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about our instructors
Dina Given, DipWSET, Founder & Lead Educator
Dina Given lives in New Jersey, with a part-time residence in Celebration, FL. She was a wine lover and collector long before she began her formal wine education journey. She was even spotlighted in the July 2017 issue of Wine Spectator magazine for her home wine cellar. After a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, she decided to step away to pursue her passion for wine.
Dina started on the WSET path in 2018, eventually earning her WSET Diploma in 2022, achieving Distinction in tasting and Merit in theory, and winning the prestigious Gerard Basset Memorial Prize and McNie Tasting Trophy for earning some of the highest marks on the WSET Diploma D3 Still Wines of the World tasting examination.
After gaining industry experience in wine retail, winery tasting rooms, restaurant consulting, and even working in the vineyard during harvest, Dina launched her own (aptly named) wine events business called The Wine Diva. As The Wine Diva, Dina hosts private and unique wine tasting events, such as a Wine Murder Mystery and Wine Escape Room that combine both education and entertainment.
When she’s not teaching or hosting events, Dina enjoys cooking, eating great food, travel, fitness, golf, hiking, volunteering for several dog rescues, and spending time with her family – her husband, two teens, and adorable mini Australian Shepard.
Laura Cakolli, Course Educator
Laura Cakolli, who has resided in Bucks County, PA for over 25 years, began her love of wine when living in Switzerland in the 1990s. While Laura continued to work in Finance & Accounting in the Pharmaceutical industry area for 35+ years, her passion for wine continued to grow. Learning as much as she could while working and raising a family, she knew that one day she would pursue further education and a career in in wine. Since retiring in late 2022, Laura has obtained certifications in WSET Levels 2 and 3 and is now pursuing the WSET Diploma. For Laura it is a journey that never stops.
Laura has always had a passion for teaching, always volunteering to conduct training in her corporate America days, and can now use that passion to teach others, as enthusiastic as herself, about wine!
When Laura is not studying for Diploma or teaching, she enjoys cooking and baking, jogging and strength training, traveling, especially to Europe and their home in Montenegro, and spending time with her husband, 3 young adult children and, of course, her dog!
