Clare Tooley

Clare lives in California with her husband and two sons, and she’s not just any ordinary Californian – she’s the VP of Guest Experience with the Boisset Collection, based in the heart of Napa Valley. Her love for wine started in London, where she worked with John Armit Wines after completing a French and Spanish degree and choral scholarship at Clare College, Cambridge University. In 2000, she joined Direct Wines Ltd as a buyer, and in 2006, she moved to France to live near Bordeaux for eight years, managing the group’s winery and traveling extensively in North America, Europe, and Asia.
In 2014, Clare moved to California to become the Director of wine development for Lionstone International, sourcing for national wine clubs, including the Wall Street Journal, Laithwaites, Virgin, TCM, NPR, and National Geographic. But her love for wine education didn’t stop there. She also instructs for the Napa Valley Wine Academy. In 2022, she joined Jean-Charles Boisset and oversees all aspects of his family’s Direct to Guest wineries and retail operations in the US. Clare is a Champagne Academician (class of 2004) and has been inducted as a Chevalier of Burgundy, Bordeaux, and Champagne. With her extensive knowledge and experience in the wine industry, she’s truly a wine connoisseur extraordinaire!