Global Marketing/Executive Chef/Ambassador, Greg Norman Estates
Morgan-leigh Norman's interest in food and wine began at an early age. She spent her early years traveling the world with her family as her father played the PGA and European circuit. Her parents made it a point to introduce their children to the many flavors and cultural experiences of the world.
The summer before her senior year of College, Morgan enrolled in the Italian Culinary Summer School program in Florence, Italy. This experience solidified her love of food and wine and was the catalyst for her ultimate career path. After graduating from Boston College with a degree in Literature she chose to continue her culinary education at the Florida Culinary Institute.
Since that time, Morgan gained valuable experience working as a Demonstration Chef at Williams Sonoma, writing and editing at Gourmet Traveler Magazine in Sydney Australia, interning as a Sous Chef at the Beringer Rhine House and overseeing membership as a Member Relations Manager with Napa Valley Reserve.
In 2008, all of her passions were drawn together when she made the decision to take a greater interest in the family business and joined Greg Norman Estates as a member of the marketing team. In her new role she will lend her hand to the overall marketing of the wines and bring her training as a chef to recipe development, food & wine pairing and supporting the brand as a brand ambassador.
When she isn't traveling the world on company business, Morgan-leigh makes her home in the Napa Valley and enjoys cooking for friends and family, scuba diving (wherever the water is warm!), horseback riding at the family ranch in Colorado and reading as many books as time allows.
The game of golf took Greg Norman around the world, but he returned home with more than 90 professional victories. Greg's travels also ignited a passion for wine and a sense of culinary adventure that he has always enjoyed sharing.
In those early years, whenever the family traveled with him, he encouraged his children to experience local culture, introducing them to sometimes-exotic regional cuisine. These experiences made a lasting impression on his daughter, Morgan-Leigh, who now shares her father's passion for great food and wine.
"Most kids aren't very adventurous eaters, but in our family Dad always encouraged us to try different things in order to decide if we liked them," Morgan-Leigh says of her father. She soon learned to trust her own palate, and further honed her culinary skills by cooking for her family.
Over time she became especially intrigued with the intricacies of food and wine pairing and began her formal training by studying in Florence, Italy. She's now enrolled at a top culinary school in the United States and plans to become a food and wine educator.
As for Greg, he became so fascinated by wine that he created Greg Norman Estates in 1999. The initial collection included wines from his native Australia, which quickly earned critical acclaim.
Today the Greg Norman Estates portfolio also includes varietals from some of California's best viticultural regions. Although his reputation as a vintner is now well established, Greg remains relaxed and open in his approach.
"Experimenting with different varietals from diverse regions is a necessity and really the only way to truly understand what flavors and qualities you prefer," Greg says.
What started as an adventurous streak has turned into a family tradition. These days Greg can often be found sampling Morgan's creations. "When your children become adults and develop their own interests, you cherish every opportunity to spend time with them" says Greg. "Food and wine pairing is a great way to spark lively debate and bring our family together."
