In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Wanda Cole-Nicholson, Founder of VinBev.  In this episode we speak to Wanda about: 

• Riesling
• Transitioning from one career to another in the same industry
• Studying for the Master Sommelier exam
• Seeking high quality wine at a lower price point
• And so much more………….

Wanda's Bio 

Through her culinary experiences working as a Sommelier, Wanda Cole-Nicholson has been inspired to create pairings that showcase the complexities of different cuisine. She has crafted and implemented beverage list and wine and spirits training programs. Her education includes Advanced Sommelier Certification from The Court of Master Sommelier's and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Missouri in Spanish. She plans to sit for the Master Sommelier exam in 2018.

She has been fortunate to have worked for many of Chicago’s world class establishments and institutions including ¡Salpicón!, Kendall College, Mercat a la Planxa, NaHa, and BR Guest Restaurants.  In October of 2009 she created Vinterpretation offering wine consulting, education, and event planning.  After several years of working multiple facets of the business with experience in tow, she was inspired to continue the next phase of her consulting career via the creation of Dallas-based VinBev.  When not working, studying, or home making, she enjoys tasting wines from all over the world, as well as educating others on the joy of wine and spirits.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Pandora Stations – Incognito and Brand New Heavies, Roots

For more information:

www.vinbev.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @vindiva7

Facebook: @wanda cole-nichloson

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Cha McCoy of Cha Squared Hospitality.  In this episode we speak to Cha about:

• Growing up in Harlem
• Experiencing different cultures through food
• Her Eat Pray Love Moment
• Living La Bella Vita
• The amazing wines of Portugal

Cha's Bio

Cha McCoy is the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of CHA Squared Hospitality  LLC, a lifestyle company with a focus on Tourism and Gastronomy.  In 2012, she achieved her MBA in Italy; an opportunity which led her to drink and eat in close to 20 countries. As a former expat, she has fostered wine relations and created experiences in the following wine regions globally: Italy, France, USA (California and NY), Chile, Argentina, South Africa, and Hungary.

Her admiration for wine lead her to study as a wine professional, achieving Certified Sommelier Level with the Court of The Master Sommeliers, WSET  Level 2 Wine & Spirits Award  and WSET  Level 3 Advanced Certification in Wine. She is a public speaker, curator and host for intimate wine experiences with a stellar track record of supporting and building with Small Business Owners in gastronomy which ignited her event THE COMMUNION.  A pop up wine tasting and food pairing experience that led the invitation to prepare the wine menu for the James Beard's House, Thanksgiving Dinner of 2017.

As trained civil engineer, she developed her career as a Real Estate and Construction Project Manager. Her extensive portfolio includes but not limited to; Interior Renovations, New Construction and Green Building and clients include Luxury Fashion Brands, High End Residential and Museums. She is also co-founded The Culture Bazaar, a blog whose mission is to connect people through culture immerisve experiences. The Last Sip: When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Anderson Pak, HER and For the Turn-Up – Migos

For more information:

www.chamccoy.com

For Information and Tickets to Cha’s next Communion and to sign up for updates for her next Wine Club installment, please see the following link: https://www.chamccoy.com/events/

Social Media: Instagram: @cha-squared Facebook: @Chasquaredproject

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Cha McCoy of Cha Squared Hospitality.  In this episode we speak to Cha about:

• Growing up in Harlem
• Experiencing different cultures through food
• Her Eat Pray Love Moment
• Living La Bella Vita
• The amazing wines of Portugal

Cha's Bio Cha McCoy is the Chief Visionary Officer and Founder of CHA Squared Hospitality  LLC, a lifestyle company with a focus on Tourism and Gastronomy.  In 2012, she achieved her MBA in Italy; an opportunity which led her to drink and eat in close to 20 countries. As a former expat, she has fostered wine relations and created experiences in the following wine regions globally: Italy, France, USA (California and NY), Chile, Argentina, South Africa, and Hungary. Her admiration for wine lead her to study as a wine professional, achieving Certified Sommelier Level with the Court of The Master Sommeliers, WSET  Level 2 Wine & Spirits Award  and WSET  Level 3 Advanced Certification in Wine. She is a public speaker, curator and host for intimate wine experiences with a stellar track record of supporting and building with Small Business Owners in gastronomy which ignited her event THE COMMUNION.  A pop up wine tasting and food pairing experience that led the invitation to prepare the wine menu for the James Beard's House, Thanksgiving Dinner of 2017. As trained civil engineer, she developed her career as a Real Estate and Construction Project Manager. Her extensive portfolio includes but not limited to; Interior Renovations, New Construction and Green Building and clients include Luxury Fashion Brands, High End Residential and Museums. She is also co-founded The Culture Bazaar, a blog whose mission is to connect people through culture immerisve experiences. The Last Sip: When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Anderson Pak, HER and For the Turn-Up – Migos For more information: www.chamccoy.com For Information and Tickets to Cha’s next Communion and to sign up for updates for her next Wine Club installment, please see the following link: https://www.chamccoy.com/events/ Social Media: Instagram: @cha-squared Facebook: @Chasquaredproject

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Paula Harrell of P. Harrell Wines.  We talked about:

• Party Planning at 12 Years Old
• Ah Ha Moments
• Advice for budding and existing Entrepreneurs
• Self-Care

And so much more……….. Paula's Bio  Paula J. Harrell is a San Francisco native and founder of P. Harrell Wines. She has had a long standing career in Real Estate & Mortgage Finance, as well as many years of civic endeavors with film and special events, but she has always had a special passion for wine. After years of engaging with the wine culture as a hobby, she finally started her own private label in November 2015. The daughter of an immigrant mother from Panama and an American father, P. Harrell Wines is a tribute to her family’s entrepreneurial legacy and dedication to community, friendship, and cultural heritage. Paula’s parents raised her and her 4 siblings, built a series of thriving residential care facilities in San Francisco and in homage, Paula has named her first two wines after residences and properties of her family’s in San Francisco that hold special meaning to her. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on? Chateaunef-de-Pape
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Dad
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Visit Wineries, Keven Zraly – Windows on the World Wine Course, Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Food and Wine Magazine and Bon Appetite
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Focus on your interest and learn how to say “No” more.
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Big Band, Vocal Jazz, Bossa Nova, Parisian Music, Salsa

For more information: Website: http://pharrellwines.com/ Instagram, Facebook and Twitter - @pharrellwines Resources: https://winefolly.com/review/about-chateauneuf-du-pape-wine/ https://www.theprisonerwinecompany.com/ https://nickelandnickel.com/ https://www.opusonewinery.com/ https://www.anticanapavalley.com/   Restaurants where can you find Paula’s Wine: Chop Bar Oakland Rustic-chic gastropub offering all-day American comfort fare & cocktails, plus beer & wine on tap. Oeste Oakland Daytime eats, multi-cultural dinner plates & drinks in chic, comfortable digs (& soon, a roof deck). Lungomare Oakland Modern Italian hot spot featuring a brick oven, cocktail bar, daytime cafe & ocean views. Agave Uptown Oakland Upscale Oaxacan-Californian cuisine offered in a chic, cozy space with culturally inspired accents. Two Jack Nik’s San Francisco Seafood & Southern comfort food served since 1977 in an easygoing space with open-mike nights. SouthEnd Venice, CA Vinos by the glass paired with specialty pizza, charcuterie & other nibbles at this snug wine bar. The Battery, Private Membership Club https://www.thebatterysf.com/

In this eleventh episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Jameelah Lewis of Uncorked DC and Uncorked Maryland! In our conversation we talked about:

• Not Sure = Pinot Noir
• Life Balance
• Mediation
• Martini’s
• So much more!

