About Us
Our Team
VANESSA MOORE
PROPRIETOR
I’m an accidental entrepreneur. As much as I appreciate Champagne, craft beer, and stinky cheese, over the years I’ve gained more from you—my colleagues, clients, family, and friends than the business of wine could ever teach. Each day brings a greater appreciation for the products we sell and I’m forever grateful for the opportunity and support our community provides. I hope you’ll take a minute to get to know our team. They are an amazing bunch—intelligent, passionate, and hard-working; they make “clocking in” a true pleasure.Belle View Crew
JESSICA OUTER
VISION & MARKETING DIRECTOR, WINE BUYER
After 20+ years in corporate marketing, business strategy, sales, and employee engagement for Fortune 500 companies in the D.C. area, I decided to take a leap of faith and follow my one true love—wine! After having a blast and working part-time for over a year at the UnWined King St. location, I am thrilled to join the UnWined family full-time as the Vision & Marketing Director.
I am also the proprietor of Uncork’d Events where I specialize in unique wine experiences in-person and virtually. I pride myself on helping people create their own personal wine journeys and pushing them to get outside of their wine comfort zone. Personally, I’m a Pinot Noir gal—California, Oregon, France, Italy. You name it; I love it. So much so, I named my cat Pinot!
CHRISTOPHER SPARLIN WITT
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS UNWINED/REVEL, SENIOR CHEESEMONGER
A native of Alexandria, I practically grew up in museums and early on developed a love of art and culture. I was introduced to the world of fine wine as an event photographer over ten years ago, when I was given the opportunity to participate in one of some tasting events. I was hooked!
I’ve always had an appreciation for gastronomy, not just as food and drink but as a way to learn about other cultures as well. I eagerly took on a part-time position with UnWined in 2018 as a way to continue my education. In my now full-time role, I enjoy exploring and sharing my experiences with our customers.
GARY PEMBERTON
BEER BUYER
I’ve worked in the beverage industry for almost 20 years now. In addition to buying and selling beer and wine for established restaurants and retail shops, I’ve set up new retail beverage programs in both D.C. and Alexandria, and worked for a wholesaler.
But beer is not just my career, it’s my hobby. I’ve traveled the U.S. and the world, exploring beer in places from Bruges to Mallorca. (Yep, they have their own breweries.) I enjoy sharing my love of beer with customers and helping them learn through their own research, which is not unpleasant.
DAVID BAUSERMAN
ASSOCIATE BEER BUYER
I began my career as a mechanical engineer where my favorite part of the job was that the office was less than a mile from a brewery. Over the years I honed my passion for beer by being a frequent guest of UnWined exploring all that beer world had to offer. One day I walked over to the other side of the bar and they haven’t kicked me out yet. Now I enjoy helping curate our beer selection and leading people to the brew for them. When not at UnWined, I can be found spending time with my dog, playing Dungeons & Dragons, or at the record store.
TOM KISZKA
WINE ASSOCIATE, BUYER
After almost 20 years in the advertising research industry, mostly in Los Angeles which allowed frequent trips to the California wine country, I decided to dive into wine in the late 1990s. After a half dozen visits to my favorite local wine shop, I inquired about part-time work to break into the biz. A month later I was full-time and 10 months after that, I left the shop and partnered with a friend to build a new import-distribution company called Potomac Selections. Over the next 18 years, Potomac acquired the outstanding portfolios of Thomas Calder, Neal Rosenthal, Weygandt-Metzler, Brazos, vom Boden and others for distribution in the DMV.
A lover of cooler climate wines, great bubbles, Jever pils, good whiskey, and yoga, I live in Alexandria with my wife Flora, and our three adult children are happily scattered from NYC to Richmond.
BRIAN ACTON
WINE EDUCATOR, BUYER
I’m a cautionary tale of an accountant with a passion for food, wine, and travel who happened to have the right bottle of wine at the right time. It sucked me in; couldn’t be helped really. Though I’m a wine geek by disposition, I’m equally happy helping you find that rare bottle you didn’t know you were looking for, or just picking out something tasty to go with dinner tonight.
