(January 13, 1930 – November 27, 2023)
With profound sadness, we announce the passing of Patricia Ann Thomson on February 22, 2025, at the age of 69 in Loveland, Ohio. She passed peacefully after a long battle with Corticobasal Degeneration, a degenerative brain disease.
Pat was born on June 10, 1955, in Glen Ridge, NJ, to Stanley B. Thomson and Jane Ward Thomson. She was raised in Terrace Park, OH, graduating from Mariemont High School, and earned degrees from Indiana University and The University of Virginia. Her celebrated career as a journalist left a legacy in the wine and film industries.
Over three decades as a writer, photographer, and editor, Pat made significant contributions to renowned publications, including Tastes of Italia, Decanter, World of Fine Wine, Wine Enthusiast, and Gastronomica, where she shared her passion for wine. She also served as the East Coast correspondent for American Cinematographer magazine and as editor in chief of the Independent Film & Video Monthly, reporting on the art and craft of filmmaking. Her distinctive voice shone throughout her work.
Pat was also a meticulous copy editor and proofreader, contributing to Exploring Wine, the Culinary Institute of America’s wine encyclopedia, and publications such as ELLE, Self, Wine Spectator, and National Geographic Adventure.
From 2000 to 2020, Pat and her former husband, Claudio Bisio, co-founded and ran La Dolce Vita Wine Tours, curating unforgettable journeys through Italy, Spain, and Portugal’s wine regions. She split her time between New York City and a picturesque mountain village in Piedmont, Italy. Pat’s love of wine, film, culture, and storytelling inspired her writing and impacted lives through her tours.
