Fine & Rare Wines: Los Angeles

Returning to Christie’s in 2004 Chris Munro led the London team until his recent move to Head of Wine Department for the Americas in May 2018. Under his watch in London, the department hosted a number of winery direct sales from many major Bordeaux Chateaux and highly regarded Burgundian Domaines. Major highlights from his tenure in London included the historic cellar of John Avery, The Superb Private Collection of Sir Alex Ferguson and London’s largest ever multi-vendor sale ( 4.5 million GBP ) held in December 2013. Chris’s knowledge of the auction market and his experience of the fine wine market will enable him to strengthen Christie’s service to its wine buyers and sellers across America.

Paul Tortora joined Christie’s in 2023 as International Director in the Wine & Spirits Department, based in New York, bringing nearly two decades of experience working in the fine wine trade. At Christie’s, Paul advises major collectors and spearheads a number of strategic initiatives and special projects alongside the global head and regional leadership to drive sales and business across venues. Before joining Christie’s, Paul worked at another international auction house, where he led the Wine Department in North America, overseeing sales and key clients. Prior to auction, Paul worked closely with the founder of a leading American importer and retailer of classic European wines. Paul received a B.A. from Wesleyan University, where he majored in letters.

Christopher A. Weed joined Christie's in 2024 as Associate Vice President and Specialist in the Wine and Spirits Department; based in Beverly Hills, he advises private and institutional collectors through the sale and acquisition of fine and rare wines and spirits. Christopher entered the wine trade in 2009 and spent the next thirteen and a half years at a major US wine auction house. There, he spent a decade as Director of Operations, managing the business operations of the firm's California and Hong Kong offices, including auction sourcing and sales, retail acquisition and sales, personnel, facilities, warehousing and logistics, marketing and client strategy, and the inspection, cataloguing, storage, and sale of all collections. He introduced the firm's spirit auctions in 2018.

With additional experience in luxury hospitality, wine storage, and retail and en primeur, Christopher excels in building lasting relationships with collectors as well as in sharing his passion for extraordinary wines.

Christopher holds a degree in International Relations and International Economics from Franklin University Switzerland, is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers (2009), holds the WSET Level 3 Award (2015), and is recognized as a French Wine Scholar by the Wine Scholar Guild (2019).

Mr. Rusinak joined Christie’s New York Wine Department in 2018. Prior to Christie's, Mr. Rusinak worked in the Hospitality industry after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a Masters degree in Hospitality Management. Mr. Rusinak then pursued his thesis and passion for the study of wine and spent the last seven years working in the wine industry. Mr. Rusinak specializes in wine inventory and inspection; his professional interests include fine Champagnes and wines of Tuscany.

Beginning in 2026, Kyle Henry comes from a background in custom-crush winemaking, inventory management, and purchasing, for both small fine-dining establishments and large retail operations. Working with sommeliers and winemakers alike, he has leveraged data-driven approaches to build his practical skills both on the floor assisting sommeliers, and in the back office, selecting wines for restaurant and retail listings. An SWE Certified Wine Specialist, Kyle graduated from Rutgers with a B.S. in Economics.