Presented By Saint Francis Health Care Foundation Viscount Sponsors Citi Smith Barney Professional Radiation Oncology Services Special Thanks Cosimo's Restaurant Save the Date

The Ultimate Wine Experience Team

Chef Jason Kooperman

A Hudson Valley native, Jason completed his culinary training at The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park after reeiving his degree in hotel restaurant management from SUNY Delhi in upstate NY. He is currently the general manager/executive chef at Cosimo's Trattoria in Poughkeepsie. Jason has worked with Cosimo's Restaurant Group (CRG) to open and run several restaurants throughout the Hudson Valley, including Torches on Hudson, Via Nove, and Cosimo's Woodbury. In 2004 Jason was an integral part of the CRG team which won the Sonnenschmidt award for Best Restaurant in the Hudson Valley at the Taste of the Hudson Valley. Prior to joining CRG, Jason was a private chef in Southport, CT and worked for many prestigious restaurants in the Hudson Valley. He continues to maximize opportunities to expand his culinary techniques, assisting with local non-profits in high-end benefit dinners working with such guests as Certified Master Chef Victor Gielisse, Associate Vice President and Dean of Culinary and Baking & Pastry Arts at the CIA and Chef Waldy Malouf, owner/chef of Beacon Restaurant in NYC.

Peter Landolt - Viscount Wine Director

With over 30 years experience in the wine business, Peter has been the Wine Director at Viscount Wines and Liquor in Wappinger Falls, NY since 1986 after serving in the same capacity in both Westchester and Dallas, TX. Viscount is the largest wine and liquor store in the Hudson Valley with a selection of 8,000 wines. Since 1999, Peter has been the Wine Director for the Taste of the Hudson Valley. Peter is the father of two sons, one living in Hong Kong and one serving in the U.S. Air Force, as well as a grandfather of two little boys.

Rick Schofield - Event Wine Director

Originally from Montreal, Rick started working in restaurants at age 16 in the Albany area. In 1995, while Head Sommelier at The Sagamore in Bolton Landing, NY he was recruited by The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park for the position of Beverage Manager. Most notably, Rick developed and arranged the CIA's acclaimed Winter Dining Series and taught adult education classes. In 1999, Rick joined the team at Viscount Wines and Liquor. He is an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers; a Certified Wine Educator with the Society of Wine Educators; an International Bordeaux Educator with the Conseil Interprossionnel du Vin de Bordeaux; and a Spanish Wine Educator through the Spanish Wine Academy.