Michelle Paris

Michelle's love affair with all things wine began at the ripe age of three when she saw a glass of pink champagne at a family party. She was captivated by the colour and the constant stream of bubbles.

Michelle never lost that initial fascination with wine. She studied wine and spent time travelling in wine regions until finally deciding to take the plunge, leaving the corporate world for the world of wine.

In 2011, Michelle spent two months in Argentina to work harvest and learn about winemaking. Since her return she has become a Certified Sommelier and a graduate of the WSET Diploma Program. She is also a WSET Certified Wine Educator, holds the Certified Specialist of Wine designation from the Society of Wine Educators and is a Professional Fromager. She is Certified Sherry Educator and an Ambassador for the Wines of Portugal. She is currently working towards the Masters of Wine designation.

In addition to being a WSET educator, Michelle is Director of Education for the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers and teaches in its Accredited Sommelier program. She also teaches Beverage Operations at Durham College’s Centre for Food. She presents wine-focused seminars, tastings and events to clients, both corporate and private. Michelle enjoys sharing her passion of wine with people and is thrilled when her students and clients have that “aha” moment.

When she is not reading about wine or travelling in wine country, Michelle loves spending time running, hiking and exploring the world.