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MEET OUR WD&T CONTRIBUTORS

Alison DaRosa

Alison DaRosa is a six-time winner of the Lowell Thomas Gold Award for travel writing, the most presti-
gious prize in travel journalism. She served 15 years as Travel Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune. She
was the award-winning editor of the San Diego News Network Travel Page. She produces and edits the San
Diego Essential Guide, a highly rated and continually updated travel app for mobile devices. Alison is a
regular freelance contributor to the travel sections of U-T San Diego, the Los Angeles Times and USA
Today.

Sharon Whitley Larsen

Sharon Whitley Larsen’s work has appeared in numerous publications, including Los Angeles Times Maga-
zine, U-T San Diego, Reader’s Digest (including 19 international editions), and Creators Syndicate. She’s
also a contributor to several Chicken Soup for the Soul editions. Although she enjoys writing essays, op-
ed, and people features, her favorite topic is travel (favorite destination London). With passport in hand,
she’s always ready for the next adventure!

Carl H. Larsen

Carl H. Larsen is a veteran journalist based in San Diego. He now focuses on travel writing, and is sum-
moned to pull out his notebook whenever there’s the plaintive cry of a steam locomotive nearby. His hike
along Hadrian’s Wall was a bit off character, but allowed for an exploration of remote pubs and welcom-
ing B&Bs. In San Diego, he is a college-extension instructor who has led courses on the Titanic and the
popular TV series “Downton Abbey.”

John Alongé

Popularly known as the Wine Heretic, John Alongé is a well-respected “educational entertainer” on food
and wine topics with well over 1,000 corporate presentations on his résumé. He has written a variety of
articles for international wine publications and is oft-quoted in food and wine industry trade journals.
Alongé began his career working in the vineyards of the Loire Valley in France. He has studied at both the
Ecole d’Oenologie in Bordeaux as well as UC Davis Extension in viticulture and viniculture. Additionally,
he teaches wine business and tasting classes at San Diego State University Extended Studies. The Wine
Heretic’s Bible, Alongé’s latest book, offers “Plain English Advice for the Casual Wino”.

Julia Weiler

Julia Weiler is a correspondent who covers San Diego for Forbes Travel Guide. Her wanderlust has led her
on far-flung adventures, like housesitting in Fiji, backpacking through Southeast Asia, road-tripping in
Mexico and building homes in Papua New Guinea with Habitat for Humanity. Her stories are published
in an award-winning series of humorous travel anthologies, including Sand in My Bra. Weiler contributes
to Ocean Home Magazine and is a correspondent for the website Wine and Dine San Diego. When not
wandering or writing, she likes surfing Southern California’s best breaks.

Robert Whitley

Robert Whitley writes the syndicated “Wine Talk” column for Creators Syndicate and is publisher of the
online wine magazine, Wine Review Online. Whitley frequently serves as a judge at wine competitions
around the world, including Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, Sunset Magazine International and the
Dallas Morning News TexSom wine competitions. Robert also operates four major international wine
competitions in San Diego: Critics Challenge, Winemaker Challenge, Sommelier Challenge and the San
Diego International.

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