Richard is a renowned wine expert, entrepreneur, and author known for making wine more approachable. A trained geologist, he discovered his passion for wine in Italy before becoming a sommelier at acclaimed restaurants including Janos in Tucson and Montagna at The Little Nell in Aspen. Betts later co-founded Betts & Scholl, producing wines from Australia and France’s Rhône Valley, and has collaborated on the La Scarpetta Italian wine label. An engaging educator and speaker, he combines deep expertise with a fresh, accessible approach, earning recognition as one of the wine industry’s most influential voices and a respected advocate for simplifying wine education.
