Dr. Russell Kane is a wine writer, author and aficionado with articles and tasting notes that have appeared in local and regional publications. Russ recently finished a book titled; "The Wineslinger Chronicles: Texas on the Vine" scheduled for release February 2012. On his blog at http://vintagetexas.com/blog, he is chronicling his tastes, travels and search for Texas terroir. 

Russ has organized and moderated winemaker panels at major festivals including: "Hot Weather, Cool Wines" at the Texas Hill Country Wine & Food Festival, and "Mediterranean Cowboys" and "Pinot Gringos" at the Grand Wine and Food Affair. He and Chef Terry Thompson-Anderson were the creative sparks that came up the concept of the highly successful, first of its kind, Edible Texas: Wine Food Match (wine and food pairing competition). In 2010, Russ was selected to make a presentation and tasting of Texas wines, "Cowboys, Cabernet and Beyond", at the George Bush Presidential Library at Texas A&M University.

Russ was a Houston entrepreneur for over 20 years and has traveled extensively and has an active interest in regional cuisines, wine education, and wine and food pairing. Both Russ Kane and his wife, Delia Cuellar, come from families with restaurant ties and understand the qualities of wine in a context of family, friends and food.

Russ has served as a judge in several international wine competitions. He was also the founder and organizer of the annual Texas' Best Wine Competition for the Wine Society of Texas (2000 - 2005). He developed wine training lectures and seminars to promote a knowledgeable and responsible wine culture in Texas. 

In 1998, Russ and Delia started the Houston Chapter of the Wine Society of Texas, a 501c3 non-profit, educational organization. Russ has served as its President, on its Board of Directors, and as its Executive Director, on the Board of Directors of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association (TWGGA), and on the Texas Department of Agriculture's Wine Industry Development Advisory Committee. 

In 2002, Dr. Kane received his first level certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers and, in 2011, he was accepted into the program of study by the Institute of Masters of Wine.