Jameelah’s Bio: Affectionately dubbed the “The Wine Lady” by her students, Jameelah Lewis, is a known and trusted wine enthusiast and educator. She obtained her Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level III certification from Capital Wine School in Washington, DC. She is a proud alumna of The City College of New York where she obtained her BA in Jewish Studies and Political Science and will complete her PhD in Law and Public Policy in December of 2018. In 2014, she launched Fruit of the Vine, LLC (FOTV) taking hundreds of wine novices and veterans on the journey of wine knowledge and appreciation. Jameelah envisions a world in which everyone has the confidence to explore, ask questions, and find the joy in challenging themselves in selecting wine. Dedicated to sharing her love and knowledge of wine, she loves moments when she can guide someone to fall in love with a different grape they would have not ever considered before.  Jameelah’s spirited students shout her mantras, “Be kind to your wine”, and “Not sure…Pinot Noir” with vigor at FOTV’s sold out events. Fruit of the Vine began as an all-inclusive wine tasting experience and excitement is brewing, as her dream becomes a reality, with the opening of the wine bar in DC in 2019. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Sir Churchill by Pol Roger
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Oprah, Barack and Michelle Obama, Nelson Mandela and Maya Angelou
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Wine Enthusiast, Wine Spectator, Washington Post, NY Times
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Drink More Wine, Work on Balance
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? No Music, Silence or Miles Davis and Nina Simone

How you can connect with Jameelah on Social Media: Website: https://uncorkeddc.com Facebook: @fotv Instagram: @the_wine_lady and @uncorked_dc Twitter: @thewinelady1   Resource Links: http://www.wsetglobal https://www2.cuny.edu http://mcbridesisters.com https://winefolly.com/review/guide-to-oregon-pinot-noir/ http://www.milesdavis.com/ http://www.ninasimone.com/ https://www.polroger.com/en/champagnes http://www.societyofwineeducators.org/

In this tenth episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Jason Candelario of NakedWines.com! In our conversation we talked about:

• Growing up in Napa Valley
• Learning from Dad
• Working in the Vineyard
• Being a “Wine Guru”
• So much more!

Jason’s Bio I was born and raised in Napa, California, a child of immigrant parents, who were brought to the US as teenagers. My Father, Fernando, started in the wine industry in his early 20's at Robert Mondavi and my Mother, Margarita, worked as house maid at Medwood in St. Helena. All of my relatives work in the wine industry from working in the vineyard to bottling the finished product. I started working in the wine industry at age 15 working along-side my dad at T-Vine and worked harvest at Trinchero while studying at Napa Valley College. While attending Napa Valley College, I was student in the wine/viticulture program. I started at nakedwines.com in 2013 and worked my way up from customer service to wine guru (wine education and product quality control).  At nakedwines.com I work with winemakers on brand management and quality control as well as product information. I am also a part of my dad's brand, Voces, and I work closely with him on tasks ranging from wine making to branding and packing. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on? Any Bottle! Cash-In!
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Vicente Fernandez
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Talk to the Vineyard and Field workers at the surrounding wineries and vineyards.
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Nothing, Leave it as it is. Life Happens.
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? One glass of wine and a few beers! Vicente Fernandez

How you can connect with Jason on Social Media: Website: https://us.nakedwines.com// Facebook: nakedwines.com and vocescellars and jasoncandelario Instagram: @candelario_jason and @nakedwinesdotcom and @vocescellars Resource Links: www.napavalley.edu www.napavalley.com www.vocescellars.com http://trincheronapavalley.com https://www.tvinewinery.com/ https://www.robertmondaviwinery.com/ http://www.vicentefernandez.mx/en/biography/ **Naked Wines Promo Link: https://us.nakedwines.com//invite/sukari

In this eighth episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Larissa Dubose of The Lotus and The Vines! In our conversation we talked about:

• Pound The Pinot (#PTP) and The No Dump Crew (#NDC)
• Wine Is My Passport™
• Unlocking the Nose
• Members Mark Champagne from Sam’s Club
• Wine Clue Wednesday
• So much more!

Larissa’s Bio: Larissa C Dubose, CSW is a market-savvy Sales Manager with more than eight years of experience in the Wine & Spirits Industry. Larissa has held several roles; from On-Premise Sales Representative, Patrón Portfolio Manager with Maryland-based wine & spirits distributor Reliable Churchill, to managing the wine distribution and sales as the Southeast Regional Manager of Napa Valley-based winery, The Hess Collection. Larissa is currently the Georgia On-Premise Manager for JUSTIN & Landmark Wineries, where she manages the sales and distribution goals for the state. With a mission of "Redefining the Culture: Bridging the Gap between the Wine Novice and the Wine Connoisseur," The Lotus & The Vines creates a seat at the worldwide wine table for “New Age” wine drinkers, beginners, and intermediates. As your Wine Best Friends, TLTV shows that wine is more than a glass with your entree, but can unlock power moves and take you around the world in just minutes. Larissa's Awards & Certifications:

• Completed the Introductory Sommelier Course through the Court of Master Sommeliers
• Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 2 with Distinction
• Certified Specialist of Wine Certification, Society of Wine Educators

The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Vintage Champagne
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Mom
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? winebusiness.com
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Get in the wine industry earlier
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Robert Glasper, Alina Baraz, Mint Condition, 90’s R&B

How you can connect with Sarah on Social Media: Website: www.thelotusandthevines.com Facebook: @thelotusandthevines Instagram: @lotusvinewine Resource Links: http://www.nicolas-feuillatte.com/world/en/ https://www.samsclub.com/sams/member-s-mark-cm-champagne-750ml/prod21392611.ip?xid=plp_product_1_13 http://replicawine.com/ https://www.winebusiness.com/ http://www.robertglasper.com/ http://www.alinabaraz.com/ http://mintconditionmusic.com/ https://www.wsetglobal.com/ http://www.courtofmastersommeliers.org/ http://www.societyofwineeducators.org/

In this seventh episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Glenn Murray, Founder of Wine Crawl! In our conversation we talked about:

• Communion
• Knowing your Ministry
• Distribution
• So much more!

