The Wine Travelers are team of videographers, writers, and wine enthusiasts based in Aspen, Colorado and Sonoma, California.
While the real stars of the Wine Travelers are the fantastic people we meet on the road, the following individuals are responsible for guiding you from one wine region to the other, and getting the stories they find out to wine enthusiasts across the world.
Team Bios
J.R. Richards –Producer, Director, Camera and Presenter 
: JR has more than a decade of professional experience in travel photography, video and writing. While filming for The Vineyard Wine Club, he spent over two years traveling through the world’s major wine regions, and wrote, directed, narrated and edited 12 mini-documentaries about each region, winemaker, and wine. In addition to producing DVD’s for The Vineyard Wine Club, J.R. travels extensively with acclaimed beer writer and critic Michael Jackson, filming and producing DVDs for his Rare Beer Club. He is the founder of Maroon Studios, a production company based in Aspen, Colorado, specializing in beer, wine and travel documentary video.
Joel Lee – Director of Production and post-production: Joel is an award winning editor, cameraman, and producer. He graduated from the 
Colorado State University Television Broadcast program in 1995, and since then has produced documentary and commercial work for CNN, AT&T, and Resort Sports Network. Most recently he was the production director for Plum TV, and has just produced the documentary film "Ride of Your Life" about Olympic snowboard medalist and organ transplant recipient Chris Klug.
Ali Hodgson – Writer, Presenter 
: Ali is a wine rep, screen writer, videographer, photographer, and chef. She is in the process launching her own television series called "Wine Country Cooking." Proficient in French and a veteran European traveler, she graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder with an English writing/French language double major.
Clarke Paschall – Music, Sound and Lights: 
Clarke is the former manager of the Zele Music Café, a specialty music and live-performance café venue in Aspen, Co. He has 10 years of experience in the music, sound, and light industry. He graduated from the American College of Applied Arts with a degree in graphic design.
Perry Tong – Executive Producer and Advisory Board: Perry “Pops” Tong produced, directed and filmed Scuba World, the Travel Channel’s longest running series-to-date. In addition to the dive series, his company has extensive experience in movie, commercial, and documentary production. Mr. Tong is the owner of Pop’s Safari Wine and Cigar Bar in Ft. Worth, Texas, and is driving force behind taking the Wine Travelers from an idea to a reality.
Eric Altman – Co-producer, Chief Financial Officer : Eric is the Senior Vice President and CFO of a private equity firm in Aspen, Colorado, and has developed a great deal of experience in startups, entrepreneurial ventures and accounting. An interest in video production brought him into a partnership with J.R. Richards and Maroon Studios, and recently Eric has been involved in financing independent feature films. He handles all financial aspects of the operation.
Rob Imeson – Founding Father : Rob Imeson has been in the wine, beer, and spirits import business his whole life. The founder of The Exclusive Clubs of Beverage Bistro and The Vineyard Wine Club, Rob is our inspiration and spiritual leader. He tirelessly plumbs the globe for rare spirits, wine, and beer, and is currently preparing to import wines from the ancient, but newly awakened regions of Moldovia and Georgia.