OUR PEOPLE
DAVID SHIVERICK
Founder & President
“Great wine is like a great person, you may not like the wine or the person, but you can recognize their greatness.” -David Shiverick
David Shiverick is a foremost wine expert in the United States, renowned throughout Europe for his expertise in old world wines. David’s wine portfolio reads as one of the most prestigious wine books in the industry, offering premiere wines from France, Italy, Portugal, Austria and Germany.
David was an early champion of authentic wine, and pioneered the search and discovery of ancestral vineyards making magnificent natural wine. Each wine, winemaker or estate must have history, a story, and a commitment to natural methods of production – no aggression or manipulation of the product. Once found, Shiverick builds a market for each individual wine – which he has continued to successfully do throughout his 30-plus years of devotion to wine. It is his hope that the producers he discovers today, can endeavor to be around in 500 years, and beyond.
His career has included many milestones, such as partaking in the creation of the wine auction division at Christies in NYC, becoming a leading expert on pairing wines with specific foods, and owning the Domaine de la Trompetaire vineyard in Maury, France which produces his own highly-acclaimed Fin De Folie wines.
Growing up in Cleveland, Ohio in an epicurean family with a love of wine and its relationship to good food, David developed an early intrigue in varieties of wine and the process by which it is made. Studying geology in college only intensified his respect for the character inherent to all things growing from the layers of the earth. Travelling through Europe during the late '70s, exploring and connecting the dots, translated into a lifelong love affair with the vine and how it reflects its home.
David is an experienced fiddle player, a student of history, and a master storyteller - engaging listeners and making them laugh with his offbeat, acerbic wit, and seemingly impossible tales. He is an honorable member of La Confrérie du Vin de Cahors, La Commanderie de Bordeaux, Cavalieri di Bacco, and an officer of La Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.
He lives in Los Angeles with his life partner, film and TV producer, Robin Jonas, and is happy to have his two daughters nearby. Hope joined the company in 2016, making Shiverick Imports a family business; and Molly is a Director of Product Marketing at Matillion.
HOPE SHIVERICK
Vice President
Hope was predestined to work in wine. At 17, she staged for Lee Hudson and his vineyard crew in Carneros, California. This experience as well as the guidance of the countless talented people she met that summer inspired her to pursue a degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis the following year. During her four years in Davis, she earned a degree in V&E with a minor in Economics while playing lacrosse at the Division I level.
Upon graduation, she joined prominent California wholesaler, the Henry Wine Group, where she began as their Downtown Los Angeles sales representative and was promoted to Los Angeles District Manager soon after. Her credentials include French Wine Scholar, CMS Certified Sommelier, and WSET Advanced Certification.
She began her journey with the Shiverick Imports team in 2016 as the California Sales Manager and is currently the Vice President. She greatly enjoys working alongside her father, David, who first introduced her to the world of wine many years prior. Together, they continue to shape the Shiverick Imports portfolio and its role in the U.S. wine scene.
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RACHEL JEFFEARS
Sales Manager - New York
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After graduating college with degrees in Acting and French, Rachel headed to New York and ended up working in the restaurant scene while pursuing acting jobs. At her tenure with the acclaimed Eleven Madison Park, where she received extensive wine training, Rachel decided that she could turn her passion for food and wine into a career. Rachel is currently working on her DWS at the International Wine Center in New York and is always looking for new recipes she can cook for her friends and family!
LESLIE BOSSON
Accounting
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Leslie originally hails from the state of Vermont and moved to Los Angeles almost 20 years ago. She worked for many years in the entertainment business as a Production Accountant for HBO, Universal Studios and Twentieth Century Fox before going solo as an independent bookkeeper. Her interests include singing in her band with her husband as well as collecting vintage cookbooks. Leslie loves all things food and wine so when the opportunity came up to join the Shiverick team it was a perfect pairing.
MICHAEL SEILER
Director of Operations
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Hailing from Duluth, Minnesota, Mike moved to Los Angeles to pursue a degree in Economics from USC. After working in the entertainment industry at a talent agency, Mike joined Shiverick in July 2017 to pursue his passion for wine. He developed his love of wine by eating at restaurants around LA, exploring the California Central Coast, and studying up through books and tastings. His love of old world wine is only matched by his love for trying out new and funky varietals. Outside of the office, Mike is often playing tennis, running around the Silver Lake Reservoir, and jamming on his guitar.
ANNIE GALLAGHER
National Sales Coordinator
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Annie is a California native and spent her summers with family at wineries all along the coast. She developed a love for all things having to do with wine and traveled throughout Europe, further developing her passion. She moved to France and immersed herself in the French wine culture, where she earned her degree at CAFA Wine School in Bordeaux. Eventually she returned to her California roots, where she joined the Shiverick Imports team. When she is not studying and enjoying wine, you can find Annie at the local record store, at the beach with her dog, or traveling to all corners of the world.
