Jean-Louis Carbonnier is the president of Carbonnier Communications, a marketing and public relations consultancy started in 2000 and specializing in wine.

Clients include:
• Quintessa, Rutherford (single estate wine from Rutherford appellation of Napa Valley)
• Franciscan Estates, portfolio of fine wines from California (Franciscan Oakville, Simi, Estancia, Ravenswood, Mt. Veeder, Columbia Winery, Veramonte)
• Château Palmer, Grand Cru Classé of Margaux, France – press relations and liaison
• Jaillance Clairette de Die Tradition (traditional, low alcohol sparkling wine produced at the crossroads of the Rhône and Provence)
• New Hungary, an organisation to promote the renaissance of Hungary and her wines
• Château Calissanne (Côteaux d’Aix en Provence)
• Vins Jean-Luc Colombo (wines from the Rhône Valley)
• Domaine Louis Bovard (wines from the Vaud district of Switzerland).

Special Projects for:
• Alto Maipo – press& trade tasting focusing on a specific appellation of Chile (May ’04)
• La Renaissance des Appellations – press & trade tasting focusing on biodynamic viticulture and involving 70 winegrowers (June ’04)
• Portuguese Trade Commission – organisation of tastings and press/trade relations (’03, ’04)
• Port and Douro Wine Institute (’04)
• Palm Bay Imports (wine importers with new French wine portfolio) – development of an educational program for accounts (’03), conception and creation of press kit for Labouré-Roi (’02)
• Maison Rivière (Bordeaux châteaux and négociant, ’03)
• Eli’s Romantic Wines & Spirits shop – discovery trip to France with store manager (’02)
• Rhône Vignobles – organization of a “Day in the Rhône and Provence” at Alain Ducasse New York for sommeliers and members of the press (’02)
• Cognac de Collection La Gabare (’02).

Past clients include:
• Best of British.com, a web site comprising over 100 British brands (Sept. 2000-Feb. 2001).

Carbonnier Communications also provides educational seminars on wine and insider's information about Champagne.

Carbonnier is a member of the Executive Committee of the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Center in Boston and of the Society of Wine Educators. He serves as Champage consultant to The Wine News and was the technical editor for Champagne for Dummies and for French Wine for Dummies. Carbonnier holds a Higher Certificate from Wine & Spirit Education Trust (2003).

Prior to Carbonnier Communications, Carbonnier was a managing partner with KCSA Worldwide (1994-2000) responsible for:
• Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne (CIVC) of Epernay, France – director of Champagne Wines Information Bureau, representative of and spokesperson for the Champagne producers of France. Full PR program, including media and public relations, relations with importers, seminars and events, web site, plus on-going reporting to CIVC on US market.
• Vins Jean-Luc Colombo
• Domaine Louis Bovard
• WineShopper.com
• Event planning for Wines of Roussillon and Rhône Vignobles.

1988-1993
Irving Smith Kogan, Inc.
Account executive and spokesperson for Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne.

1986-1988
Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Paris, studies in international relations, law, economy and business.

1984-1986
University of the West Indies, Barbados, cultural attaché and French lecturer.

1982-1984
French teacher in the U.K., including Christ’s Hospital (Horsham).
MA English and American studies.

1979-1982
Teachers’ college.

1977
Baccalauréat C (math, physics, etc.)

Born in Reims, France, U.S. citizen (2000).
Bilingual French-English, knowledge of German and Spanish.

Special interests: wine & food, travel, reading, music, photography.

Carbonnier was born in Reims, France.