The Color of Wine Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Color of Wine Presents: Nadine Brown Jan 29, 2021

Sommelier Nadine Brown was born and raised along the shores of Jamaica and Puerto Rico. She came to the states to pursue a degree in social work. After working with children for a number of years she later moved to D.C. After months of trying to find a job in her field she took a job as a hostess at a new French restaurant opening on Capitol Hill. She had no previous restaurant experience and had every intention to return to social work. However, she fell in love with the hospitality industry. She quickly moved up from hostess to manager in a few short years. Nadine first came to wine by reading and found the history of wine fascinating and took her first wine captain course to help her be a better manager.

Today, Nadine is a twenty year veteran of the Washington, D.C. restaurant industry. She spent over 14 years at Charlie Palmer Steak as Wine Director and Sommelier. Nadine and her husband were managing partners of Society Fair, a boutique eatery in Alexandria Virginia, where she worked as General Manager and Sommelier. She is a two-time winner of the D.C. RAMMY’s Wine Program of the year for the region. Her palate won her the title of rising star from Star Chef in the summer of 2006. Nadine is a proud board member of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan D.C. and the nonprofit the Verasion Project. Nadine holds certifications from both the Court of Master Sommelier and WSET. She continues to be a mentor to many young professionals in the business. She is a mother of two rambunctious children, Estelle and Emerson who keep her on her toes daily.

The Veraison Project:

https://www.theveraisonproject.com/about

The Color of Wine Presents: Black Wine Professionals Jan 07, 2021

Founded by Julia Coney, Black Wine Professionals is a resource for wine industry employers and gatekeepers, professionals, and the food and beverage community. Our goal is to lift up the multifaceted Black professionals in the world of wine.

Black Wine Professionals was born out of necessity. For too long, Black Wine Professionals have been overlooked and absent from conversations, tastings, product marketing and much more. That changes now because we’re here and we aren’t going anywhere.

Black Wine Professionals will continue to grow as we expand our site to include event listings, educational resources, job postings, and a discussion forum. We look forward to partnering with companies and organizations committed to furthering our mission.

Julia Coney (Founder) is a Washington, D.C. and Houston, Texas-based wine writer, wine educator, speaker, and consultant. Her wine writing includes stories on wine, winemakers, and the intersection of race, wine, and language. She holds a WSET Level Two Certification in Wine and Spirits and is currently pursuing her Master Level Champagne Certification with the Wine Scholar Guild and WSET Level Three Certification.

Her work has been featured in The New York Times, VinePair, Wine Enthusiast, Thrillist, The Tasting Panel, Plate Magazine, Forbes.com, WineEnthusiast.com, The Washington Post, Seven Fifty Daily, Wine Searcher, the Financial Times, Jancisrobinson.com, Glamour, Essence, and numerous print and digital publications. Julia is a 2019 Fellow of the Professional Wine Writers Symposium at Meadowood Napa Valley. Julia has spoken at conferences such as wine2wine, Assemblage Symposium, The Culinary Institute of American's Summit for Sommeliers and Beverage Professionals and Batonnage Forum. You can find her on all social media at @juliaconey.

Larissa C. Dubose (Director of Education), is a Certified Sommelier, and market-savvy Sales Manager with over 10 years of experience in the Wine, Spirits & Hospitality Industry. Larissa is currently a Senior On-Premise Manager who manages the sales and distribution goals for Georgia, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Larissa is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Level 3 Certified with WSET, and a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators. Larissa has a thirst for education and will provide insight on seminars, books, and tools for fellow Black Wine Professionals to thrive. Larissa loves the factual aspect of wine and educates in a way that is organic, fun, approachable, inspiring, and authentic. You can find her on all social media at @lotusvinewine and her website thelotusandthevines.com

Shakera Jones (Community Liaison) of Black Girls Dine Too—a lifestyle brand, blog, and social media space—serves as a guide to the wonderful world of high-end food and wine; a need she identified from her own experiences exploring her passion for food, wine, and culture in this space. Shakera hosts bi-weekly virtual “tastings,” exploring grape varietals, production, and regions to broaden the palates of her followers through her welcoming teaching style and warm personality. A tech professional by day and wine student by night, she is currently studying to obtain certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers and Spanish Wine Scholar program with the Wine Scholar Guild. An aspiring wine journalist she has written pieces for Seven Fifty Daily and is one of the new cast members of SommTV.