Glenn’s Bio Glenn Murray has leveraged all he learned in corporate America and is using it to fuel his entrepreneurial endeavors He is the founder of 220 Communications, a growing company with divisions in marketing, publishing, music and" social awareness" and Wine Crawl USA . Murray has held strategic positions in the top U.S. companies including General Electric, Leo Burnett, Sears, Discover and Master Card in the payments arena. He has developed created and managed major payments programs in credit prepaid campus and payroll cards His desire to become an entrepreneur and apply what he had learned as a marketing professional in the corporate world led him to create 220 Communications, started strictly as an events company it grew to include divisions in book publishing, experiential marketing, consulting and music distribution. Wine Crawl is private wine tour in select cities that includes trips to popular wine bars, wineries and restaurants. Originating as a one-time event, it proved so popular that the Crawl expanded to spring summer and fall crawls and from Chicago to other cities including an annual “destination crawl” to Napa Valley. The crawls now combine gourmet food, fine wine and other guilty pleasures along the journey. Wine Crawls are regularly held in Chicago, Atlanta, Napa, other cities and even include a destination trip to Rome in the near future. How The Idea Began: While traveling to Napa in 2012 for a wine country tour we stumbled upon what we thought was a great idea. "How does one provide the same wine tour experience in a big city setting?" While Chicago may not share the Napa Valley landscape (or the great year round weather) one thing Chicago does have is a host of great food and wine venues. That is the focus of "The Crawl". Think an upscale wine and food crawl for foodies and wine lovers as well as those wanting to learn more about food and wine. Combining that with chartered transportation, giving attendees a full day of visits to popular restaurants sampling menu items and wine pairings. Not just the "name" locations are visited. "We search the neighborhoods for the hidden gems, the ethnic foods that the city is known for and much more. We wanted to "disrupt" the idea of a crawl from being a drunken excursion down the street to a more appealing casual, Saturday afternoon gourmet food and wine tour." Growth: The Crawl has been successful with events held every quarter since March 2013, we see people celebrating birthdays, romantic weekends, or just "out of towners" looking for a fun excursion. Private Crawls for Every Occasion: A few years ago, the company began adding custom private crawls for corporate and special group events. If you are interested in having us create a custom wine crawl for your group, please send an email to groups@wine-crawl.com with your name, location, target date, and a few details about your group and size. We will respond promptly. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? – I would hire a Wine Broker to find the most expensive bottle of vintage Champagne.
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Wine - Barak Obama Spirits – Lenny Kravitz and Bono
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Wine Spectator, Love and Vines, Cuisine Noir and Google Searches
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Leave that girl alone! Save more, Patience, Plan more for the long term
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Sade, 90’s R&B, Hip Hop (in the car)

How you can connect with Glenn on Social Media: Website: https://wine-crawl.com/ Facebook: @winecrawl-privatewinetour Instagram: @winecrawlusa Twitter: @winecraw Email: glenn@wine-crawl.com Resource Links: https://www.darioush.com/our-wine?tab=duel http://www.chandon.com/?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Chandon_Brand_Core&utm_term=%2Bchandon&utm_content=Chandon_Brand_Core_Broad&gclid=CKnDjNXw3twCFVMNgQodxjoOuQ&gclsrc=ds https://maisonnoirwines.com/wines#/other-peoples-pinot-noir/ https://www.winespectator.com/ http://www.cuisinenoirmag.com/

In the sixth episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Reyes MW of Peter Paul Wines! In our conversation we talked about:

• The journey to becoming an MW (Master of Wine)
• Being the First!
• Purchasing Behavior in the Retail Space
• Diversity and Inclusion
• So much more!

Martin’s Bio: A first-generation American, Martin is the first Master of Wine of Mexican descent and one of only 47 MWs in the country. With a 16-year career as a respected buyer, importer, and educator, he has held influential roles in many sectors of the industry. Martin’s wine story began with an over-indulgent Parisian dinner as a Stanford undergrad and, by 2003, he was stocking shelves at K&L. In 2011, Martin became the principal buyer for an importer operating prominent wine club programs including The New York Times and Williams-Sonoma. His importing team was profiled in The Tasting Panel Magazine, and he was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top Forty under Forty Tastemakers in 2015. Today, Martin continues to work across the full supply chain, from winery management and production (Peter Paul Wines), to consulting for a range of businesses including luxury Napa Valley brands (Vice Versa Wines, Spottswoode Estate), importers (Copa Fine Imports) and software companies (Vivino.com). More recently, he launched Reyes Selections, a small East Coast-based portfolio of imported wines culled from his past travels. Martin also holds a Diploma in Wine & Spirits and is a Certified Wine Educator.  In his free time, he attempts to become fluent in a fifth language and raises his daughter trilingually, together with his wife in Vallejo, CA. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? 1965 Krohn Port
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Thomas Jefferson
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? TASTE! Master Classes, Miningers, Trade Tastings
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Start with Wine now! Buy all of the Screaming Eagle you can!
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Spotify, Discovery Weekly playlist

How you can connect with Martin online and on Social Media: Website: https://www.peterpaulwines.com/about Instagram: @reyeswine.mw Resource Links: https://www.mastersofwine.org/en/meet-the-masters/profile/index.cfm/id/61b6a043-5e4b-e211-a20600155d6d822c http://krohn.pt/our-port-wines/classic-vintage-port/ https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/wine https://www.meininger.de/en/wine-business-international https://www.wsetglobal.com/ https://www.cawg.org/ http://www.viceversawine.com/people

In the fifth episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Martin Reyes MW of Peter Paul Wines! In our conversation we talked about:

• The journey to becoming an MW (Master of Wine)
• Being the First!
• Purchasing Behavior in the Retail Space
• Diversity and Inclusion
• So much more!

