Napa, California – June 19, 2025 — Napa Valley Wine Academy (NVWA), the leading provider of wine, spirits, and beer education in the U.S., is proud to announce the launch of its newest initiative: TasteCoach™ – Wine 101 in San Antonio, a quarterly guided wine tasting class designed to introduce the fundamentals of wine in a fun, approachable, and community-driven format. The first class will debut this July in San Antonio, Texas, in collaboration with NVWA alumni Monica Nino and Bryan Gonzales, also known as The Board Couple.
TasteCoach™ – Wine 101 brings wine lovers together to explore themed tastings while learning essential wine concepts—all without the pressure of formal certification. Designed to help participants build confidence and deepen appreciation, the program is an inclusive experience that connects individuals to quality education under the NVWA brand.
The class is designed to help participants build confidence, better understand their personal taste preferences, and walk away with a clearer sense of the wine styles they love. It’s an inclusive, community-focused experience that connects individuals to quality education under the NVWA brand.
“Our goal is to make wine education approachable, accessible, and inspiring,” says Christian Oggenfuss, CEO and Founder of Napa Valley Wine Academy. “We’re proud to partner with Monica and Bryan aka “The Board Couple,” passionate alumni and ambassadors of the NVWA mission—to launch TasteCoach™ – Wine 101 in a state where wine interest is growing rapidly and access to trusted education is more important than ever.” Texas, long recognized as one of the top wine-consuming states in the U.S., is experiencing a surge in wine curiosity and cultural engagement. As more Texans seek to understand and enjoy wine more deeply, NVWA is meeting the moment with programs that bring expert-led, community-focused education directly to consumers.
“Through our Professional Wine Educator (PWE) program, we’ve trained students how to teach wine thoughtfully and effectively,” says Catherine Bugue, Vice President of Education at Napa Valley Wine Academy. “We’re excited to launch this program with The Board Couple and look forward to partnering with more PWE alumni nationwide to bring TasteCoach™ – Wine 101 to even more cities across the U.S.”
Monica and Bryan, graduates of NVWA and accomplished hospitality entrepreneurs, will host the first cohort at their welcoming venue in San Antonio. This collaboration marks the first in a series of rollouts aimed at increasing access to quality wine education in vibrant and underserved markets, with more exciting initiatives in development alongside The Board Couple that will further expand the community-driven mission.
About Napa Valley Wine Academy
Napa Valley Wine Academy is the premier provider of wine, spirits, and beer education in the United States. Offering WSET certifications, expert-led masterclasses, immersive study trips, and its acclaimed Professional Wine Educator (PWE) Academy, NVWA is committed to making high-quality wine education accessible to all.
About The Board Couple
The Board Couple is a wine and food experience company based in San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country. Founded in 2018 by Monica Nino and Bryan Gonzales, their charcuterie board concept helped launch the pop culture of styling all over social media. Hosting wine events, workshops, wine clubs, cellar services, along with their charcuterie board delivery. Featured in The Wall Street Journal, USA Today’s 10Best, HGTV, they showcase their blend of hospitality with wine education. Traveling all over the world has given them firsthand knowledge to create a contemporary approach to wine fun!
With credentials including WSET, Champagne MOOCs, and Mount Etna Wine Ambassadors, The Board Couple continues to grow a passionate community of wine lovers across Texas; one board and bottle at a time.