Shakera thrives on bringing people together. In her role, Shakera will plan virtual BWP community events and when the world eventually opens up, in person BWP events. You can find her on all social media at @blackgirlsdinetoo

Maryam Ahmed (Chief T-Shirt Designer and Advisor to BWP) is a NY native based in Napa, CA. She has been in the food and beverage industry for over ten years. At the Culinary Institute of America, Maryam develops hands-on and thought-leadership programs for consumers that love food, wine and the planet. She is also the director of the annual CIA Summit for Sommeliers and Beverage Professionals. Maryam coaches and consults for socially conscious entrepreneurs to implement ideas, create experiences, and launch and scale their businesses.

Maryam has a degree in hotel administration as well as enology & viticulture. She is a member of Les Dames d’Escoffier, a board member for The Symposium for Professional Wine Writers and is one of Somm TV’s newest cast members.

Maryam is an advisor to BWP and chief t-shirt designer for our community. You can find Maryam on Instagram @goodfriendsgoodfood and through her website maryamahmed.co

Tammy Gordon (PR & Marketing Strategist and Advisor to BWP) is the founder of Verified Strategy, a social and digital-first public relations, communications and marketing agency based in Washington, DC. She works with companies, organizations and causes that want to build audience-driven communities.

Tammy is a perpetual WSET student, constantly learning more about the wine industry, but avoiding the actual test. A former spokesperson and publicist for the Office of Champagne, she is deeply committed to a future where wine is accessible to more people.

She can be found on Twitter: @tammy and Instagram: @tammygordon, usually posting about food, drink, travel and her dog, Ike.

The Color of Wine Presents: Philippe Andre of Charles Heidsieck Champagne Dec 30, 2020

As a second-generation sommelier and restauranteur from Chicago, Philippe Andre has been on the cutting edge of wine and cuisine for fifteen years. He developed a passion for hospitality, wine education and Champagne early in his career. Before his U.S. Ambassador role with Charles Heidsieck, Philippe focused on wine auction curation, luxury wine and spirits brand development, and private client management. In addition to his Champagne travels Philippe serves on the board of the United Sommelier Foundation in the support of future Sommeliers.

The Color of Wine Presents: TJ Douglas of The Urban Grape Dec 25, 2020

As the wine buyer, head sales person, and architect of the Progressive Scale for The Urban Grape, TJ is directly responsible for the store’s successes. He has been profiled by the New York Times, Food & Wine, Imbibe, Real Simple, Health magazine, MarketWatch, Eater National, Boston Magazine, Boston Common, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, Boston Business Journal, The Improper Bostonian, and Terroirist, among other regional and national publications. The Beverage Journal named TJ one of ten “Black Drink Innovators to Watch” in 2020. TJ has been featured on shows such as Basic Black (WGBH), The Hub Today (NBC), Dining Playbook (NESN), New England Living (CBS), and Chronicle(WCVB), and is a frequent guest wine educator at corporate meetings and retreats.

Thanks to TJ’s leadership, The Urban Grape was a finalist for Wine Enthusiast's 2020 Wine Star Award for Best Retail Store in the US, and was called “Boston’s Revolutionary Wine Store” in a cover story for Beverage Dynamics. He has taught classes on drinking progressively at, among other places, Christopher Kimball's Milk Street, the Boston Center for Adult Education, Boston University, and the Boston Wine Expo. TJ is a seven-time returning Sommelier for the Nantucket Wine Festival and has been featured as the resident wine expert on the New England lifestyle show, “Home, Life, and Design.”

TJ sits on the boards of the Fessenden School and Summer Search Boston and is the founding member of the Boston Black Golf Association.

The Color of Wine Presents: Thomas T Thomas of Thomas T Thomas Vineyards Dec 16, 2020

Thomas’ entrance into the wine industry was created during a 1999 wine tasting trip to the Burgundy wine region in France. At the time he was a senior financial executive for a large biotechnology company and prior to going on that tasting trip, Thomas never dreamed of owning his own vineyards and making wine. It was that wine tasting trip in 1999 that altered his dreams, and led him to chart a new course in life… a life in the wine industry as a vintner. With the new found enthusiasm driving him forward, in 2001, Thomas was able to purchase a 40-acre parcel of land to begin the process of constructing that new future.

