Walter Inman has been involved in the world of wine all his life. A native of Sonoma County, he first held seasonal "cellar rat" jobs in some of the county's most respected wineries, literally learning about wine from the vines to the bottle. He first graduated to the "front of the House" at Simi Winery, where he began as a member of the tasting room staff. There his wine expertise quickly gained him recognition as a knowledgeable technical tour and tasting guide for visitors in the wine business.

A stint as wine buyer for the prestigious Oakville Grocery stores widened his experience to include knowledge of wines from around the world. In 2000, Walter joined the John Ash & Co. restaurant at Vintners Inn as wine and beverage director. Here he is responsible for purchasing all wines represented on the restaurant's Wine Spectator "Best of" award-winning wine list. He trains staff to understand the relationships between the wines and the foods they serve and he ensures that a knowledgeable wine steward is available at all times to assist diners in their wine selections.

In July of 2001, Walter passed the first of three demanding Sommelier's examination in his quest to join the prestigious ranks of the Master Sommeliers. At John Ash & Co. he is now Sonoma County's only official restaurant sommelier.