From a college professor to an award-winning wine writer
Dr. Elizabeth Smith is an award-winning wine and travel writer, independent Fora Certified Travel Advisor, and brand ambassador for Croatian Premium Wine Imports. A former college professor, Napa Valley and Sonoma wine club manager, copywriter for Naked Wines, she now combines her love of wine, travel, and storytelling to spotlight the people and places shaping Central and Eastern Europe’s dynamic wine scene. Elizabeth’s accolades include the 2017 Born Digital Wine Award for Best Tourism Content with a Focus on Wine for her story, “Lodi: Beyond the Zinfandel”, the 2022 Hungarian Wines Web Wine Writing Competition (Koch Winery category) for “2018 Wetzer Furmint, Tokaj, Hungary, and three consecutive finalist nods (2023, 2024, and 2025) in the Wine Travel Awards’ “The Brightest Journey” category. Her 2022 writing win brought her to Hungary for the first time – gniting a deep passion for the wines of Central Europe. Since then, she has traveled extensively throughout Hungary, Croatia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, Slovakia, and Serbia to uncover the region’s hidden wine stories.
Education and Professional Credentials
Elizabeth holds a doctorate in community college and language education, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in French, a graduate minor in Spanish, and WSET Level 3 Advanced certification.
She is a member of the Circle of Wine Writers, Les Dames d’Escoffier International (Sacramento and Sonoma chapters), and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association.
Relocation and Regional Immersion
In October 2024, Elizabeth relocated to Zagreb, Croatia to be closer to the region she now calls home. Since her move, Elizabeth’s wine travels have included Hungary six times, Slovenia five times, North Macedonia, and Serbia. Her writing portfolio can be found at MuckRack.