Located in The Anderson Valley, a cool climate wine appellation in south western Mendocino County, Thomas T Thomas Vineyards began with Thomas first developing the property and building a home, and in 2008, planting a 3-acre pinot noir vineyard. Also, in 2008, Thomas built a winery next to the vineyards, with the understanding that one day he would produce and store his own wine there. In 2011 with his first commercial crop, Thomas began selling his grapes to small local wineries that made wines from his grapes. Since Thomas didn’t have a background in the wine industry, he thought it prudent to take the long view, learning about the wine business from the ground up and he also wanted to see how his grapes performed in the hands of experienced wine makers. From 2011 until 2017, Thomas was a grape grower only, when in 2017, Thomas decided to take a small portion of his grape production to forwardly integrate and create his own wine brand; A decision that was always part of his long-range plans. Starting in 2018, Thomas stopped selling his grapes to third party wineries and now he takes 100% of his production for his own brand. Currently, Thomas makes four different pinot noir wines, where three wines are produced from 100% estate fruit and the fourth wine has a mix of non-estate fruit. Starting with the 2020 vintage, Thomas has added a Chardonnay wine offering, which he sources from quality vineyards in Anderson Valley and Thomas has also cleared additional land for a future planting of estate chardonnay.

In his short time in the wine industry, as grower, wines made from Thomas’ grapes have been recognized wining multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze medals at prestigious International Wine Competitions and also receiving multiple 90+pt scores by well known wine magazines. In his short time as a vintner, Thomas’ wines have already received multiple 90+pt scores and have received Platinum, Silver and Bronze medals at recent International Wine Competitions.

The Color of Wine Presents Brian Duncan of Down to Earth Wine Concepts Dec 04, 2020

Chicago native Brian Duncan can be best described as a food, wine and hospitality evangelist. He possesses an unquenchable enthusiasm enriched by decades as a restaurateur, winemaker, seminar speaker and wine educator. Duncan has contributed his expertise to several Chicago’s premier dining destinations, including (Co-Founding) BIN 36 Restaurants, BIN Cafe Wine Bar and Market and A Mano Trattoria.

As a winemaker, Brian created the BIN 36 and D&S (Duncan & Sachs) wine brands sold in 30 markets around the United States. Under his guidance, BIN 36 received an “Award of Unique Distinction” from the Wine Enthusiast magazine for its commitment to delivering the most wine-friendly experience to its guests. BIN 36 was also chosen by Wine & Spirits magazine as “The Best Wine-Pairing System” in the nation. Brian's accolades include being featured as one of America's leading wine experts in GQ and Food & Wine magazine, and as a returning featured speaker at the Aspen Food & Wine Classic.

Brian was honored as the Gourmet Wine Cellar Wine Director of the Year, and received four consecutive James Beard Award nomination in the national "Outstanding Wine Service" category.

In 2015, Duncan created "Down To Earth Wine Concepts LLC", a multifaceted consulting company encompassing the culmination of his career experience and expertise in Public speaking, hospitality, food and wine training, interactive wine/food seminars and corporate team building exercises.

The Color of Wine Presents: Mac McDonald of Vision Cellars Oct 31, 2020

Resources:

http://www.visioncellars.com/

https://www.winespectator.com/articles/a-live-chat-with-mac-mcdonald

http://www.austinbeeman.com/blog/completemac

https://www.aaavintners.org/

The Color of Wine Presents: Lou Garcia of AAAV and Stover Oaks Winery Oct 26, 2020

Lou Garcia was born in the Bronx, New York and grew up on Long Island. He has a Bachelor’s degree from University of Cincinnati and an MBA in Finance & Marketing from Indiana University. He spent 25 years in various division, group, and corporate financial roles at three large companies - Procter & Gamble, PepsiCo, and Avery Dennison.

In 1998, his first career venture outside the big corporate world was as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for LBC, Inc. in Lancaster, Ohio, the largest distributor of charitable gaming and bingo products, equipment, and services in the U.S. Lou developed an interest in the wine industry in the late 1990’s, but decided to wait and continue his search in California after accepting a job offer in 2001 to become CFO of a company in San Jose. However, he was still unable to find a senior financial position in the wine industry because he did not have any wine related experience. Lou combined his entrepreneurial spirit and love of wine when he and his wife, Janice, purchased Stover Oaks Winery, a small winery and vineyard in El Dorado County in the Sierra Foothills of California.

One year later, with hands-on experience, Lou became General Manager and CFO of Frank Johnson Vineyards and Roshambo Winery in Sonoma County and held this position for four years while owning Stover Oaks. In 2009, he became Controller & CFO for Hall Wines in Napa County and worked there through the end of 2015 when he retired with a plan to move back to Ohio. Even though he no longer owns the winery and vineyard property in the Sierra Foothills, he still maintains the Stover Oaks brand while living here in Ohio. The wines are made in California from locally grown grapes.

