aría Laura Ortiz is a leading wine and spirits consultant based in Mendoza, Argentina. She founded Winifera in 2010, a company specialized on the reception of local and interna-tional press and wine critics, as well as coordinating rounds

of international businesses.

A graduate of the Argentine School of Sommeliers, Maria Laura holds the WSET’s Advance Certi�cation; is a Certi�ed Sommelier of the Court of Master Sommeliers CMS; a quali�ed Sommelier and member of the Market-ing Committee at the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI).

Maria Laura is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Argentine Association of Sommeliers (AAS). During her 3-year cycle as Vice President of this Association, she was the General Coordinator responsible for coordi-nating the World’s Best Sommelier Competition — Argentina 2016.

Ms. Ortiz is a regular columnist of Food Lovers, Wines of Argentina and a collaborator on graphic and online media, such as Master Wine, Caminos del Vino, Tiempo Argentino, Diario Los Andes, Clarín and AOL Brasil

A jury member of prestigious international competitions, Maria Laura coor-dinates the tastings in Argentina for Guía Peñín, Palacio de Hierro and actively works with Tim Atkin MW.

She teaches Master Class at Consulates, Embassies and sommelier schools in Argentina, South America and Mexico.

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