Scott Thomas is a wine culturalist, educator and sommelier with a 20-year career in the wine industry spanning fine dining, distribution and education. He is the founder of Grappolo Food and Wine School, a Denver-based academy offering immersive wine travel, wine events and structured courses, including the VIA's Italian Wine Maestro certification. His passion for Italian wines grew during his two years in Piedmont and Tuscany, where he earned a Master's in Wine Culture from Slow Food's University of Gastronomic Sciences and gained practical experience in the vineyards of Chianti Classico. Scott's professional credentials include Italian Wine Ambassador and Certified Italian Wine Educator, Certified Wine Educator, WSET III, Certified Sommelier, and official Orvieto and Langhe Wine Ambassador.