Lou has been owner of Blackthorn Enterprises, Inc. since it was created in 2004 to purchase Stover Oaks Winery. For the past four years, while still owning Stover Oaks, Lou was an independent sales agent for H & A Barrel Management which leases new barrels and sells used & reconditioned barrels to the wine & spirits industry. His recent focus has shifted to financial & business consulting and recently became Area CFO for SharpCFO providing fractional and interim advisory services for both profit and non-profit organizations.

As a strong believer in giving back to the community, Lou has been involved with many non- profit organizations over the years. He has participated in multiple community, college, and corporate fund raising drives including the United Way Board of Review in Fairfield County (Ohio) and the Napa Valley College Foundation (California) as a board member from 2012 thru 2015. He is currently V.P. & Treasurer for his trade association composed of wineries, vintners, and growers, a 501 (c) 6 non-profit, which was formed in 2002 in California. He is one of the Charter members.

Lou has consistently demonstrated success in achieving business objectives by providing analytical skills and financial advice that generate effective strategic and tactical decisions.

AAAV - https://www.aaavintners.org/

Stover Oaks - https://www.sierrawines.com/winery/winery00026.aspx

H&A Barrel Management - http://ha-barrelmanagement.com/

The Color of WIne Presents: Association of African American Vintners Oct 15, 2020

Association of African American Vintners:

https://www.aaavintners.org/

Phil Long: plong@longevitywines.com

Longevity Wines: https://www.longevitywines.com

The Color of Wine Presents: Sukari Bowman Oct 08, 2020

In this episode the tables are turned!! Our host Sukari Bowman is in the hot seat and is interviewed by Larissa Dubose of The Lotus and The Vines! Enjoy all of the laughter and love!

The Color of Wine Presents: Shae Frichette of Frichette Winery Jul 03, 2020

For more information:

https://frichettewinery.com/

Instagram: @frichettewinery

The Color of Wine Presents: Derrick Westbrook of 1340 Beer Wine and Spirits Jun 26, 2020

For more information:

1340 Beer Wine and Spirits: https://www.1340bws.com/

Derrick C. Westbrook: https://www.derrickcwestbrook.com/

Instagram: @1340bws

@derrickcwestbrook

The Color of Wine Presents: Sarah Pierre of 3 Parks Wine Shop Jun 11, 2020

For more information:

http://www.3parkswine.com/

Instagram: @3parkswine

The Color of Wine Presents: Bertony Faustin of Abbey Creek Vineyard May 22, 2020

For more information:

https://www.abbeycreekvineyard.com/

Instagram: @abbeycreekwine

The Color of Wine Presents; Regine Rousseau of Shall We Wine May 14, 2020

For more information:

Shall We Wine:

https://shallwewine.com/

Instagram: @shallwewine

YouTube: Shall We Wine

Special Series - TJ Douglas of The Urban Grape May 08, 2020

For more information:

The Urban Grape:

http://theurbangrape.com/

Instagram: @urbangrape

Special Series - Steffini Bethea of The Purple Corkscrew May 05, 2020

Innovation, Technology and Hope

Website: https://www.purplecorkscrew.com/

Instagram: @purplecorkscrewwine

The Color of Wine Presents: Santiago Navarro of Garçon Wines Dec 18, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Santiago Navarro of Garcon Wines. We speak to Santiagoabout:

• Sustainability in the Wine Industry • Pushing the Wine Industry into the 21st Century • The Flat Wine Bottle • And so much more……………

Santiago’s Bio

Santiago Navarro is a serial entrepreneur who first entered the magical world of wine professionally in 2010. His first venture, Vinopic Wines, was an online retailer and the world’s first retailer to use science to rate and score wines for their intrinsic quality. It was while building this business, and when shipping wines through the complex supply chains required for digital sales, that Santiago realised that the 19th century round, glass bottle might be the biggest issue in wine and that advancing wine packaging into the 21st century might represent the industry’s biggest opportunity. Many years later, and having co-founded a travel business in between, he started working on developing a 21st century wine bottle. Santiago is now fully focused on Garçon Wines, as CEO and lead co-founder, targeting the 35 billion bottles used annually in wine and advancing both the wine and packaging industries to be more sustainable through innovative, beautiful, flat bottles and game-changing transit packaging. Santiago is a firm believer in Sukari’s mission to make wine more approachable.

