Annette Alvarez-Peters is the founder of annette a.p. Wine and Spirits, a consultancy business focused on business development and merchandising strategies for the wine and spirits industry.

Annette is an active Board member. She sits on the Board of Directors for Crimson Wine Group, a portfolio which engages in the production and sale of luxury wines and on the Growth Board of Advisors for MISA Imports, a global importer and distributor for wine and spirits. Alvarez-Peters is also involved in non-profit organizations as a member of the Board of Directors for Wine Unify, an organization to promote and celebrate diversity in the wine industry and Wine Market Council, a leader in forward-looking market research for the US market, and involved with the mentorship program for Batonnage Forum an organization for equality and forward progress for women in wine.

Annette previously held a 37 year career with Costco Wholesale - including 25 years in the beverage alcohol department, where she led the buying team for the USA. In addition, she led the development for wine and spirits for the successful private label brand, Kirkland Signature. Annette retired in January 2020 as Asst. Vice President / General Merchandise Manager with a global sales volume of approximately $4.8 billion (ending 2019).

She holds the Diploma certification from Wine & Spirit Education Trust, along with a Certified Wine Educator certificate from Society of Wine Educators. Annette was named Wine Business Monthly (WBM) Emeritus (2020) and Top Wine Industry Leader (2019 - 2017), Most Influential in the US Wine Industry from IntoWine.com in 2018 (No. 1), recognized as Retailer of the Year by Wine Enthusiast (2015), Washington State Wine Industry (2015) and MarketWatch (2011). She was also named to Decanter’s Power List in 2013 (No.4) and biennially since 2007 and in Fortune/Food and Wine Top 25 Innovative Women, Food & Drink (2014).

She has been inducted into the following wine associations: Bordeaux’s Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc; an Officer for Champagne’s Ordre des Coteaux des Champagne and Chateauneuf du Pape Echansonnerie des Papes.