Deborah M. Gray, an Australian native and entrepreneur, founded her U.S. wine importing company, The Australian Wine Connection, in 1992 at a time when women wine business owners were scarce and knowledge of Australian wine was almost nonexistent in the U.S. Her first imports consisted of her family’s brand, The Cowra Estate, and a collection of small, family-owned vineyard brands. Deborah ultimately achieved broad national distribution with a diverse portfolio of iconic, highly rated Australian wines before selling her company in 2007.

Deborah’s first book, How to Import Wine - An Insider's Guide was recognized as “Best U.S. Professional Wine Book 2011” by Gourmand International. In March, 2012, her book was first runner up for “Best World Professional Wine Book” in Paris, a competition that attracted over 1,000 entries from 168 countries. Her book is a text for the wine business MBA program at Sonoma State University and for Lorenzo de Medici’s Wine Marketing and Business Program.