For more information:

https://www.garconwines.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @garconwines

Facebook: @garconwines

Twitter: @garconwines

LinkedIn: @garconwines

Resources:

https://www.thebenevolent.org.uk/

The Color of Wine Presents: Thomas Price of Jackson Family Wines Nov 27, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Thomas Price of Jackson Family Wines. In this episode we speak to Thomas about:

Food and Wine scene in Seattle
Never Giving Up!
Wine Education
And so much more……………

Thomas’ Bio

Thomas Price has been in the Hospitality Industry for his entire adult life. Thomas was born in Pasadena, California in 1965. His family moved to Alaska when he was 7. Thomas’ first restaurant job was as a Dishwasher at a diner in Juneau at the age of 14. By 18, Thomas was the day Lead Cook at an upscale burger house called Harry’s in Anchorage. Thomas moved into the front of the house as a Server and Bartender upon turning 21. His passion for wine was instantaneous, and was fueled by a stint as a Server at Zeppo’s, an Anchorage wine bar, and wait shifts at their parent restaurant, The Marx Brothers Cafe.

Thomas moved to Seattle in 1988, where he met his lovely wife, Jessica. Jessica shares Thomas’ passion for food and wine, and they both worked at some of Seattle’s most notable restaurants of the era, (Dahlia Lounge, El Camino, Etta’s Seafood, The Santa Fe Café).

In 1997, Thomas and Jessica opened their own restaurant, Luau Polynesian Lounge, in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. In 2004, Thomas and Jessica decided to pursue other challenges, and sold Luau.

Thomas decided to attempt to obtain his Master Sommelier certification, the highest standard for wine and spirit sales and service in the world. Thomas began as a waiter at Seattle’s Metropolitan Grill, and obtained his Basic Sommelier certification in September of 2004.

In 2005, Thomas was promoted to a Sommelier/Captain position and in 2006 he obtained his Certified Sommelier certification. Thomas was approached by Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse to be the Wine Director for it’s Seattle and Bellevue stores. He was there until 2007, and returned to The Metropolitan Grill as a Sommelier. In September of 2007, Thomas passed his Advanced Sommelier certification on the first try, and became eligible to sit The Master Sommelier Exam.

In June of 2008 Thomas was named Head Sommelier at The Metropolitan Grill. Thomas obtained his Master Sommelier certification in May 2012. Thomas is dedicated to sharing his passion for wine with his guests, friends, and loved ones, one bottle at a time.

For more information:

https://www.jacksonfamilywines.com/

https://www.mastersommeliers.org/

The Color of Wine Presents: Tuanni Price of Zuri Wine Tasting Nov 09, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Tuanni Price of Zuri Wine Tasting. We speak to Tuanni about:

Wine Tasting
Growing a Wine Business on two Continents
SOUTH AFRICA
And so much more……………

Tuanni’s Bio

Tuanni Price is on a mission to make the complicated world of wine simple. In fact, that is the motto of her wine lifestyle business, Zuri Wine Tasting. The self-proclaimed wine enthusiast curates’ wine-filled lifestyles from Southern California to the Southern-most part of the globe in Cape Town, South Africa. Tuanni uses her brand, Zuri Wine Tasting, to host private tastings, teach wine tasting classes and host wine tours. In addition, she produces small to large scale wine experiences for corporate and non-profit clients.

Tuanni grew up in South Central Los Angeles and was not exposed to wine early in life. She was in her 30’s when her interest in wine peaked. One evening while dining at the St. Regis Hotel, she was snubbed by the Sommelier. From that moment on her goal was to learn and share as much as possible about wine and its accompanying lifestyle, enabling her to help others avoid that feeling of intimidation. Tuanni started a wine club with her friends, she studied with the Society of Wine Educators and North American Sommelier Association. Tuanni has traveled the world sipping and learning about wine. Tuanni made a bold move in 2018 to expand her business to Cape Town South Africa, spending part of each year contributing to the vibrant and exciting wine industry there. Zuri Wine Tasting now offers its services to clients and wine lovers in both the US and South Africa.

Today, aside from managing the day-to-day operations and event planning on behalf of Zuri Wine Tasting, Tuanni also host a podcast, aBroad Drinking Wine. She volunteers for PYDA (Pinotage Youth Development Academy), Blacc Cellar Club in Stellenbosch and the US-based AAAV (African American Vintners Association). She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Grambling University. Society of Wine Educators North American Sommelier Association Grambling State University, B.A. Liberal Arts

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist?

