The Founder (continued)

Engineering degree and minor in Viticulture from the American University of Beirut in 1992, he received culinary arts degrees from the Cordon Blue and Ritz Escoffier Schools in Paris. He continued his training by earning a diploma from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust in London and began establishing himself as a wine educator and epicurean authority.

Based in Bordeaux in 1993, Koder worked with top French and Italian winemakers and distributors in the role of negociante, becoming highly skilled at selling future vintages. He built an international clientele as a wine consultant and supplier of Grand Cru Classe Wines and in 1995 joined forces with La Cigale, working exclusively with European caterers. In 1998 Koder offered full-service consulting services that designed corporate, private and public events as well as educational seminars on wine tasting. In 2000, working collaboratively with industry leaders Vinotech and Eurocave, he introduced professional consulting on wine cellaring and computerized inventory management, resulting in innovative solutions for a growing international market.

Koder established the firm's headquarters in Richmond in 2004. He is an active member of the American Wine Society, Cordon Bleu Society, the greater Washington, D.C. chapter of the International Special Events Society and the Cambridge Food and Wine Society. Locally he serves as a member of the Vintage Maymont Wine Committee, and he writes the monthly "Wine Life" column for Richmond Magazine. He is working on a cookbook that is scheduled for release in late 2008. It will feature all of his recipes along with recommended wines.

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