Martin’s Bio: A first-generation American, Martin is the first Master of Wine of Mexican descent and one of only 47 MWs in the country. With a 16-year career as a respected buyer, importer, and educator, he has held influential roles in many sectors of the industry. Martin’s wine story began with an over-indulgent Parisian dinner as a Stanford undergrad and, by 2003, he was stocking shelves at K&L. In 2011, Martin became the principal buyer for an importer operating prominent wine club programs including The New York Times and Williams-Sonoma. His importing team was profiled in The Tasting Panel Magazine, and he was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s Top Forty under Forty Tastemakers in 2015. Today, Martin continues to work across the full supply chain, from winery management and production (Peter Paul Wines), to consulting for a range of businesses including luxury Napa Valley brands (Vice Versa Wines, Spottswoode Estate), importers (Copa Fine Imports) and software companies (Vivino.com). More recently, he launched Reyes Selections, a small East Coast-based portfolio of imported wines culled from his past travels. Martin also holds a Diploma in Wine & Spirits and is a Certified Wine Educator.  In his free time, he attempts to become fluent in a fifth language and raises his daughter trilingually, together with his wife in Vallejo, CA. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? 1965 Krohn Port
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Thomas Jefferson
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? TASTE! Master Classes, Miningers, Trade Tastings
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Start with Wine now! Buy all of the Screaming Eagle you can!
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Spotify, Discovery Weekly playlist

How you can connect with Martin online and on Social Media: Website: https://www.peterpaulwines.com/about Instagram: @reyeswine.mw Resource Links: https://www.mastersofwine.org/en/meet-the-masters/profile/index.cfm/id/61b6a043-5e4b-e211-a20600155d6d822c http://krohn.pt/our-port-wines/classic-vintage-port/ https://www.monticello.org/site/research-and-collections/wine https://www.meininger.de/en/wine-business-international https://www.wsetglobal.com/ https://www.cawg.org/ http://www.viceversawine.com/people

In this fourth episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Chrishon Lampley founder of LCS Entertainment LLC and Love Cork Screw Wines! In our conversation we talked about:

• Never Giving Up
• Paying it forward through mentoring
• Supporting Local Vineyards
• So much more!

Chrishon’s Bio: As seen on CNBC’s “The Job Interview,” Chrishon Lampley is a negociant, wine enthusiast and founder of LCS Entertainment, LLC that features Love Cork Screw wines. Love Cork Screw is a lifestyle brand that launched six varietals in the fourth quarter of 2013. Since its inception, the LCS brand has acquired over 50 locations including, Mariano's, Whole Foods and other Chicago land area stores, restaurants and bars. This rapid expansion is attributed to Lampley’s 14 years’ of experience in the industry, which has given her leverage to develop a keen awareness of what people enjoy and what the market is missing. As a holistic brand, three wine-scented candles were added to the portfolio in 2014 available now at Target locations, including three bonus scented candles. Lampley leverages her platform to mentor young women and budding entrepreneurs who can benefit from her lessons and her success. She gives her time and resources greatly to nonprofit organizations through sponsorship and speaking engagements. Lampley has mentored youth through Urban Broadcast Media, Chicago Sky and Polished Pebbles to encourage Chicago’s youth. She is a member and supporter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. LCS Entertainment, LLC is a licensed wholesaler and importer, a certified Minority Business Enterprise and a Women Business Enterprise. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? – The most expensive bottle of Chianti available
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Sade
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Tasting, Social Media, Sommeliers, Restaurants – Touch, Feel and Go
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Stop Overthinking – Don’t take it personal – It will work out
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Old School Hip Hop, Common, Tribe Called Quest, Robert Glasper, 90’s R&B

How you can connect with Chrishon on Social Media: Website: http://lovecorkscrew.com/ Facebook: @lovecorkscrew, @chrishonlampley, and @lcstheloveseat Instagram: @lovecorkscrew Twitter: @lovecorkscrew and @lcscandles Resource Links: https://winefolly.com/review/chianti-wine-tuscany/ https://www.michiganwines.com/ https://illinoiswine.com/ https://www.winespectator.com/glossary/index/word/Negociant

In the third episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Regine Rousseau of Shall We Wine! In our conversation we talked about:

• After the Quake
• Jamaican Bass Player
• Wine paired with Poetry
• Bourbon
• So much more!

Regine’s Bio Regine T. Rousseau is a proud Haitian American poet, author, sommelier, and businesswoman. She is the CEO of Shall We Wine, an event-planning and wine and spirits demonstration company based in Chicago, Illinois. She received her Level II certification from the International Sommelier Guild and an Executive Bourbon Steward from Stave and Thief Society. Rousseau enjoys traveling, cooking, spending time with her beloved niece and nephew, and educating others in the art of wine tasting. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? 1989 Domaine Laflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Toni Morrison
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Wine Enthusiast
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Stay the course
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Erykah Badu, Jill Scott and Tracy Chapman

How you can connect with Regine on Social Media: Website: http://shallwewine.com and http://reginerousseau.com Facebook: @shallwewine and @reginerousseau Instagram: @shallwewine and @reginetrousseau Twitter: @reginetrousseau @shallwewinechi Resource Links: https://www.amazon.com/Searching-Cloves-Lilies-Regine-Rousseau/dp/1978379382/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1531444044&sr=8-1&keywords=searching+for+cloves+and+lilies Corks and Cuvee Event: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wine-tasting-with-regine-rousseau-tickets-46167009769?aff=ebdssbdestsearch Purple Corkscrew Event: https://www.paypal.com/webapps/shoppingcart?flowlogging_id=52d63c4cc04f4&mfid=1531443569278_52d63c4cc04f4#/checkout/openButton https://www.winemag.com/ https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/dom+leflaive+grand+cru+batard+montrachet+puligny+cote+de+beaune+burgundy+france/1989/world-wide-delivery#t2 http://worldwineguys.com/ https://www.internationalsommelier.com/ https://staveandthief.com/

In the second episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Melody Fuller, Founder of the Oakland Wine Festival! In our conversation we talked about: · The Exceptional Vine · Inclusion of Women of Color in the Wine Industry · Growing up with a strong Mother · So much more! Melody’s Bio: I am an independent professional wine, food, and travel writer. I write books, white papers, articles, and I engage in exciting publishing opportunities to educate, inform, and entertain. For many years, I traveled locally and around the world learning about wine, food, meeting vintners, and building relationships one sip at a time. I filmed my first TV show at Pebble Beach Food and Wine. For two years I was invited attendee of The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers at Meadowood Napa Valley. This is a tremendous honor and high recognition of the work that I do. On the eve of the 2014 Symposium, I was having dinner with a dear friend in St. Helena. My professor, aka, Mr. Robert M. Parker Jr., who was just one table away, was dining with friends as well. He and I had a delightful conversation about the days to come. I capped our evening by correctly opening and pouring my friend’s wine for him and by accurately blind guessing the four wines he and his companions were enjoying. I am a wine educator, leading a couple of monthly wine tasting clubs and simply being a friend and taster at another wine club that meets every other month. I look forward to your continued support of the Oakland Wine Festival! The Last Five Sips: 1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? The best wine money can buy to drink with the top 10 decision makers in the wine industry 2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Grandparents, Parents and Son 3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Trade Newsletters, Wine Magazines and Wine Books 4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Don’t wait! Travel to Wine Country 5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Classical and lite Jazz How you can connect with Melody on Social Media: Website: http://oaklandwinefestival.com/ Facebook: @oaklandwinefestival Instagram: @oakwinefest and #owff2018 Email: winemakers@oaklandwinefestival.com Resource Links: https://www.opusonewinery.com/ https://www.rombauer.com/ https://www.silveroak.com/ http://www.lobowines.com/ http://www.sonoma.edu/

In this our first episode of our fourth season we had the pleasure of speaking with Sarah Pierre of 3 Parks Wine Shop! In our conversation we talked about:

• Rosé Growlers
• Confidence and Standing Tall
• US Wine Culture
• Rosé Wine Club
• So much more!

