Christie Dufault, M.A.Ed., CHE is a professor of wine and beverage studies at The Culinary Institute of America. Previously, Dufault worked as wine director for fine restaurants including Gary Danko in San Francisco, where she was featured on the Food Network and earned the Grand Award from the Wine Spectator. Dufault attended Simmons College and earned her master’s degree in education from Sonoma State University. She holds the advanced certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers and is a recertified hospitality educator. In 2003, Dufault was named “Best Young Sommelier” by Wine & Spirits Magazine. As the head sommelier at Quince, Dufault was awarded “Best Wine Director 2007” by San Francisco Magazine. In 2009, Dufault helped open RN74, a Michael Mina restaurant. She has published articles about wine, cheese, and travel in The Art of Eating and Somm Journal. In 2012, Dufault co-authored a cookbook, Two in the Kitchen (2012 Williams-Sonoma), with her spouse, writer Jordan Mackay.  In 2019 Dufault was “knighted” into the Cavalieri del Vino e Tartufi d’Alba. In 2021, as an educator, Dufault received her biggest honor of “Wine Mentor of the Year” by Wine & Spirits Magazine. (Hyde Park, NY)