Tom Payette, a premier hands on and analytical winemaking consultant, serves clients throughout the United States.  His company focuses on winery and vineyard start-ups and expansions, still and sparkling wine production and general winery issues.  He has worked since 1985 crafting still and sparkling wines in Virginia along with 7 years experience in ultra-premium Bordeaux varietal wine production in Napa, California.  Tom studied under famed Bordeaux enologist Jacques Boissenot.  In addition to winemaking, Mr. Payette is a noted national speaker, recognized International wine judge and Wine Tech columnist for Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine.

Mr. Payette is a member of the American Society of Enology and Viticulture, ASEV-Eastern Section, The American Wine Society, The American Vineyard Foundation Review Board and serves on the advisory board to Wineries Unlimited, the East Coast's premier and largest wine industry trade show and seminar event.  He is a past member of the Governor's appointed Virginia Winegrowers Advisory Board where he served as technical committee chair.  Tom was named "Winemaker of the Year" by Vineyard & Winery Management Magazine in 1999, a title he still holds today.