St. Helena, CA, November 13, 2017 — Wilson Daniels is excited to announce that Rodney Willis of Houston, Texas is the first recipient of the Anne-Claude Leflaive Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was founded in honor of the late Anne-Claude Leflaive, whose passion for education and the advancement of sustainable and biodynamic practices made her a legend in the industry and cemented the historic family estate as a benchmark for white Burgundy.

Rodney, a Fine Wine Specialist of the Platinum Division at Republic National Distributing Company, was awarded the scholarship based on criteria assessing his dedication to furthering his education and his contribution in the wine arena. Rodney currently holds the distinctions of Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators, the Level 3 Advanced Award—with distinction—from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and the Graduate Level Diploma from RNDC. Rodney plans to continue his education through the WSET Level 4 Diploma program.

Beyond formal education, Rodney displays an earnest passion and a humble dedication to advancing his knowledge and place in the wine world. “Rodney embodies the essence of the Anne Claude Leflaive Memorial Scholarship with his unwavering dedication to the wine industry and unending desire for continued education. We are proud to honor him as our inaugural recipient of the scholarship and thank him for his spirited contribution to our fine wine community,” states Rocco Lombardo, President of Wilson Daniels.

As the recipient of the Anne-Claude Leflaive Memorial scholarship, Rodney will receive reimbursement for his choice of paid educational certification and a trip to Domaine Leflaive, including dinner with Domaine Leflaive Managing Director Brice de La Morandière and Anne-Claude Leflaive’s husband, Christian Jacques.

“This trip, to me, means the opportunity to see the birthplace of some of the greatest wines and cultivars in the world,” explains Rodney. “Most of all, it means the opportunity to see this through one of the greatest producers in the world and what makes them so special. It is a rare occasion that I personally get to consume the fruits of their labor, but to sit with the family, drinking their wine and experiencing their way of life and practices is truly eye opening.”

About Wilson Daniels
Founded in 1978, Wilson Daniels is a fully integrated, family-owned marketing and sales company representing a highly selective portfolio of the world’s most distinctive wines and spirits. Wilson Daniels continues to pursue and elevate the standards of excellence set by founders Win Wilson and Jack Daniels through developing long-term,
strategic partnerships with luxury producers that possess profound respect for terroir, and are benchmarks in their region. To learn more about Wilson Daniels visit
www.wilsondaniels.com.