Kristin Jonna – Owner

Kristin Jonna is one of the leading wine educators in Metropolitan Detroit. After graduating from Michigan State University, Kristin moved to Sonoma Valley to spend a year working at Benziger Winery. Working closely with the winemaker and the winery’s hospitality team, she toured throughout California, tasting thousands of wines and analyzing the winemaking process.

In 1994 Kristin returned to Michigan to help run the family business, Merchants Fine Wine, one of the largest wine purveyors in the Midwest (founded originally by the Jonna family as Merchant of Vino). Her newest wine venture is Vinotecca, a unique wine bar, restaurant and retail store that both educates customers and celebrates the art of food and wine pairing. Vinology, her second wine bar and restaurant opened in Ann Arbor in April 2006.

Kristin travels the world to taste new wines and specialty food products to bring back to metropolitan Detroit. She continues the family traditions of excellence in customer service, product education, and innovative research to advance Merchant's Fine Wine as a leader in the wine, gourmet and specialty beverage retail marketplace.

Kristin has also become a much in-demand speaker on food and wine, both for private and corporate tastings. Her down-to-earth, entertaining style has helped to demystify the often intimidating subject of wine tasting and education. She has served on the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council Board, is president of metro Detroit’s largest wine enthusiast group, the Detroit Wine Organization, and participates in numerous charitable organizations throughout the area.