Trip Leaders

Dr. Roy Hammerling, a PhD graduate of the University of Notre Dame in Church History, is Professor of Religion Emeritus at Concordia College. His books include A History of Prayer: The First to the Fifteenth Century, The Lord’s Prayer in the Early Church: The Pearl of Great Price, and Speaking of Religion. He has written articles and lectured on Martin Luther and Lutheranism, Christian Spirituality (especially Greek Orthodox Christianity), the history of wine, religion and film, the church in Nazi Germany, Islam, religion in modern culture, and more. He has traveled extensively with students and alumni groups for Concordia College across Europe, Turkey, and Egypt. He is also an ELCA pastor and the son of German-Russian immigrants. He's very excited to be working with his son, Josh Hammerling, a wine expert, on another wine tour abroad. 

Josh Hammerling is the owner and winemaker at Hammerling Wines. in Berkeley, California, where he hand-crafts traditional method sparkling wines from organic vineyards in Mendocino and Monterey.  Previously he was an assistant winemaker at Broc Cellars in Berkeley, California. He began his career in the wine industry at Syncline Winery in the Columbia River Gorge. After years of working in Syncline’s cellar, vineyard, and tasting room, he moved to California to continue his studies. He is currently a Diploma candidate in The Wine and Spirit Education Trust and teaches wine classes in San Francisco. He has spent extensive time studying and traveling in Europe. He received his BA in English Writing and German Literature from Pacific Lutheran University and his Master’s Degree in Critical Theory from the Pacific Northwest College of Art.