For more information:

https://www.zuriwine.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @zuriwinetasting

Facebook: @zuriwinetasting

Resources:

http://www.societyofwineeducators.org/

https://www.nasommelier.com/

https://www.gram.edu/

The Color of Wine Presents: Donae Burston Founder and CEO of La Fete du Rosé Oct 31, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Donae Burston Founder and CEO of La Fete du Rosé. In this episode we speak to Donae about:

Rosé, Rosé, Rosé !!!!!
Lessons from Corporate America
Marketing to the Community
And so much more……………

Donae’s Bio

Donae Burston is a luxury wine & spirits leader with over 15 years of industry experience.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Donae achieved a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Mathematics from Clark Atlanta University in 1998. He concurrently completed a second degree in Industrial Engineering from Georgia Tech, before he began his career in the information technology sector, initially consulting on Healthcare Systems. In 2003, Donae entered the alcohol industry, working on the promotional side of a number of iconic brands in the U.S, before he joined the luxury group, LVMH. During his 10+ years with the company, he worked across brands such as Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Moet & Chandon, Belvedere Vodka and Hennessy Cognac. While with LVMH, in 2011, Donae created the first-ever luxury champagne bar in a sports arena at American Airlines Arena during the Miami Heat’s championship run. In 2016, Donae became the Regional Director of the Southeast U.S, Caribbean and Latin America regions of Armand de Brignac Champagne in which he was responsible for the brand’s commercial and marketing goals in each territory. While with Armand de Brignac, he achieved a 206% increase of sales in the Southeast U.S. for the brand.

Throughout his career, Donae found that in general, the wine industry was not embracing the multicultural consumer (in messaging, marketing/event participation, social media, etc). As an African-American man himself, he wanted to create a quality product inspired by his zest for life and travel that honed in on catering to the margin that had been overlooked, particularly when it came to rosé. With a commitment to create a St. Tropez rosé that is both authentic and exceptional, in 2017 Donae went directly to the esteemed Domaine Bertaud Belieu winery. After several trips and a number of blending and tasting sessions, in summer 2019, La Fête du Rosé was born - a brand that speaks to all demographics with a focus on targeting the multicultural audience; hence the name “La Fête” – which translates to “the rosé party” – one that everyone is invited.

Donae splits his time between Miami and Atlanta, where he lives with his fiancée and their 2 year old son, Noah.

For more information:

https://lafeterose.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @lafeterose

Facebook: @lafeterose

The Color of Wine Presents Victoria Robinson of Topaz Vineyards Oct 26, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Victoria Robinson of Topaz Vineyards. In this episode we speak to Victoria about:

Family!!!!!
Buying her first Tractor
Growing Grapes in Florida
And so much more……………

Victoria’s Bio

Topaz Vineyards intends to build a corporation whereby skilled consultants will match performance expectations to industry realities. Our company will initially span 28+ acres of rich agriculture including but not limited to: Muscadine grapes, cultivated into a rich, sweet Moscato and a Prosecco; various fruit trees that will be infused to create Vix Sangria and our signature fruit wines; a hybrid Tempranillo blend conducive to the changing climate and similar soil conditions to its native Spain; a 3.5 acre natural fishing pond for clients who desire to fish and will be created as a Pay-Pond; a commercial kitchen/restaurant that will house “Isabel Kitchens”, which will be used to conduct cooking classes including but not limited to: catering to dining clientele, making vinegar, jelly and creating generational recipes passed down from familial generations, from earth to table. A Tasting Room & Store that will boast the finest wines from Minority and Diverse Vintners across the country (The Minority Room) and wine-related products from local and various vendors. A wellness spa: will boast various steaming rooms, massage parlor and facial room with signature Angel Hill Wellness Spa products such as the Merlot Facial Mask made from red wine, mineral clay and honey, Sangria Sugar Body Scrubs and Signature Perfumes. A Cigar Bar. On additional 50 acres, a 9-hole executive golf course. Finally, the last structure in plans are building condo-style timeshare properties to give individuals the opportunity to stay and enjoy the property at extended amounts of time while renting their time out to others when not utilized.

