A little bit about why I’m here

What I’m drinking: 2024 Domaine Pecheur Cotes du Jura Trousseau

How did all of this start?

I remember drinking wine for the first time in college. I had an overwhelming urge to have a glass of sweet wine, specifically. Over time, I expanded my palette to new and different wines (to me), mostly because I wanted to seem like I had more sophisticated sensibilities when I was trying to appear more mature than I was at fancy work dinners at restaurants I couldn’t afford. I couldn’t tell you if I liked one particular wine over another but I could tell you that I liked heavy reds in the colder seasons and rosé in June.

I started to take wine more seriously when my parents started to crystallize plans to open a wine bar in Fayetteville, GA. Ever competitive and not wanting to be left behind in what could be a pretty fun experience, I found myself a student of an online self guided wine course, complete with small bottles of wine to participate in “blind” tastings, and a thick workbook filled with foreign concepts of a world that seemed so far away to me. But with what felt like all the time in the world to study because of the pandemic, I didn’t prioritize the work. I was in the process of moving from New York City back home to Atlanta, Georgia after 13 years in the big city. With all of the pressure of the move (and frankly, a lack of motivation at the time), reader, I failed the first wine test I took.

My parents opened the wine bar, Revival, and I had a very hands on part in bringing it to life. I sat in the wine tastings to choose the inventory, gave tours of the bar and interacted with the guests and entertainers. Spending time at the bar gave me a unique appreciation for the wine we were selling. Being a part of the family meant that our guests expected me to know more about wine than they did. I was expected to be able to quickly recommend wine based on their palettes or their food choices for the evening. While I was finally able to distinguish a Chardonnay from a Sauvignon Blanc, formal education was the next logical step. Being around wine more often and getting the chance to try more of a variety gave me a much better foundation to make wine more of a significant part of my life.

Taking on wine education is not necessarily easy. There are maps and regions to memorize, wine laws be familiar with and learning the distinction in both aroma and flavor of an old world wine vs. a new world wine. I’m continuing in my education and imagine this could be a life long education for me.

All of that brings me here! I’ve loved every step of my continuing journey with wine and plan to keep going. Part of that is ensuring that I stay sharp - writing about wine, tasting wine and recommending wine to my friends and family. I love being asked what wine I recommend for gifts or for a dinner party. I love taking the knowledge I’ve acquired to select wines that I know my loved ones will be excited to try. Creating an opportunity to facilitate on a bigger scale is important to me - I want to bring wine to people who have been shut out.