A French native, Laure has been fortunate enough to grow up in a family strongly connected to wine, with vineyards in several wine regions in France, and for whom wine truly defines a way of life.

After a 20-year career in the corporate world as an International Marketing Executive, at Procter and Gamble/Nivea/Coty/L’Oréal, Laure decided to create Queen of Wines LLC out of passion. Her company’s mission is to connect wine lovers in the US with smaller family-owned estates who have been producing highly sustainable, authentic wines for generations.

She sources, imports, and distributes a curated selection of Gem Wines from a variety of terroirs and appellations, in France, Italy, Germany, South Africa, Argentina, and the USA. Laure and her team are dedicated to expanding wine lovers’ palates, and helping them create fond memories on their journey experiencing the fruit of these vineyards.

Brianna is the administrative, marketing, and what-ever-needs-doing assistant at Queen of Wines.  She has a degree in photography, and so not surprisingly spent almost fifteen years in the hospitality industry.  She has helped develop and manage restaurants in Chicago, Charleston, and Durham, NC, serving a range of fine cuisine from the old world and the new.

A lover of wine, Brianna has had the pleasure of working with some true wine experts, including her teammates here at Queen of Wines.  When not hard at work, Brianna enjoys camping, fishing, and spending time with her fiancé and three stepsons.

For administrative and marketing inquiries, contact Brianna at brianna@queenofwines.com.

The son of a naval officer, Jack grew up moving often, living on both coasts of the United States, Ecuador, and Italy, and developing deep connections with regional cuisines and cultures. Life led Jack into the restaurant industry, working in California and Virginia before settling in NC in 2014.  Wine has played an integral role in the success Jack has seen during his 15 years in the restaurant industry.

As a member of the Queen of Wines team, Jack loves the challenges he faces, as well as the relationships he is building within the community he now calls home.  He is thrilled to work for a company where he can continue to grow, develop, and expand his understanding of the global wine industry, while maintaining the personal touch of a small business atmosphere.

In his free time, Jack enjoys all things outdoors. From fishing at Wrightsville Beach, to hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains every summer, Jack takes full advantage of the natural beauty of NC.

To set up a tasting with Jack, email jack@queenofwines.com.

A native of North Carolina, Arwen has spent two decades in operations management, and program design and implementation in public and private companies. Arwen’s expertise lies in communications, customer service, sales, inventory control, workflow and office management, data collection, research, and staff management.

As Operations Manager for Queen of Wines her responsibilities are multi-faceted and involve all parts of the company.  One of her most exciting roles is to ensure efficiency in importing and distribution of our wines, to bring the best value possible to our customers.

Arwen holds a master’s degree in Building Science and Environmental Technology from Appalachian State University, where she first learned to manage multi-layered projects.

For general Queen of Wines inquiries, contact Arwen at arwen@queenofwines.com.

Mitch Bowling has been part of the Triangle food and beverage world since he was 4 years old, sitting on prep tables of his Chef-Father’s finest kitchens. Although he did not fill his father’s shoes in the kitchen, he worked in service and fine dining for over a decade.

Working all over Raleigh, specializing in wine stewardship and premier service, his love of wine took him to France to further his study. Taking his Sommelier test, and running beverage programs, he eventually took his corkscrew and made his way into the distribution world.  As a sommelier, he is always focusing on bringing European palates to southern hospitality.

Mitch is a father of three and can always be found keeping his family passionate about the world of food.

To arrange a tasting with Mitch, email mitch@queenofwines.com.

Following an early retirement as a Postmaster in the US Postal Service, Jane followed her love of wine into her present career.

She first worked with Beaufort Wine and Food Inc, bringing her organizational and customer service skills to help expand the non-profit organization, establishing their retail wine store, which hosts weekly tastings and monthly wine seminars.

Jane is the most senior Wine Ambassador, using her skills to help grow Queen of Wines. A Beaufort resident, she allows us to maintain close contact with our coastal partners and grow our business in that region.

To arrange your tasting with Jane, please email jane@queenofwines.com.

Based in Winston-Salem, Thad has served as a Regional Wine Ambassador for Queen of Wines in the Triad and Blue Ridge Mountains since 2021. With 5+ years of experience working in restaurants, he loves customer service and understands the importance of communication with his clients and their customers.

Thad takes a listen-first sales approach, recognizing the individuality of each client and tailoring his work to them. He designs and implements staff training sessions, which are as engaging as they are educational, to help service staff understand what they are selling, and how to sell it with confidence.

Thad graduated from Duke University with a B.A. in Cultural Anthropology, and certificate in Markets & Management. His hobbies include travel, playing soccer, and watching college basketball.

To contact Thad and arrange a tasting, please email thad@queenofwines.com.

A native New Yorker, James has spent over a decade in the wine trade.  He’s hosted high-profile dinners, pairings and events with the winemakers of Long Island’s North Fork.  A restaurant-trained chef, he ran a craft beer & barbecue concept before starting his own packaged goods portfolio.  His premiere product, Wine-Infused French Macarons, garnered the praise of ABC’s The Chew and Edible.

James was as a Manhattan Sales Manager with the brands of Sam Adams, before jumping ship for Durham. As a Real Estate Advisor, he’s in-tune with NC’s growing neighborhoods.  He first encountered Queen of Wines as a buyer before enthusiastically joining the team

James loves classic film, vinyl, travel, his family and friends, Crosby (his Poodle), and he doesn’t hate wine either…

To set up a tasting with James, email james@queenofwines.com.

Just as our Wine Ambassadors strive to bring you the perfect Gem Wines for your establishment and your customers, our dedicated team of Deliver Professionals are hard at work to literally bring you your selections every week.

Meet Donovan & Reggie, who deliver all across the Piedmont and Western NC, and Kevin, who you will see in our Coastal regions.

These gentlemen are dedicated to our customer’s satisfaction and success, using all the tools at their disposal to ensure you receive consistently prompt and accurate deliveries.

Before calling Charlotte home, Kellee was born and raised in Southern California.  Kellee has worked in fine-dining establishments, craft breweries, private country clubs, exclusive banquet halls, kitchens, and private residences.

Kellee has held numerous positions, including server, line cook, bartender, bar manager, event coordinator, promoter, and catering manager.  Her two decades of customer service experience extend beyond hospitality to healthcare, business relations, and real estate.

A true wine lover, foodie, artist, and mother of two, Kellee truly enjoys meeting new people and making a positive impact on others. She believes wine should be approachable, fun, and enjoyed by all.  She loves discovering the wants and needs of her clients, and providing them with the perfect high-quality wines at an amazing value.

To set up your first tasting with Kellee, email kellee@queenofwines.com.

Growing up in New York, Lorraine started working in fine dining restaurants at 16, where she gained a love of food and wine.  After moving to Southern Pines, NC, Lorraine received her culinary and hospitality degrees.  She has had the pleasure of working in some of the finest restaurants in Moore County, both as a chef and front of the house manager.

Before joining Queen of Wines, Lorraine first expanded her knowledge of wine working for Empire Distributors as an on-premise sales representative.  Lorraine is thrilled to be a member of the Queen of Wines Ambassador team, and to bring the portfolio of Gem Wines to Moore County and the surrounding areas.

To set up your tasting with Lorraine, email lorraine@queenofwines.com.