FIAMMA PSCHAIDT
Operations, Sales, & Compliance
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Fiamma graduated from CalPoly SLO with a bachelors in Wine and Viticulture as well as Global Politics with a focus in Wine Business. During her time at Cal Poly, Fiamma worked for many different wine companies along the central coast and did her harvest internship in Germany to better help build her wine industry knowledge. After graduating in 2022, she worked for a major corporate wine and spirits distributor before joining the Shiverick team in February of 2023. She is very excited to continue her career with a team that's as excited about wine as she is. When she's not working or tasting new wines she is seen practicing for a fight at her Muay Thai gym, perusing vintage book/clothing stores, spending time at the beach, or hanging out with her cat.
ELIZABETH FLAX
Marketing
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Elizabeth started her corporate career in San Francisco, where she instantly gravitated toward the food and wine scene. In 2010, Elizabeth earned her WSET Level 2 Award in Wine & Spirits. In 2015, after more than a decade as a public relations professional for global high-tech companies, Elizabeth decided to dedicate herself to her passion in wine and joined Shiverick as a wine sales representative and marketing/PR consultant. She is now working toward her WSET Level 3 status and dreams of becoming a full-fledged Master of Wine. A Texas-native, her love of good food and wine, cooking and hospitality runs through her veins.
JENNA ALLENSWORTH
Sales - Santa Barbara
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After growing up in Valencia, Jenna moved to Santa Barbara and attended UCSB where she majored in Art Studio. Just after college Jenna got her dream job as a clothing buyer for the local surf shop, unfortunately not at dream wages, so she started working in restaurants to supplement her income. This led to a position as the wine and spirits buyer at a local Tapas Bar and then subsequently a job at the oldest wine shop in Santa Barbara. From there, Jenna truly developed her passion for European wines and eventually decided to try out the other side of the wine business, as a Fine Wine Specialist for the Henry Wine Group. After a little over two and a half years with Henry, Jenna’s strong love of old world wines brought her to Shiverick and she couldn't be happier!
DEIDRE MAGNELLO
Sales - Connecticut
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Deidre grew up in the business of food and wine. After practicing as an attorney for a short time, she returned to her first passion by opening West Side Wines in West Hartford, Connecticut. Her retail experience expanded with a second store that included specialty food, gourmet-to-go, and catering in addition to wine and spirits. For the last 12 years, she has focused on the importing and distribution side of the industry, which she finds a perfect fit for her love of tasting and teaching. She has traveled extensively in Italy and France, developing a particularly deep knowledge of those wine-producing regions. In the rare moments she is not cooking, eating, or drinking, Deidre can be found in her garden or playing with her dogs.
ADAM MAHLER
Sales - Ohio / Michigan / Kentucky / Illinois
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Adam Mahler’s career in the wine industry began in California in 1998 as he was working his way through film school. Wine eventually stole his passion from film and demanded his attention as he rose to Sommelier of Michel Richard’s Citronelle in Santa Barbara. Adam and his family ultimately chose to relocate back to their hometown of Toledo and in 2004 he began to work for Shiverick’s then, Ohio distribution company. Shiverick ultimately relocated to California, and in 2009, Adam started his own business, Ampelography, a fine wine sales and marketing company. Currently, Adam represents Shiverick in Ohio, Michigan and Illinois.
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MARK MURPHY
Sales - Texas
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Mark Murphy grew up in Omaha, Nebraska. He moved to Houston, Texas after finishing up at Creighton University.
When his family started growing, he decided that he would exit the record business and check out the wine biz! Mark has owned wine distributorships, managed them, and when COVID hit, he decided to start his own brokerage business. Mark met David Shiverick in 2004 and has been promoting David's wines ever since!
When Mark is not popping corks, he is spending time working with one of the two Austin bands that he founded.
MIKE KIRLAN
Sales - Colorado / Arizona / Wisconsin
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Mike Kirlan is the founder of Handmade Wine Partners, where he champions small-batch, thoughtfully crafted wines that reflect authenticity and artistry. With a background in hospitality and brand development, Mike partners with passionate winemakers to elevate their stories and bring distinctive, high-quality wines to a broader audience. From vine to bottle, Mike’s curated portfolio reflects his commitment to artistry, integrity, and the unique stories behind each creator. His philosophy is simple: great wine is an expression of place, people, and purpose — and every bottle should tell a story.
FARLEY WHITE
Freelance Marketing & Web Design
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Based in Atlanta, Farley works as Brand and Marketing Consultant. Her passion for wine developed while studying Luxury Brand Management at SCAD, and she went on to receive her WSET II in 2018. She began working on ad hoc projects for Shiverick during the summer of 2023. When she's not working, Farley enjoys trying rare varietals, cooking, and exploring the Southeast with her dogs.