Sarah’s Bio Sarah Pierre is the Owner/Managing Partner of 3 Parks Wine Shop in Atlanta, established in 2013. Sarah received a Bachelors of Science from Georgia State University in 2004, but decided shortly after graduation to continue working in restaurants and pursue a career in Hospitality. Sarah grew up being passionate about food and the culinary world surrounding it. Prior to opening 3 Parks Wine, Sarah spent most of her career working and managing in notable restaurants in Atlanta and New York City including, but not limited to Twist Restaurant & Lounge, Houston’s Restaurant, Maialino, & Bacchanalia. Her passion for hospitality and her love for food and wine led to the success of 3 Parks Wine Shop. She opened the store with hopes of creating a comfortable, welcoming, and quaint space to purchase wine. A place for wine lovers, and those eager to learn. Her background in restaurant management and hospitality resulted in a wine shop where people spent time, hang out, listen to music, kick back and enjoy wine. It’s a nice spin on the average wine retail store. A fun place to be...where everybody knows your name. When Sarah is not in the shop tasting and teaching wines, or just having fun with her customers, she is learning french, dining at all the restaurants, working out, spending time with friends and family, or planning her next big trip. But usually, she’s planning a trip. Whether traveling domestic or internationally, Sarah is in her comfort zone. To maintain Sarah’s knowledge in the food and wine industry, each year she includes a trip to a wine region spending time with winemakers and local farmers. She is also curating international wine trips where she will be traveling with a group of wine lovers to her her favorite regions. Her goal is to eventually take 2-3 group trips a year! She is also gearing up to take her French Wine Scholar Exam. Sarah has received coverage in print and broadcast including CNN, Thrillist, Eater Atlanta, Mailchimp, Atlanta Journal Constitution, and many more. 3 Parks also recieved top 10 Wine Shops in the US and #1 the South East in 2017!  Keep an eye out for “Sarah P’s Social Suppers” and her thoughtfully curated 2019 Trip to France! The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? DRC
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Julia Child and Michele Obama
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Speaking to Importers, Distributors, Wine Makers and reading Bon Appetit
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Take your time and enjoy life a little more
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? I listen to more music in the morning; Trap Music, Classical, Country, Podcasts (in French)

How you can connect with Sarah on Social Media: Website: www.3parkswine.com Facebook: @3parkswine Instagram: @sarahpierre1 and @3parkswine Twitter: @sarahfoodandwine and @3parkswine Resource Links: www.romanee-conti.com https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Growler_(jug) https://www.bonappetit.com

In this our eighth and final episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Alisha Calvert! In our conversation we talked about:

• Rosé Rosé Rosé
• Somm Slam
• Wince Certification Exams
• Blind Tasting
• So much more!

Alisha’s Bio  Alisha Blackwell-Calvert, a St. Louis native, began working in restaurants in 2004 after studying Equestrian Science and Biology at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. In 2007, her passion grew for wine and food pairing while waiting tables at fine seafood restaurant Oceano Bistro in Clayton, MO. Blackwell-Calvert was inspired to continue learning and decided to pursue a career in wine sales. She began her rep career with Ionia Atlantic Imports in 2012, where Italian wine became a specialty, followed by wholesale distributor Vintegrity Wine & Spirits in 2015. It was in early 2017 when Reeds American Table approached her with a Sommelier position. Reeds American Table, where she is the current Beverage Director, has received Wine Enthusiast Magazine's award for Top 100 Wine Restaurants two years in a row, the single St. Louis restaurant listed in 2017. Feast Magazine has named her a "Raising Star" for 2018. Alisha is a Certified Sommelier and received the 2015 Walter Clore Certified Sommelier Scholarship for top score at the Kansas City exam that July. She also attained the Certified Specialist of Wine certification through the Society of Wine Educators in early 2015 with a 99% score. Blackwell-Calvert is currently preparing to sit for the French Wine Scholar and Advanced Sommelier examinations. In her free time, Alisha enjoys working with draft horses for Brookdale Farms. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Domaine Romanée Conti (DRC) – Pinot Noir
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Beyoncé
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Guild of Sommeliers Website
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. Save Money – Invest and prepare for a better future
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Beyoncé, Nirvana, Green Day, Alicia Keys, Chris Cornell, Marilyn Manson

How you can connect with Alisha on Social Media: Facebook: @exquisitevines Instagram: @exquisitevines and @reeds_stl Twitter: @exquisitevines   Resource Links: https://reedsamericantable.com/ alloywineworks.com http://www.elioperrone.it/en/bigaro.php https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/a-complete-guide-to-wine-from-the-canary-islands/ http://www.foodandwine.com/wine/champagne-sparkling-wine/englands-sparkling-wines-rival-champagne http://beacontavern.com/events/sommslam https://www.guildsomm.com/ http://www.romanee-conti.com/#/Accueil https://www.beyonce.com/

In this Seventh episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards! In our conversation we talked about:

• Mole and Cabernet Sauvignon
• La Tapatia
• The Ceja Family Legacy
• Bubbles!
• So much more!

