Our Team
Who We Are
Erin Henderson
Founder & Chief Sommelier
A certified sommelier, journalist and wine educator, Erin literally drinks and throws parties for a living. Having earned her designation from the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers in 2008, she worked for some of Toronto’s leading venues, including Canoe and the Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto, before opening The Wine Sisters.
Experience
A regular guest wine and drinks expert on CTV’s The Social, Erin’s wine writing has also been featured in the Huffington Post, Maclean’s, theloop.ca, and Canadian Meetings and Events magazine. She also wrote a tour guide to visiting to Niagara and Prince Edward County wine country called Lake Ontario Uncorked.
Erin is frequently asked to speak on her experience as an entrepreneur and woman working in the wine industry. She has also acted as the emcee for industry conferences such as IncentiveWorks (now Canadian Meetings and Events), the International Association of Conference Centres, and Copper Skillet chef’s competition.
Danielle Chandler
Certified Sommelier
Danielle started her working life as an HR learning consultant and lawyer … until she realized the wine bar was way more fun than the legal one.
Experience
Throughout her legal and HR career, Danielle always had a passion for good food, great company and amazing wine, and quickly realized it was time to turn what was a passionate hobby into a profession. She completed her Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) certification and is currently working towards her Italian Wine Scholar designation.
Danielle’s philosophy about wine and wine tasting is that it should be an enjoyable and approachable experience; that it’s not about high price and pretense but learning what’s new and interesting and having an open mind to what all the wide world of wine has to offer.
Lara Jordan
Certified Sommelier
An actress, mother, and wine pro, Lara has an unwavering enthusiasm for entertaining, wine and spirits.
Experience
Lara completed formal wine studies through George Brown College receiving her Wine Specialist Certificate, and then went on to receive the internationally recognized WSET 3 designation as well as the Italian Wine certification. When not working in front of the camera or volunteering at kindergarten, you can find her tasting her way through the Toronto food and wine scene – especially after Kindergarten wraps, happy hour has never been so welcome.
Alexa MacAlister
Certified Sommelier
Alexa discovered her interest in wine while studying hospitality at the University of Guelph. From there, her passion led her to a post-grad program at Niagara College – the perfect place to dip her toes into the wine industry by working at the premium boutique estate The Foreign Affair Winery.
Experience
Alexa has now been working in the wine and spirits industry for six years in a variety of sales and marketing roles (as well as one exciting day spent in production!). Currently, Alexa is completing the rigorous WSET Diploma program. Bright, bubbly and well-balanced are a few words to describe Alexa and her approach to wine – which makes her a perfect wine-sister-from-another-mister!
Heidi Meisinger
Certified Sommelier
Heidi spent the first part of her career path as an entrepreneur in the Health & Fitness field.
Experience
After 10 years of being a business owner she needed a new challenge and found it in sales, catering & events in luxury hotels. It was in this role where she tried her first Sancerre and found her true passion. She went on to complete her WSET Advanced level and it’s been love ever since. Heidi has been an integral part of The Wine Sisters since 2017. She can’t wait to share her love of all things wine with you!
Aimee Fowler
Certified Sommelier
You could say that hospitality is in Aimee’s blood.
Experience
Growing up in a bed and breakfast and spending her early years working in restaurants and private golf clubs sealed her destiny for being the ultimate party hostess. But it wasn’t until university where she was enrolled in beverage management, that the wine bug bit. She’s has her WSET Level 3 certification and is currently completing her WSET diploma.
Alex Murphy
Certified Sommelier
Alex has found wine to be the perfect pairing to her love of travel.
Experience
Alex has traveled around the world, tasting wine in vineyards from South Africa to France to Hungary. She’s also made her tastings official with formal wine studies, including internationally recognized designations (WSET 3 and Italian Wine Scholar). So far, the only downside to a love of wine has been trying to find space in a tiny Toronto home for her ever growing wine collection. In her spare time, you can find her wrangling her toddler, at the local wine bar, or hosting a tasting at home – perhaps juggling two of the three, you can decide which.
Leslie Reigert
Certified Sommelier
Surrounded by great food, strong women & fine art, Leslie’s foray into the wine world began at the Art Gallery of Ontario.
Experience
After working in hospitality for many years at some of Toronto’s finest restaurants, Leslie completed her Sommelier program at the ISG in 2005. Deciding the restaurant floor was no longer for her, she made the leap to become a successful Wine Sales Rep, with a blue chip portfolio of some of the world’s best wines. Leaving it all behind to travel the world, Leslie came to The Wine Sisters in 2018 after returning from a year-long journey to wine regions afar. She is excited to share her stories and passion for wine & travel with anyone who will listen.
The Wine Sisters continuously travel, explore and learn about the ever-changing world of wine.
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