Robert Nicholson is a Principal of IWA and a leader in wine industry mergers & acquisitions and has completed over US $2 billion in transactions.

Before establishing IWA in 1990 Robert was Vice President of Christian Brothers in California and held positions with Seagrams in New York and with Louis Eschenauer in Bordeaux (when the company owned Chateau Rauzan Segla, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte and Chateau Olivier, among other leading estates). At IWA Robert has completed numerous transactions and has worked with many family owned and independent wineries, most of the major multinational companies, and a number of banks, including Diageo, Constellation, Grupo Codorniu, Moet-Hennessy, Brown-Forman, Jim Beam, Gruppo Campari, Heublein, Chalone, Fosters, Southcorp, Mildara Blass, Masi, Wells Fargo, European Bank, Banco Banesto, Lancaster Estate, Edna Valley Vineyard, Yalumba, Davis Bynum, Buena Vista, Cline Cellars, Havens, Gary Farrell, Geyser Peak Winery, Chateau Potelle, Charles Krug, Hogue Cellars, Pacific Rim Winemakers, Columbia, Covey Run, Ste. Chapelle, Errazuriz, Sonoma-Cutrer, Wild Horse, Sausal, Bonny Doon, Hangar One Vodka, and many others.

Robert was educated in England at Millfield and studied oenology at the University of Bordeaux under Professor Emile Peynaud.

Robert is an active industry commentator at U.S. and international conferences and speaks fluent French.

Josh Grace is a Managing Director at IWA and has over sixteen years of financial management, valuation, accounting, mergers and acquisition and corporate advisory experience, with a specialization in the wine and liquor industry.

Before joining IWA in 2002, Josh was a Financial Manager at Robert Mondavi where he worked on California vineyard acquisitions and on financial management of the company’s flagship Napa Valley winery. At IWA Josh has worked on a number of prominent wine industry transactions with a combined value of over $1.5 billion with the following companies among others, Diageo, Constellation, Grupo Codorniu, Brown-Forman, Gruppo Campari, Fosters, Lancaster Estate, Sausal, Bonny Doon, Wild Horse, Havens, Davis Bynum, Chateau Potelle, Cline Cellars, and Wells Fargo that have included the sale of various businesses including Edna Valley Vineyard, Pacific Rim, Hangar One Vodka, Big House, Red Truck and many others.

Josh graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, California with a BSc degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting.

Katherine joins IWA in 2018 as a Managing Director. Previously she was a investment analyst responsible for financial modeling and valuation work on public companies in a variety of industries including technology companies in software, services and internet businesses, healthcare technology, automative technology and green tech. She was also Manager Director of Institutional Sales at Goldman Sachs in New York having shepherded over 100 of the firms prominent IPO transactions in the high technology sector.

Katherine graduated from The Pennsylvania State University Scholars Program with a BS degree in International Business and Management with Honors in Finance.

Katherine is also a breeder of vineyard sheep and a vineyard owner.

Briana Donahoe joined International Wine Associates in 2017 as our Project and Office Manager. Since joining the team Briana has worked on numerous real estate transactions including: Komes Ranch, Wildwood Vineyard, Merry Edwards Winery, Stony Hill Vineyard, Seven Deadly Zins, Sierra Madre Vineyard, Calera Winery, Germain-Robin Fine Alambic Brandy, Beaux Freres Winery, and Klipsun Vineyards.

Briana graduated from California State University, Chico where she received her Bachelor of Arts and California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She has worked throughout Northern California and San Francisco in Office Management and Administration, specializing in website development, marketing, real estate and sales.