throughout the United States and other wine-producing nations.
Founded in 1946, the CULINARY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA is an independent, not-for-profit college offering bachelor's and associate degrees in culinary arts and baking and pastry arts. Courses for foodservice professionals are offered at the college's main campus in Hyde Park, New York, and at its additional campus for continuing education, The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, in St. Helena, California.