Ilona Thompson

About the Author Ilona Thompson

As Drink Me’s very own Wine & Spirits Specialist, Ilona brings you the latest guides, must-know lists and thirst quenching stories to crave your imbibe indulgence.

Ilona is a serial entrepreneur with several successful ventures under her belt. Awestruck by the beauty of California wine countries, she moved to San Francisco Bay Area to pursue her passion for food and wine. She splits her time between visiting wine regions worldwide, attending a diverse variety of tastings and taking professional educational courses. She studied at the Culinary Institute of America and holds a California Wine Appellation Specialist certification.

Ilona covers numerous high profile wine events, such as Auction Napa Valley, Aspen Food and Wine Classic, Cayman Cookout, Nantucket Wine Festival, New York City Food and Wine Festival, and many more. She interviewed many of the most elusive, fascinating, highly notable chefs, vintners, distillers, winemakers and wine personalities. She is an editor for www.palatexposure.com and has contributed to such publications as Brenner Brief, Chic Metropolitan Magazine, Glass of Bubbly, Preiser Key to Napa Valley and Snooth. She also writes extensively about artisan spirits and wine tourism.

Fun Fact: Ilona is one of only 31 people followed by Robert Parker on Twitter.


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48 HoursCitiesDineLists, Guides & QuizzesNapa/SonomaSleepThirstTravel

48 Hours In Wine Country: A Perfect Weekend Guide To Healdsburg

  Die-hard Sonoma wine country fans have witnessed the sleepy, two-street town of Healdsburg blossom into an upscale destination, complete with world-class accommodations, tasting rooms, fine dining and craft cocktails. Here is my intimate, personal guide to spending a memorable weekend, filled with wonderful wine, fabulous food and rousing romance …

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DrinkFeatures

Drink Responsibly: What’s In Your Glass?

  Drinking responsibly is something everyone talks about. The newly formed International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), a non-profit organization, did something about it. They launched ResponsibleDrinking.org, a consumer-orientated site full of useful data on issues surrounding consumption of beverages containing alcohol. The data is based upon scientific evidence supplied by …

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Hennessy 250 Collectors Blend Drink Me Magazine
DrinkFeaturesSpirits

Happy 250th Anniversary to Hennessy!

World renown Hennessy just turned 250 years old. To commemorate the momentous occasion, the Hennessy 250 Collector Blend was created. It’s a fitting tribute to excellence, artistry, and passion of this universally recognized brand. This distinctive cognac is the product of an exceptional blending and aging processes. Hennessy Master Blender, …

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