Dalia’s Bio Dalia Ceja has been surrounded by wine, food and travel her entire life. She may have grown up in the wine industry but she comes from very humble beginnings. In the late 1960’s her grandparents immigrated to the U.S. from Mexico, worked in the vineyards and settled in the Napa Valley. With her parents as her role models, hard work and education have been the forefront of Dalia’s drive to excel. In 2008 she graduated from San Francisco State University with a B.A. in Marketing & Communications. After graduating from college she departed on a six month “Study Abroad” backpacking journey through South America, learning, exploring and enriching her career with real life experiences. This became the anchor for a blog that she would later launch in 2011. In 2010 she brought her expertise to Ceja Vineyards as the Sales and Marketing Director. “A lot of minority wineries are developing their own style,” she says. “For us, it’s been about family and taking wine to a new level.” And for Dalia, being a Ceja means being part of that evolution, which includes promoting awareness of authentic Mexican cuisine and its subtle, complex flavors—the perfect companion for pairings that yield a new wine experience. “Technology and social media have been a great way to expand our presence,” she says of the tweeting and blogging she does regularly. It is, however, cooking and the Ceja approach to wine and food that continue to be the biggest factor in opening doors. Dalia’s growing role in the culinary world is reflected in the expanding presence of food on the winery’s website, www.cejavineyards.com, and on YouTube, where she has published cooking demonstration videos. In 2011 Dalia was named "Woman of the Year" through the Napa Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for her entrepreneurial leadership and charitable contributions. In May of 2011 she launched her own blog and website – www.daliaceja.com. She highlights her own passions to creatively focus on wine, fashion, food, travel and fiestas! In 2012 she partnered with NakedWines.com as a consulting winemaker and launched her own wines under the La Tapatia wine label exclusively selling a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and is currently on her 5th wine vintage. “You’re never too young or too old to explore your passions,” says Dalia, who is grateful to her parents for encouraging her to do just that. In 2014 she graduated from Sonoma State University and received her M.B.A. in Wine Marketing and Business. With her personal flare and her passion for fashion, wine, cooking and travel, Dalia is set to leave her mark. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? A bottle of Moet Chandon Grand Cru
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Frida Kahlo
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Because of her job, Dalia reads to unwind. The last book she read was: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. If you love what you do and have a passion for it, you will never have to work a day in your life
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Gypsy Kings – per Alexa

How you can connect with Dalia online and on Social Media: Online: https://www.daliaceja.com Online: https://www.cejavineyards.com/ Facebook: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Instagram: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Instagram: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Twitter: @cejavineyards and @daliaceja Pinterest: @cejavineyards YouTube: @cejavineyards Resource Links: https://www.visitmexico.com/en/main-destinations/jalisco https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/salud-mexican-american-wine-revolution-180964217/ http://napavalleyregister.com/lifestyles/food-and-cooking/mrs-ceja-goes-to-washington-smithsonian-shines-a-spotlight-on/article_f67e4b79-5677-5300-b5a6-e2dd32e2149c.html https://us.nakedwines.com/products/la-tapatia-pinot-noir-carneros-2016 https://shop.schramsberg.com/SHOP.AMS?LEVEL=MID&CAT=CR https://us.moet.com/Our-Champagnes https://www.amazon.com/dp/0307887448/ref=sxnav_sxwds-tsp_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=3524131402&pd_rd_wg=UyfCV&pf_rd_r=SPYEZHFSHCQD92Y45M9E&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-nav&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=0307887448&pd_rd_w=IqeLM&pf_rd_i=ready+player+one&pd_rd_r=27c82f06-dd7c-439f-9154-ebf2726cd947&ie=UTF8&qid=1521572783&sr=1 www.gipsykings.com    

In this fifth episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Paul Charles of Charles Wine Company! In our conversation we talked about:

• Being one of 16 children!
• Wine Kits
• Jungle Juice
• Lodi, CA
• So much more!

Paul’s Bio: The Los Angeles-based Charles Wine Company was founded by Paul Charles, De’Ondre Charles and Dr. Cherise Moore in 2012 and launched its first label in 2014. Their dream started in 2007 with a trip to Temecula Valley Wine Country for wine tasting, which lead them to the cellar with the winemaker/owner doing a barrel tasting. This introduction sparked Paul’s interest to purchase his first premium wine kit, which began their journey. After a few successful bottles, Paul decided to convert his backyard into a small vineyard, growing a few rows of Cabernet and Zinfandel. The grapes were crushed by hand to produce our first bottle of wine. Paul landed a side job in the industry and began to work for a large wine producer selling their Boutique wines along the California Coast in large box store outlets. Then after, Paul started his own Wine Broker service (Varietal Wine Brokers) and distributed premium/boutique wines for five wineries. The Team took two weeks to travel across the United States visiting wineries from Florida to California. Then after they started their journey abroad, stopping off in Spain, France, Switzerland, Greece and Italy. They also made it a priority to meet and work with winemakers at their various stops, whose passion rubbed off on Paul enough he decided to launch their own label. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? The most expensive wines in Bordeaux and sharing them with Friends
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Grandmother, Father and President Obama
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Being “in the field” and out there talking to people
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Keep moving and don’t’ settle!
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? West Coast Rap (Ice Cube, Kendrick Lamar) and R&B

How you can connect with Paul online and on Social Media: Online: https://charleswineco.com/ Instagram: @charleswineco Email: info@charleswineco.com Resource Links: https://www.goldenstarvineyards.com/shop-wine http://www.lodiwine.com/ https://www.winemakersdepot.com/Wine-Kits-Listed-by-Brand-C39.aspx?gclid=Cj0KCQjwkKPVBRDtARIsAA2CG6Fj3IDL-mvsPGl62t4IUt-Mb2cBx7tp44PfEB22_aU26z06Jv_cILEaAqy1EALw_wcB

In this fifth episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Sherrijon Gaspard! Sherrijon is owner of Vina Sympatica. In our conversation we talked about:

• Bubbles, Bubbles and more Bubbles
• Wanting more hours in the day
• The Vina Life
• Natural vs Artificial Flavors
• So much more!

Sherrijon Gaspard’s Bio Ms. Gaspard is the driving force and visionary behind Vina Sympatica. An accomplished client services professional, Ms. Gaspard has extensive experience successfully developing and implementing integrated marketing and client satisfaction programs. As a founding partner of EOS Ventures, LLC, she utilized her talent by fusing both marketing and client satisfaction business principles, as demonstrated by the dynamic combination of her Pepperdine MBA and highly successful marketing and client services experience. Her work experience includes over nineteen years at Alaska Airlines as a flight attendant where she has been creative and resourceful in generating new ideas and solutions applicable to both the in-flight department as well as the labor union. Prior to this, she worked in the entertainment industry, in the development and production of major motion pictures and episodic television shows. She also has in-depth experience in hospitality, team building and enhancing the customer experience while preserving/elevating brand management. A visionary with a keen eye for detail, strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects on time and on budget, high quality deliverables and customer satisfaction are ensured. Effective working both independently and as part of a team, she has an exceptional ability to build strong relationships with internal corporate clients, channel partners and external suppliers. Ms. Gaspard received her B.A. with honors in Women’s Studies and Film Studies from California State University Long Beach in 1996 and an MBA from Pepperdine University’s Graziadio School of Business Management in 2009. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Any wine from Chateau De Gaspard
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Gloria Ferrer
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Gary Vaynerchuk, Wine Business, Silicon Valley Bank Wine Report
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Be Bold and Be Strident
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, Billie Holiday, Mudbug Brass and Celia Cruz

How you can connect with Sherrijon online and on Social Media: Online: www.vinasympatica.com Facebook: @vinasympatica Instagram: @vinasympatica Twitter: @vinasympatica Email: sherrijon@vinasympatica.com Resource Links: https://www.gloriaferrer.com/ https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/ https://www.winebusiness.com/ https://www.svb.com/wine-report/ www.mudbugbrass.com/ http://www.ellafitzgerald.com/ https://www.biography.com/people/etta-james-9542558 http://www.billieholiday.com/ https://celiacruz.com/ http://hillersden.com/our-wines/sparkling-sauvignon-blanc/

In this fourth episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Chef Rhonda Russell! Chef Rhonda is the only African American woman to hold the title of Executive Chef of Wine Arts, in the US. In our conversation we talked about:

• How growing up in Lake Charles, Louisiana has influenced her wines
• Working to teach kids about healthy eating habits
• Tasting Blinfolded!
• Picking Mayhaw’s
• Lodi, CA
• So much more!

