Georgina Stassi, Executive Director/Founder of La Vita Fresca

Georgina is the Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of LaVitaFresca.com, a website dedicated to writing about the best of California Wine, Food, Travel & Lifestyle. She is the Food, Wine & Travel columnist for the online magazine Santa Barbara View and a Contributing Editor of the Avila Community News. Georgina is an accomplished writer, artist, cook and horsewoman. She employs her many years of experience to create interesting, informative articles and posts that both readers and Facebook “friends” anticipate reading and using for their enjoyment of food, wine and travel. She is a WSET Certified Wine Specialist and has an extensive knowledge of gourmet food and world travel. She is the Social Media Administrator and Director of Media Relations for several organizations, including Pismo CA, Classic California, Visit Avila Beach, the Central Coast Wine Classic, the Sierra Pelona Vintners Festival, Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Lido Restaurant, LaBonneVie Spa and Elegance Boutique Spa. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications and websites including Santa Barbara HomeFood Magazine, Santa Barbara Seasons, Wine Country Today, Tasting Panel Magazine, WineCoastCountry.com, VisitAvilaBeach.com, MorroBay.com and ClassicCalifornia.com. Her passion for food, wine, animals and people comes from both her Northern and Southern Italian heritage rooted in family, home-life, and simply prepared flavorful, farm-fresh meals. Georgina has created numerous pastel drawings and acrylic paintings which can be seen around southern California. In fact, she is the creator of La Vita Fresca’s “Sexy Pear” logo. In addition, Georgina loves to spend time with her handsome black horse Fabio and her two beautiful girls (along with her 5 cats and 2 dogs Max and Pawscal), belly dance, cook and bake, travel, and visit extraordinary wineries and restaurants and loves even more to write about what she has seen! And this photograph of her was taken by wine enthusiast and her favorite photographer and collaborator, the amazing Bob Dickey!

Adriana Schiappa, Art Director/Photographer/Founder of La Vita Fresca

Adriana is a first-generation Italian-American and a native Californian raised and residing on the Palos Peninsula in southern California. In addition to having a degree in interior design, Adriana has an eye for photography, creating beautiful compositions and capturing the moments of La Vita Fresca. Adriana is interested in gardening and is involved in many philanthropic events and enjoys traveling the world with her husband and three children who all love to discover new places. She has received her passion for life from growing up in a big Italian family always surrounded by food! Her mother Maria is an amazing cook and her father Gino is a master stone mason, artist and gardener. Aside from her busy life, Adriana enjoys the simple things as well such as gathering at her home with family and friends, cooking and playing bocce surrounded by her 12 chickens, 2 pygmy goats and her handsome feline, Bojangles.

Jennifer Payne, Marketing Director/Editor for La Vita Fresca

Jennifer has 10+ years in the marketing communications industry representing such clients as Dole, Nestle, Jenny Craig, Lexus and many others. Jennifer’s specialties are in strategic planning, advertising, budget forecasting and public relations. From concept to creation, Jennifer has managed several integrated projects across multiple mediums including print, radio, on-line and television. In between little league games, coaching cheerleading, and impossible amounts of laundry, Jennifer never misses an opportunity to try out new recipes, visit great spas and fabulous restaurants and has never met a party she didn’t thoroughly enjoy.

Danielle Gerbracht, Food & Wine Writer, Photographer

Danielle Gerbracht was born and raised in Pasadena, California. She grew up dancing ballet and riding horses. She focused on her Equestrian career through high school, competing nationally and then went on to ride as an Amature and now a Professional. Danielle graduated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 2009 with a degree in Business Administration and a concentration in Business Law. She also studied abroad in Italy and traveled around France where she developed her prolific writing and designated title of “Foodie” as she soaked up all the food, wine, history and culture she could get her hands on. Danielle has explored the “wine country” of central and eastern Washington, the WIllamatte Valley in Oregon, Napa and Sonoma, and Charollotesvill, Virginia. Danielle is currently living in Santa Barbara and is working on her wine certificate through Cal Poly’s continuing education program. In her spare time she enjoys reading, hiking, a sunny afternoon nap, spending time with her family and cooking with her boyfriend and his golden retriever, “Sammie”.

About our Experts

Barrie Cleveland, La Vita Fresca Wine Expert

Barrie Cleveland has broad experience in the wine industry as a winery public relations representative, tasting room and marketing consultant and he currently owns the wine marketing firm Winery Advisor (http://www.californiawineryadvisor.com). Cleveland has taught dozens of wine appreciation classes, wine sales classes, has over 50 published wine articles, has been a guest speaker on Social Media & the Wine Industry, developed and hosted a wine radio program as well as authored the Random House book Vino Journal. Barrie’s experience also includes positions as a tasting room manager, wine sales manager and a retail wine buyer.

Cleveland has dozens of wine related clients in California, Oregon, New York and British Columbia. He has created social media and online marketing programs for wineries and has been an active participant within the wine media and regularly attends the Wine Bloggers Conference. His firm is a member of seven regional wine associations in California and helps sponsor many regional wine events throughout the state.

Cleveland studied wine at Fresno State University and earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. He is active in local technology and non-profit organizations. For recreation Cleveland enjoys long distance bike riding, ocean swimming and wine tasting.

Bob Dickey: Wine Expert, Contributing Writer & Photographer to LaVitaFresca

Bob immerses himself in wine in every way, except literally. He has studied winemaking, wine growing and wine business at Hancock College and UC, Davis—and attended wine conferences throughout the state. He has participated in every aspect of winemaking from pruning to pouring; co-hosted a radio wine show; served as art director of Wine&Dine SB; taught wine marketing at Hancock College; and designed the SIDEWAYS map. He currently teaches wine classes for Elderhostel/Road Scholars; speaks to assorted groups; and leads tours through the Santa Barbara Wine Country. He photographs the local wine country for local and national publications and major wine events such as: Santa Barbara Vintners’ festivals, The World of Pinot Noir; The Chardonnay Symposium; The CCWC Dinner at Hearst Castle and the International Food & Wine Festival. He is an associate member of the Santa Barbara County Vintners’ Association. We are extremely honored to have Bob Dickey’s expertise, creativity, art, eloquence and collaboration on La Vita Fresca.

Paul Broeker, Contributing Writer & Photographer

Paul Broeker is a retired guy living the good life in Santa Barbara. He started getting interested in the wines of the region in 1980. Since then he has spent most of his money on women and wine; the rest of it he has just wasted. Well, since he’s hanging out with LaVitaFresca, he’ll still find himself surrounded by women and wine! He is a contributing writer and photographer to LaVitaFresca and we love having him on our team.