John Compisi has had a passion for writing about wine and food for over a decade. He, and wife Linda (photographer partner), lived in Northern California for over 25 years and recently resettled into Reno, Nevada. They have lived in 10 different states in the U.S. and have traveled extensively in Mexico, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom and Asia. As a freelance writer, John focuses on wine, food, lifestyle and travel, generally, on California wine country but occasionally venturing to other wonderful American and European wine regions. Particular passions are the wines of France and Italy where they have traveled extensively.
His knowledge of wine and food have resulted in John becoming Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) certified and a judge for several prestigious wine competitions to include The San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the Sierra Foothills Wine Competition and the El Dorado Open Wine Competition. Additionally, he has been a judge or jury member for the French American Business Awards (focused on the wine and food categories) which is conducted under the auspices of the French-American Chamber of Commerce San Francisco Chapter, The Taste Awards, often referred to as the Oscars of Food, Fashion and Lifestyle Media” Lifestyle programs on Television, in Film, in Online and Streaming Video, on Radio and in Podcasts, and Photography.
Most recently, John has cofounded the High Sierra Wine Society based in Reno, Nevada. The Wine Society hosts tastings of wines from the great wine regions around the world to educate and elevate the palates of its members during their bi-monthly gatherings. The Society membership has nearly 70 paid members. The programs engage local wine distributors, wine shop operators and the best winemakers they have met and befriended from the U.S. and Europe. Programs have included comparative tasting of five Bordeaux/Bordeaux style wines from France and California, Burgundy comparisons from France and Oregon, Southern Australian Wines, various Sonoma County Vintners and several wineries from Italy.
John has been published in five different anthologies edited and released by the Bay Area Travel Writers (of which he is a Board Member) and the Redwood Writers Branch of the California’s Writers Club. He is also a credentialed member of the International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association. Aside from occasional print outlets, John’s writing is found on their website: BitesFlightsandSights.com which they launched in 2019. They have nearly 2,000 subscribers (growing organically) and have had approximately 300,000 visits in about 4 years. Perhaps more importantly, they have over 30,000 social media followers among Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and X.