When I am not trying to figure out exactly how much Pigato or Pinello is too much for our market, you can find me at home playing with my daughter, cooking dinner, and hanging with my wife. We are probably drinking Champagne, Riesling, Nebbiolo, or Syrah.
JIM STANFIELD
WINE ASSOCIATE
I’m a rarity in northern Virginia — a native Virginian. I grew up near Lynchburg and graduated from Virginia Tech. I had a fulfilling 20-year career as an Air Force pilot; my last assignment to the Presidential Wing at Andrews AFB brought me to the DC area. After retiring from the Air Force, I continued my flying career with United Airlines. I began my third career with UnWined.
My travels introduced me to the infinite variety of wine, and my wife Barbara and I travel extensively visiting our favorite wine regions, with a particular passion for California.
KING STREET Crew
PAM SEATON
GENERAL MANAGER
My career in the food and wine industry started quite early, working for Marriott while still in high school. However, it was at Morton’s of Chicago where the wine bug really caught hold and I haven’t looked back.
Most recently I played a role in piloting a new wine bar concept in airports. As it took off, I began searching for the next adventure. Having known Vanessa for many years, as an industry colleague and longtime customer of UnWined, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to join her illustrious team; kindred spirits to my passion of wine.
It’s hard to choose my favorite region/style; like trying to choose my favorite Bond…Sean, Pierce, Daniel…France, Spain, California…I love them all!
MAGGIE JENKINS
WINE ASSOCIATE
My best days are spent with great music, food, and wine. Early in my career, I had the opportunity to travel, but being far from home, I realized that building a community was essential. I quickly learned that food and wine are effective tools to bring people together. As a customer of UnWined, brief conversations about wine at the shop led to longer ones that challenged me to find balance outside the corporate grind and lean into my passions. The opportunity to join the team was the perfect push toward that balance.
When I’m not at UnWined, you can find me working as a Product Strategist at a consulting firm, hanging out with family and friends (including my two perfect rescue pups), curating monthly playlists, crafting the perfect cup of coffee, or digging into a research rabbit hole of human development and mental wellness insights.
SUZY SLADE
WINE ASSOCIATE
Originally from the Chicago area, I grew up in a family that loves to entertain. Catering parties for family and friends, I learned early about the importance of good food and wine. After marrying my college sweetheart, his 29-year Air Force career gave us the opportunity to live and travel throughout the U.S. and Europe, where I was able to continue to fine tune my hospitality skills and wine discovery. I’ve been able to try on several careers—educator, real estate, and a chronic volunteer—though the best job was being a mom to our two boys.
During our final assignment, I was fortunate to work and expand my food and wine knowledge as the gourmet manager in one of San Antonio’s premier fine wine shops. I love traveling, biking, kayaking, paddle boarding, skiing, hiking, yoga and spending time with my grandchildren. I am so happy to be a part of the UnWined team!
MATTHEW CORRIGAN
WINE ASSOCIATE
My passion for wine began while living in Marin County just north of San Francisco in the early ‘90s. At that time, I was working in the film and television industry and on weekends, my wife and I would explore the wineries of Sonoma and Napa Valley. I was captivated by the hard work and determination of the winemakers and have spent the last 30 years reading scores of books, participating in hundreds of tastings, and embracing all things wine related.
In 2018, I decided to take my knowledge of wine to the next level by attending Capital Wine School, passing the WSET Level 3 Certification in 2020. In all of this, my greatest pleasure comes from helping people make a deeper connection to the wine in their glass.
JENNI HANNA
WINE ASSOCIATE
I’ve spent more than half my life in the restaurant and hospitality industry, and I’ll never forget the first time I tasted wine while working at an Italian restaurant in college. I fell in love with how it tasted and wanted to better understand why or what I loved about it. Later in life, I ended up owning that same restaurant and a catering company, where I wore all the hats from cooking, bartending, and serving to management and consulting.
In 2017, I moved to Northern Virginia, then recently made a leap of faith to leave restaurant management and follow my passion for wine. I’m learning something new every day, and relish this female-owned business where customers are considered family, and enhancing my wine education is a daily experience.