Lars J. Leicht

Advisory Council Member 

Lars J. Leicht is VP, Communication & Trade Relations for The Somm Journal as well as Sherpa-in-Chief of Vino Viaggio, an agency specializing in wine exploration, education and adventure. A former news reporter in Oneonta, NY, Leicht’s passion for Italian culture lured him to the wine business. Over a 33- year career with leading US wine importer Banfi Vintners, he held various leadership roles in sales, marketing, and public relations, working and living in the U.S., Europe, Canada, the Caribbean, and Asia. A habitual speaker at sommelier conferences, cooking schools and culinary universities, Leicht appeared in the movie Somm II: Into the Bottle. His Sherpa moniker derives from guiding scores of scribes, wine lovers and professionals through vineyards, wineries and food meccas in Italy, including scholarship trips with SommFoundation and SommSouth. As founder and de facto “Dean” of Cru Artisan College, Leicht has brought Italian winemakers on barnstorming trips across the U.S. for insightful seminars and exceptional tastings.