For more information:

https://www.topazvineyards.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @topazvineyards and @vlcenterprises

Facebook: @topazvineyards

Twitter: @topazvineyards

The Color of Wine Presents: TJ Douglas of The Urban Grape Oct 18, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with TJ Douglas of Urban Grape. In this episode we speak to TJ about:

The Boston Food and Wine Scene!!!!!
Natural Wine
Drink Progressively
And so much more……………

TJ’s Bio

TJ Douglas is the owner of The Urban Grape, a ground-breaking and wildly popular wine store in Boston. The store concept is simple, but revolutionary – Drink Progressively. Their Progressively Shelving system of sorting wine by its body, instead of by varietal or region, brings ease and unexpected surprise to customers, and business is booming as a result. The Urban Grape has won multiple accolades as Boston’s Best Wine store from both Boston Magazine and The Improper Bostonian, as well as a 50 on Fire award from BostInno, an innovation think tank in the city. In 2018, Vinepair named The Urban Grape the top retail store in the North East. In 2019, UG was profiled in Food & Wine magazine and was named a Top 100 Wine Retail Store in America by Beverage Dynamics.

As the wine buyer, head sales person, and architect of Progressive Shelving for The Urban Grape, TJ is directly responsible for the stores’ successes. He has been profiled by Boston Magazine, Boston Common, The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The Improper Bostonian, Massachusetts Beverage Journal, and Terroirist, and has been featured on Dining Playbook (NESN), New England Living (CBS), Chronicle (WCVB), French Oak TV, and How2Heroes. Thanks to TJ’s leadership, The Urban Grape was also called “Boston’s Revolutionary Wine

Store” in a cover story for Beverage Dynamics. He has taught classes on drinking progressively at, among other places, the Boston Center for Adult Education, Boston University, and the Boston Wine Expo. He’s the co-author of The Urban Grape’s bestselling wine education book Drink Progressively, and the resident wine expert on the New England life style show, “Home, Life, and Design.”

TJ is an active member of his community, serving on the Board of Trustees of The Fessenden School and Summer Search Boston. He is dedicated to increasing diversity in the wine industry especially by creating job opportunities for people of color. He lives in Boston with his wife and two sons.

For more information:

https://www.theurbangrape.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @urbangrape

Facebook: @urbangrape

Twitter: @urbangrape

Resources:

https://www.mastersofwine.org/en/meet-the-masters/profile/index.cfm/id/c9b9a043-5e4b-e211-a20600155d6d822c

http://www.sportelloboston.com/cat-silirie

https://www.amazon.com/Drink-Progressively-White-Light-Full-Bodied/dp/194061158X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=drink+progressively&qid=1571275498&sr=8-1

The Color of Wine Presents: Akash Patel of Akash Winery Oct 07, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Akash Patel of Akash Winery. In this episode we speak to Akash about:

Everything Temecula!!!!!
Working with Family
Building a Winery in a growing area
And so much more……………

Akash’s Bio

Akash Winery & Vineyards is owned and operated by the Patel Family, Ray, Nalini and Akash. With a life long dream of owning their own winery, The Patels invested in a parcel of land in the beautiful Temecula Valley Wine Country in 2010.

The story of the Winery begins at the vineyard. Located in the heart of Temecula’s Wine Country, off of Calle Contento, the vineyard stretches across a 20 acre parcel where the Patels, Winemaker Renato Sais, and the winery staff give the vines the upmost care all year long. Working together, learning and understanding viniculture, curating the perfect grape & vine, and learning the wine business have become a huge passion for the team.

100% estate grown & single vineyard, Akash wines are developed with passion and sophistication. The wines showcase familiar varietals in contemporary, eye catching packaging, and are crafted with consistency of style and quality across all vintages.

The Akash Winery & Vineyards tasting room officially opened mid 2019, though the Patels also hope to open a resort, spa, events venue, and bed & breakfast in the coming years.

From the Patel Family to yours, we hope you enjoy our story and the wine that we produce.

For more information:

https://akashwinery.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @akashwinery

Facebook: @akashwinery

Twitter: @akashwinery

Resources:

https://www.temeculawines.org/

The Color of Wine Presents: Shalini Sekhar of Ottavino Wines Sep 26, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Shalini Sekhar of Ottavino Wines. We speak to Shalini about:

• The relationship between Music and Wine • Wine Consulting • Harvest • And so much more……………

Shalini’s Bio

A former musician, Shalini turned from her Master’s Degree in Flute and Piccolo Performance to a career in wine. After completing her studies at Fresno State University in Enology and Viticulture, she began her journey into winemaking marrying the same combination of art and science that fueled her passion in music. Her experience with boutique producers and Pinot Noir dates back to her time at William Selyem. What followed was a series of steps into the custom crush world where she began working with small clients to execute their visions for their boutique brands beginning with Copain Custom Crush (now Punchdown Cellars), then Bluxome Street Winery, and finally ROAR wines, where she made wine for Waits-Mast Family Cellars, Furthermore Pinot Noir, Neely Wine and several smaller brands. In 2015 she was awarded Winemaker of the Year at the San Francisco International Wine Competition for her work with Furthermore Pinot Noir. She continues to make wine for Waits-Mast and Neely. When Shalini is not at the winery or in the vineyard, she is busy studying for her WSET Diploma and chasing after her two small children.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist?

