WCA Board

Ralph Del Rio

Founder and CEO

Ralph Del Rio has a vision and a mission. This mission is to have a place that will provide educational opportunities through science and research to search for cures to the potentially devastating diseases to grapevines and vineyards. 

The vision is for this place be dedicated exclusively to protecting and promoting grapevine education while promoting the health benefits of wine which include the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, cognitive decline, depression, infections, and cancer. 

Just like humans, grapevines and vineyards can get sick. 

Ralph Del Rio is the Chairman of the Board and Founder of Wine Correspondent Alliance, a comprehensive nonprofit organization that he founded as a wine society in 2006. Under Ralph’s leadership, the Wine Correspondent Alliance has become a cutting-edge leader in valuing and sustainably for the acute need of professional development of qualified disease scientists, epidemiologists, educators and economists. Ralph, a dynamic correspondent, thought leader and true outlier has been an influential and inspiring grassroots voice in wine studies for nearly 20 years. He works in partnership with organizations, communities, and businesses to find solutions to ensure the sustainability of our natural resources. Hence, this mission is to support viticultural, virology, epidemiology, plant genetics and Enological sciences.

Ralph serves on the advisory council for the American Wine Society and is an Officer at Good Times Tobacco, Inc. He is a member of the National Society of Accountants and aided the SERVE Organization and 'The Great American Teach In' Ralph was also named to the National Department of Labor Network during the Obama administration.

Ralph began his career with The Boeing Company, serving as Lead Accountant at Kennedy Space Center and later became the director of MLI Marketing Solutions. He holds a Finance and Accounting degree from Florida International University, a Master of Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University and a Wine Business Executive Gradation from the UC Davis. Ralph also has a Project Management Certification from the University of Florida and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies from Nova Southeastern University.

A world traveler, baseball enthusiast, art curator, wine writer, and Certified Somm, Ralph is based in Tampa, Florida.

 

Secretary/ VP for Scholarships and Private Development

Mary B. Holdfelder

 

Treasurer

Jennifer L. Saavedra

 

Michael Cuervo

VP for Corporate Development

 

Ricardo Roig

Corporate Counsel

 

Tracy Taylor

Trustee Emeritus