Our Mission

The Wine Professionals Association exists to promote, support, and improve the Virginia wine industry by connecting:

  • Consumers to the local wine industry
  • Our member-professionals to the local wine industry
  • Local members to local members

We are made up of certified wine professionals, aspiring wine professionals, supporters & businesses

Nonprofit, member-based, regional association – 501c (6)

Connecting consumers to local wine through:

  • Promoting wine businesses via advertising, education, events, and online content

Connecting our member-professionals to the local wine industry through:

  • Staffing
  • Access to association members for business opportunities
  • Acting as an information exchange center, ex: wine industry trends
  • Business consulting: modeling, idea creation, growth strategies, validation of projects, marketing & partnerships
  • Improving process and quality control, internal collaboration, communication
  • Mentoring aspiring wine professionals, providing education assistance through financial grants
  • Lobbying the state of Virginia on behalf of the wine industry

Connecting local members to local members:

  • Members connect through working at association events, member events, mentoring fellow members, participating in association projects and meetings

Our Officers

Harry Price – Founder and CEO

Before creating a path to the wine industry, Harry worked in the Internet Technology industry for big-name companies such as IBM, AOL, Comcast, and AARP. He spent years creating, improving, and managing world-class Quality Assurance organizations. Meanwhile, Harry developed a love for cooking, growing food, and nurturing a long-time passion for wine. Once leaving IT, he devoted himself to becoming a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) through the Society of Wine Educators. In parallel, he launched www.worldofvino.com, a flourishing wine blog that allowed him to hone his writing skills while researching the world of wine and pursuing the next level of certification as a wine educator. Not stopping there, Harry has authored, and self-published a successful series of wine-lovers guidebooks entitled A Taste of Wine, available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle format. A natural leader, organizer, and entrepreneur, Harry recognized a need to form a nonprofit association in Virginia to strengthen the wine industry’s bonds. The Wine Professionals Association Inc operates regional chapters of wine professionals, wine lovers, and business owners to support, promote and improve Virginia’s wine industry. As founder and CEO, he encourages you to join the association and get involved.   

Find out more about Memberships