Welcome to Episode 1955, in which Cynthia Chaplin interviews May Matta-Aliah in this installment of Voices, on the Italian Wine Podcast.  More about today’s guest:  For close to 20 years, May's had her finger on the pulse of the wine and spirits scene in New York City.  May represents wine and spirits regions and brands as their primary educator and ambassador. She has taught countless seminars to industry professionals and has presented at high visibility conferences such as Tales of the Cocktail, San Antonio Cocktail Classic, New York Wine Expo, Society of Wine Educator Annual Conference and the French Wine Society Annual Conference. May is also a long time instructor at the prestigious International Wine Center, where she has been teaching the classes of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and served as an adjunct professor at the City Tech, CUNY.  It is May’s ability to deliver messages that are keenly tailored to her audience that makes her a sought-after educator. Her ability to contextualize information and make it relatable to current market trends while delivering deep knowledge in an approachable manner; allows her to captivate her audience be they seasoned professionals looking for the differentiator or consumers looking to expand their horizons. Connect: Website:https://www.inthegrape.com/  About today’s Host: Cynthia Chaplin is a VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador, a professional sommelier with FIS and the WSA, a member of Le Donne del Vino, and a Professor of Italian wine and culture. Born in the USA, she’s lived in Europe since 1990. Italian wine, in particular rosé, is her passion. She works with embassies, corporations and private clients, creating and presenting tastings, events, seminars and in-depth courses. Cynthia is a wine writer, a judge at international wine and sake competitions, she consults with restaurants and enotecas developing comprehensive wine lists and food pairings, and she advises clients who want to curate an Italian wine collection. She currently works for Vinitaly International in Verona as a Project Manager, Educator, and the host of VOICES Series on The Italian Wine Podcast, focusing on diversity and inclusion in the global wine industry. Connect: Facebook: Italian Wines in English Instagram: kiss_my_glassx Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-chaplin-190647179/ _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Share this pod! Remember Voices is all about diversity, equity, and heart-warming personal stories about real people!