ABOUT NOELLE ALLEN, DipWSET

I co-own and run PhillyWine School with my business partner, Dr. Matt Kirkland. We're based in Philadelphia, PA.  PhillyWine provides WSET Certification in wine, spirits, and sake, as well as independent, non-certification wine classes and events. The Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) is one of the world's leading providers in wine education, and WSET Certification is globally recognized. I am responsible for daily operations at PhillyWine and for creating long term strategies that support program sustainability, quality, and growth.

I am a WSET Diploma holder (the highest certification WSET offers) and have been teaching wine certification classes since 2018. In early 2024, I coached the Wharton Wine Team in the Left Bank Bordeaux Competition and we won first place with the highest tasting scores in ten years in the qualifier in the Americas. We took third place at the global competition in Bordeaux, France.

I have also worked in wine importing, was a freelance wine writer for Eater Philly, and ran my own education and lifestyle club called Wine LALA.

Prior to working in wine, I worked in finance and banking and was most recently a VP of Business Banking/Relationship Manager at a large commercial bank. I hold a BBA from James Madison University, and an MBA from Villanova University.

I happily left Corporate America to mix my love of business and strategy with the academic pursuit of wine.  Thanks to lessons learned and experiences had during this amazing and unexpected career shift, I also work as a motivational speaker to college and business students.