Jaton B. Gunter – Professional Speaker Bio
Jaton B. Gunter is a Certified Sommelier, author, publisher, wine educator, and entrepreneur dedicated to making wine more approachable, inclusive, and culturally relevant. With nearly two decades of experience in the wine industry and more than twenty years in hospitality and customer service, he has built a career at the intersection of wine, food, literature, and storytelling.
Jaton began his wine journey by creating the blog Good Wines Cheap, where he introduced everyday consumers to affordable wines while breaking down the barriers that often make wine feel intimidating. His passion for education and hospitality eventually led him to become a Certified Sommelier in 2011 and to spend over a decade working in San Francisco's renowned hospitality scene. During his career, he has served as Wine Director at Eno Wine Bar in Union Square and later as Wine Bar Manager and Wine Director at Calabash, where he developed innovative wine programs and demonstrated the versatility of pairing wine with diverse global cuisines.
As an author, Jaton published Fruit In Glass, an engaging exploration of wine myths, facts, and opinions that encourages readers to experience wine with confidence rather than intimidation. His expertise and commitment to wine education earned him recognition as a Top Five finalist for Sommelier of the Year at the Wine & Culture Fest.
In 2018, Jaton founded Grapes & Sand Publishing, an independent publishing company focused on producing books that celebrate wine, food, culture, fiction, and diverse voices. Through his publishing work, he has expanded his mission beyond wine service to help authors share meaningful stories that educate, inspire, and entertain. He also collaborated with Chef Armando Tam on the cookbook It's A Vibe, combining culinary creativity with thoughtfully curated wine pairings that showcase the connection between food and wine.
As a speaker, Jaton combines practical expertise with engaging storytelling, making complex wine topics accessible to audiences of all experience levels. His presentations blend history, science, culture, hospitality, and personal experience to create educational sessions that are both informative and entertaining. Whether speaking to hospitality professionals, wine enthusiasts, aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, or community organizations, he is known for delivering presentations that leave audiences inspired, empowered, and eager to continue learning.
His speaking topics include wine appreciation, food and wine pairing, hospitality leadership, entrepreneurship, independent publishing, storytelling, branding, and the cultural impact of wine throughout history. He also speaks on building authentic customer experiences, developing successful wine programs, and creating businesses driven by purpose and passion.
Today, Jaton continues to educate through books, live events, podcasts, newsletters, digital media, and speaking engagements while developing new literary and wine-focused projects through Grapes & Sand Publishing. His mission remains simple yet powerful: to help people discover that wine is not about exclusivity—it's about connection, conversation, culture, and bringing people together one glass and one story at a time.
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