The Sniper Sommelier - Yitzi Stern

The Story

From Florida to Gaza - and Back to Life.

I was born in the U.S. and made Aliyah at twelve. That move changed everything - it gave me a country to love and, eventually, a homeland to defend.

After nearly a decade of service as an elite IDF Reconnaissance Sniper and sniper instructor, I found myself deep inside Gaza during the 2023 Iron Swords War. On November 16th, 2023, my team was ambushed by Hamas. I survived a near-fatal RPG attack that I had no business walking away from.

That experience left me with two things: a long road back, and a story that people deserve to hear. I learned that a sniper and a sommelier are after the same thing - precision, patience, and a deep respect for the smallest details. I've learned to blend both roles in the same glass.

10+ yrs

IDF Service

WSET

Certified

11.16.23

The day everything changed

Yitzi Stern speaking to a packed audience

Signature Keynotes

Talks that hit the target.

Each talk can be delivered as a keynote, a fireside conversation, or paired with a live guided wine tasting for an experience your audience won't forget.

Wine & War

An education in Israeli wine intertwined with stories from the battlefield. Two worlds you'd never expect to meet - poured into one unforgettable evening. Includes a full guided tasting.

Wine included

Guilt to Purpose

A raw, human story of trauma, survival, and the search for meaning. How I carried the weight of coming home - and turned survivor's guilt into a reason to keep going.

Presentation optional

Florida to Gaza

How a Floridian boy ended up in Gaza as an IDF sniper. A story about identity, belonging, and choosing the harder, truer path.

Presentation optional

The Battlefield Mindset

An interactive workshop built on military discipline - decision-making under pressure, leadership, accountability, and grace under fire. Hands-on exercises and real scenarios that turn battlefield lessons into skills any group can use.

Interactive workshop

What I Offer

Bring me to your stage or your table.

Keynote Speaking

For conferences, communities, missions to Israel, corporate events, and galas. An inspiring, deeply personal talk on resilience and purpose - calibrated to your audience and your time slot.

Wine & Story Experiences

A guided tasting of Israel's finest boutique, kosher wines - woven together with the stories behind them and behind me. Equal parts education, entertainment, and meaning.

Leadership & Team Training

"The Battlefield Mindset" - an interactive workshop built on military discipline: decision-making, leadership, accountability, and grace under pressure. Hands-on exercises and scenarios, tailored for corporate teams as well as youth groups, schools, and summer camps.

Israel Wine Tours (Coming Soon)

A private tour through Israel's boutique wineries - tasting the country through its wine, history, and the stories behind both. Reach out and let's see if we can make it happen.

Let's Talk

Book me, or just say l'chaim.

Tell me about your event - the audience, the date, the vibe you're going for - and I'll get back to you with availability and ideas. Whether it's a keynote for a thousand people or a tasting for twelve, let's make it land.

✉ info@thewinesniper.com ✆ WhatsApp: +1 (954) 599-0674 ◎ @sniper_sommelier