Chef Rhonda’s Bio Chef Rhonda Russell is an Executive Chef of Wine Arts, Winemaker and owner of Taste Collection Cellars. As the only African American woman to carry this title in the U.S. she works tirelessly to not only teach, educate and demystify food and wine lovers on unique flavor pairings and combinations she is also passionate about educating children on the love of good food. Chef Rhonda volunteers monthly to teach fourth graders in Houston, Texas how to cook their own food using fresh, healthy and local ingredients. She also just launched the Taste the World subscription box – a subscription box for worldly wine lovers where she can share her extensive wine and food knowledge with the public. Born and raised in the deep food culture of Louisiana, it didn’t take long for Chef Rhonda to discover her passion for food. Many of her best childhood memories revolve around food and days spent absorbing every bit of knowledge from her grandmother’s kitchen and dishes, lots of dishes. With her passion for food ignited, Rhonda pursued formal training at the Culinary Business Academy in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, earning the title of a Certified Personal Chef. Rhonda then began a career as a personal Chef in her city of Houston, Texas, with a focus on Creole and Cajun cooking. Shortly thereafter, she began training at the International Wine Guild, completing her studies in Old World and New World wine regions and earning the title, Executive Chef of Wine Arts and Winemaker. With her advanced knowledge of food and wine, Chef Rhonda enjoys finding ways to bring out the superb taste in a wide array of food through colorful food combinations and inspired wine pairings. Her keen sense of taste brought her to create her own wine collection, Taste Collection Cellars. Chef Rhonda’s passion is to educate and demystify both wine and the food that first sparked her imagination, Creole and Cajun cooking. Chef Rhonda is a member of the world renowned United States Personal Chefs Association, James Beard Foundation, The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas and the International Wine Guild as a Certified Sommelier. She also appeared, as a contestant on Food Network’s “Cooks vs Cons” in 2016 on Season 2. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Any wine produced from Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Edna Lewis and Leah Chase
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Oxford Companion to Wine and Wine Atlas
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Walk in your Purpose
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Lindsey Webster and Damien Escobar

How you can connect with Chef Rhonda online and on Social Media: Online: www.tastebychefrhonda.com Facebook: @tastebychefrhonda Instagram: @taste_by_chef_rhonda Instagram: @tastecollectioncellars Twitter: @tastebychef Resource Links: https://www.southernliving.com/fruits/berries/what-is-a-mayhaw https://www.amazon.com/Oxford-Companion-Wine-Companions/dp/0198705387/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519146554&sr=8-1&keywords=oxford+companion+to+wine https://www.amazon.com/World-Atlas-Wine-7th/dp/1845336895/ref=la_B000APTSNU_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519146626&sr=1-1 https://ednalewisfoundation.org http://www.dookychaserestaurant.com/about/chef http://www.lindseywebstermusic.com/ http://dameesco.com/

Show Notes In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with April Richmond of Sip and Swirl Events.  In this episode we speak to April about:

• The Non-Traditional route of her Sommelier Journey
• How being a Flight Attendant helped her with the Service part of the Sommelier Exam
• What is the Glamp-Out?
• The Soul of the City Wine Festival in Oakland

April's Bio Long Beach, California native, April Richmond, is the Sommelier behind San Francisco Bay Area based,  Sip & Swirl Events, and creator of some the hottest urban wine events in the country. Prior to joining the wine industry, April cut her teeth in the event planning world as one of the Event Planners for Stanford University where she was responsible for managing everything from weddings and press conferences to Passover dinners and staff meetings. Combining her love for wine and event planning, April founded Sip & Swirl Events in 2011 with a goal of bringing together Black winemakers and wine lover's through hosting unique events in unexpected venues. Since then, the company has created a number of signature events including the Soul Of The City Wine Festival, Cupcakes & Corks, The Mystery Wine Tour, and the Wine Country Glamp-Out. The company also offers Sommelier and wine services to a host of private and high-profile corporate clients including Facebook and Ikea USA. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? A $30,000 bottle of wine from a Grocery Store in Paris
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Oprah
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Taste, Taste, Taste and Wine Industry Insight (Lewis Perdue)
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Keep Flying and Don't Settle for the Boy! Start your wine journey now!
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Marcus Johnson, Marcus Anderson, Terrance Blanchard

For more information: www.sipndswirlevents.com The Soul of the City Wine Festival: https://www.sipandswirlevents.com/events-1 http://suisunvalley.com/ http://wineindustryinsight.com/?page_id=2 Social Media: Instagram and Facebook: @sipandswirlevents

In Part 2 of our second episode of Season 3 we continue talking to Dottie about wine, wine and more wine!! Dorothy’s Bio Dorothy J. Gaiter conceived and wrote The Wall Street Journal’s wine column, “Tastings,” from 1998 to 2010 with her husband, John Brecher. She has been tasting and studying wine since 1973. She has had a distinguished career in journalism as a reporter, editor, columnist and editorial writer at The Miami Herald and The New York Times as well as at The Journal. Dottie and John are well-known from their many television appearances, especially on Martha Stewart’s show, and as the creators of the annual “Open That Bottle Night” celebration of wine and friendship, the last Saturday in February. The first bottle they shared was André Cold Duck. We were wine lovers and students of wine for 25 years before we wrote a single word about our very private passion. So it’s still amazing to us to read something like this about ourselves, from George M. Taber’s book, “To Cork or Not to Cork”: “Wine retailers say that they have the greatest impact of any wine critics. After they recommend a wine, it’s hard to keep it in stock.” Or this, from Randall Rothenberg in Advertising Age: “These wine writers have managed to accomplish something most journalists — hell, most businesspeople — can only dream of: creating a bond with their audience.” We certainly couldn’t have imagined being a question on “Jeopardy.” Or having a top-selling wine book. Or Charles Osgood, who called us “the first couple of wine,” interviewing us in our sub-freezing home and getting our electricity restored. Dorothy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1973 from the University of Missouri School of Journalism for which she gave the commencement address in its centennial year. With her husband, she wrote four books, including “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine: New and Improved,” “Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion: Red, White and Bubbly to Celebrate the Joy of Living,” and “Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes From a Marriage.” The Journal nominated Tastings for a Pulitzer Prize. Dorothy and her husband have two daughters who have Bachelor’s degrees. While a student at the University of Missouri, Gaiter served as one of the founding editors of Blackout, a newspaper published by the University of Missouri’s African-American students. Following graduation, Gaiter worked as a reporter at the Miami Herald and an editor at the Miami News before joining The New York Times as a reporter for the week in review section, the metro desk and the style section. In 1984, Gaiter returned to the Miami Herald, where she became the paper’s first African-American female editorial writer and regular Op-Ed columnist. In 1990, Gaiter became a reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Manhattan and by 1996 she had become the Journal’s national news editor in charge of race and urban affairs coverage. Her writing on race was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and she won awards from the Newswomen’s Club of New York and the National Association of Black Journalists. In 1998, when the Journal launched its Weekend Edition, Gaiter and Brecher, the Journal’s Page One Editor, added the wine column to their regular duties. They became full-time wine columnists in 2000. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Would experience something she has never tasted before in a Nebuchadnezzar (a single bottle that holds 20 bottles of wine)
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Her Parents
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Taste, Taste, Taste, The Grape Collective (link below), Seven Fifty (link below), Wall Street Journal
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Spend time developing and maintaining friendships
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Zoe Brecher, Miles Davis, Bill Evans

