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Ellisa Cooper is one of the busiest and most dynamic personalities among New York's new breed of wine consultants. Truly an up-and-comer,
she has built a considerable following and a growing reputation working with retailers, restaurants, importers, wineries and
most importantly, consumers. Active in both the retail and wholesale aspects of distribution, Ellisa has been instrumental
in changing the way wine is marketed in New York City and
throughout the country.
Ellisa possesses an extensive, almost encyclopedic, knowledge of all things wine-related.
She is currently developing her own media concept for DVD and television, entitled The Two Things You Need to Know About WineŽ.
Ellisa's education in wine began while working in several of the great New York restaurants, where top chefs Terrance Brennan,
Waldy Malouf, Marco Moiera, Dave Pasternack and Marc Murphy prepared foods that demanded great wines. She is pursuing
a Master of Wine.
Ellisa's consulting clients include some of the top names in specialty
food and wine distribution. She is working with Eli Zabar, one of New York's
best known gourmet food purveyors, directing the creation of a web-based wine information system for his store, W.I.N.E.. She is also developing a series of wine events and re-launching the popular, Tuesdays at T.A.S.T.E, his wine bar adjacent
to Eli's and W.I.N.E.
Ellisa has just signed with Bacchus USA, an importer and distributor specializing in wines from South America, Spain, Portugal and the South of France. She will
oversee the expansion of their wine portfolio and work with wineries and winemakers to help launch new wines into the marketplace.
She will also be involved in developing the Bacchus USA brand in other areas, including a line of gourmet food products and
a wine-tourism component covering Chile, Argentina and Spain.
Ellisa is also associated with Bottlerocket, a unique, new wine store in the Flatiron District, where she oversees their private wine events.
In the summer of
2006, Ellisa created the popular "Latin Wine Series" for Havana Central, an upscale chain of Cuban-themed restaurants whose flagship location in Times Square is
home to this ongoing, weekly tasting program.
Also in 2006, Ellisa worked with Hunter's Point Wines & Spirits, creating
a wine portfolio of over 400 selections.
A founder of Discovery Wines -- a cutting-edge retail store in New York's East Village --
Ellisa created a new dynamic in the way consumers shop for wine. Gone were the narrow, cluttered aisles and floor stacks of
inexpensive, mass produced wines. Instead, a modern designed space with a gallery-like feel was stocked with bottles of well-made,
small production wines displayed like art. "The CFOs behind the major brands are concerned with numbers, not the art of creating
a great wine. I think every wine should have a farmer behind its label, not a board of directors."
Under Ellisa's
supervision, the store developed a comprehensive, computerized wine information bank available to customers through its in-store
kiosks and website. The kiosks allow the consumer to scan a barcode on any wine bottle and get complete tasting notes, viticulture
and vinification specifics and appellation information. Cooper notes. "This technology makes the buying and learning process
easier and more accessible, eliminating the intimidation factor that often accompanies wine purchasing"
As Director of Education for Discovery Wines, Ellisa wrote and edited the store's tasting notes, including grape blends,
vinification techniques, climate and vineyard information, winemaker biographies, appellations and food pairings on each wine
so customers could familiarize themselves with wine vocabulary and organization. She also taught a weekly class and organized
hundreds of public and private tasting events. "Wine is one of the most information-intensive purchases we make, but many
people don't want to ask questions because they're afraid of looking foolish. Some people don't even know what questions to
ask."
Ellisa's mantra is simple, "The only way to learn wine is to drink wine. I always encourage retailers to hold
as many public tastings as possible. And I encourage the customer to drop by every day, even if they are not buying. The goal
for the consumer should be to taste many different wines as possible. I's the only way to learn what you like and dislike.
The best part about wine is that there is no right or wrong ... Palates are like fingerprints, everyone's is unique."
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