How you can connect with Dottie online and on Social Media: Facebook: @winecouple Online: www.grapecollective.com Email: djgaiter9@aol.com Resource Links: www.grapecollective.com https://daily.sevenfifty.com/ http://www.juliaconey.com/blog/2018/1/3/your-wine-glass-ceiling-is-my-wine-glass-box-an-open-letter-to-karen-macneil-and-the-wine-industry http://www.paumanok.com/history.html Books: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dorothy+gaiter&sprefix=dorothy+gai%2Caps%2C193&crid=8BC12QHHIFEO

Show Notes: In this second episode of our third season we had the honor of speaking with Dorothy Gaiter! Dorothy and her husband John have been studying and tasting wine for 45 years!!! In our conversation we talked about:

• Writing about Race and Race Relations throughout her career in the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s
• How wine became a respite
• The first bottle of wine that she shared with her love, John, on their first date
• Napa and Sonoma, how they have changed
• Champagne and Train Travel
• One of the many books she and John wrote, Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes From a Marriage
• So much more!

Dorothy’s Bio Dorothy J. Gaiter conceived and wrote The Wall Street Journal's wine column, "Tastings," from 1998 to 2010 with her husband, John Brecher. She has been tasting and studying wine since 1973. She has had a distinguished career in journalism as a reporter, editor, columnist and editorial writer at The Miami Herald and The New York Times as well as at The Journal. Dottie and John are well-known from their many television appearances, especially on Martha Stewart's show, and as the creators of the annual "Open That Bottle Night" celebration of wine and friendship, the last Saturday in February. The first bottle they shared was André Cold Duck. We were wine lovers and students of wine for 25 years before we wrote a single word about our very private passion. So it’s still amazing to us to read something like this about ourselves, from George M. Taber’s book, “To Cork or Not to Cork”: “Wine retailers say that they have the greatest impact of any wine critics. After they recommend a wine, it’s hard to keep it in stock.” Or this, from Randall Rothenberg in Advertising Age: “These wine writers have managed to accomplish something most journalists -- hell, most businesspeople -- can only dream of: creating a bond with their audience.” We certainly couldn’t have imagined being a question on “Jeopardy.” Or having a top-selling wine book. Or Charles Osgood, who called us “the first couple of wine,” interviewing us in our sub-freezing home and getting our electricity restored. Dorothy earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism in 1973 from the University of Missouri School of Journalism for which she gave the commencement address in its centennial year. With her husband, she wrote four books, including “The Wall Street Journal Guide to Wine: New and Improved,” “Wine for Every Day and Every Occasion: Red, White and Bubbly to Celebrate the Joy of Living,” and “Love by the Glass: Tasting Notes From a Marriage.” The Journal nominated Tastings for a Pulitzer Prize. Dorothy and her husband have two daughters who have Bachelor’s degrees. While a student at the University of Missouri, Gaiter served as one of the founding editors of Blackout, a newspaper published by the University of Missouri’s African-American students. Following graduation, Gaiter worked as a reporter at the Miami Herald and an editor at the Miami News before joining The New York Times as a reporter for the week in review section, the metro desk and the style section. In 1984, Gaiter returned to the Miami Herald, where she became the paper’s first African-American female editorial writer and regular Op-Ed columnist. In 1990, Gaiter became a reporter for The Wall Street Journal in Manhattan and by 1996 she had become the Journal’s national news editor in charge of race and urban affairs coverage. Her writing on race was twice nominated for the Pulitzer Prize, and she won awards from the Newswomen’s Club of New York and the National Association of Black Journalists. In 1998, when the Journal launched its Weekend Edition, Gaiter and Brecher, the Journal’s Page One Editor, added the wine column to their regular duties. They became full-time wine columnists in 2000. The Last Five Sips:

1. If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Would experience something she has never tasted before in a Nebuchadnezzar (a single bottle that holds 20 bottles of wine)
2. Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Her Parents
3. What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Taste, Taste, Taste, The Grape Collective (link below), Seven Fifty (link below), Wall Street Journal
4. What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Spend time developing and maintaining friendships
5. When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Zoe Brecher, Miles Davis, Bill Evans

How you can connect with Dottie online and on Social Media: Facebook: @winecouple Online: www.grapecollective.com Email: djgaiter9@aol.com Resource Links: www.grapecollective.com https://daily.sevenfifty.com/ http://www.juliaconey.com/blog/2018/1/3/your-wine-glass-ceiling-is-my-wine-glass-box-an-open-letter-to-karen-macneil-and-the-wine-industry Books: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_11?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=dorothy+gaiter&sprefix=dorothy+gai%2Caps%2C193&crid=8BC12QHHIFEO

Shayla Varnado is the woman behind the glass. After thoroughly enjoying her twenties, Shayla decided that there had to be more to experience, more to enjoy, and more to share for women who desire luxury in every day living. Whether it's having a glass of wine with girlfriends, relaxing after work, or simply toasting to success there must be a place where both the woman and her passions are celebrated. After an unsuccessful hunt for something fabulous that celebrated her love for wine and connecting with other successful women she decided to create a space that would educate and inspire black women around the world. 

Shayla is a Richmond Va native with a degree from Old Dominion University in fashion and a passion for people. She is a serial entrepreneur, believer, and lover of all beautiful things-- including everything in Target! 

 

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