For more information:

https://www.ottavinowines.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @ottavinowines

Facebook: @ottavinowines

Resources:

https://www.waitsmast.com/

https://www.williamsselyem.com/

http://punchdowncellars.com/

http://www.bluxomewinery.com/

https://www.roarwines.com/

https://www.neelywine.com/

https://www.newsweek.com/next-great-wine-regions.com

The Color of Wine Presents: Lloyd Davis, Owner of Corner 103 Winery Sep 17, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Lloyd Davis of Corner 103 Winery. In this episode we speak to Lloyd about:

Everything Sonoma!!!!!
Wine Tasting
Transitioning from Finance to Wine Making
And so much more……………

Lloyd’s Bio:

Lloyd Davis created Corner 103 as a result of his passion for wine and recognizing that most people are intimidated by it. At Corner 103, they love to share their passion for food and wine and the Sonoma Valley lifestyle. Their concept is simple, to celebrate the local bounty by making elegant/award-winning wines, sharing delicious food prepared by local partners, and creating a warm and welcoming space where guests can relax, slow down and enjoy the finer things in life! They are ranked as one of the top 10 best wineries in the country by USA Today and have 5-star ratings on Yelp and Trip Advisor.

Originally from New York City, Lloyd spent over 30 years in the Banking and Finance industry. He grew up in a family that regularly enjoyed wine with meals. Throughout the years his love of wine grew. While working in the finance industry, Lloyd entered the wine world in 2001 as a financial advisor for a major New York Wine Retailer. He soon fell in love with the art and science of winemaking. In 2006, he became the Managing Partner at Viansa Winery. Under his leadership, Viansa flourished and produced wines that earned over 500 wine competition medals. Lloyd sold Viansa in 2013 and turned his eyes to building a wine brand of his own. In April 2015, he established Corner 103, which draws its name from the location and address of the tasting room. His goals were to (i) create an environment where his guests would feel comfortable learning all aspects of wine in a non-intimidating way; (ii) continue his track record for producing approachable, awarding winning wines; and (iii) demonstrate the proper way to pair wine with food. He wants his guest to understand that they are a “wine expert”! This is because everyone knows what they like and don’t like. Too many people rely on their “wine expert” friends to tell them what is good. But in reality, no one needs anyone to tell them what they like and don’t like!

Lloyd is committed to continuing his track record for producing very approachable, award winning wines and making Corner 103 a “must visit” for all wine lovers, whether expert or novice, coming to Sonoma Valley. When you finish this experience, you be able to impress your friends with the depth of your wine knowledge!

For more information:

https://www.corner103.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @corner103

Facebook: @corner103

Resources:

https://www.laweekly.com/here-are-10-products-for-smuggling-alcohol-into-concerts/

https://www.sonomacounty.com/

The Color of Wine Presents: Jamel Freeman Sep 05, 2019

In this episode we speak with Jamel Freeman a Sommelier residing in Chicago. Jamel and I speak about:

All things NYC
Transitioning in the hospitality industry
The difference between the NYC and Chicago wine and dining scene
Taking are of yourself in the hospitality industry

I hail from NYC as a Queens kid (South Ozone Park), I began my career in a few unknown kitchens of lower Manhattan. Eventually, I moved to the left coast, Bay Area where I worked at Michael Mina's Aqua. Family matters caused a move back to NYC where I arrived with a curiosity of food and history. My curiosity lead to learning to mix a stiff drink and some of the stories behind how the beverages came to be. But wine created a bigger draw. I was given a chance off the street to wet my palate in some of Brooklyn's boutique wine shops. Before long I was back in restaurants on the floor this time preaching the gospel of good juice. I haven't looked back…

For more information:

Social Media:

Instagram - @jafreeman

The Color of Wine Presents: Tonya Pitts of One Market Aug 22, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Tonya Pitts of One Market. Tonya and I speak about:

Wine and Food scene in San Francisco
Working on the floor of One Market
How to deal with wine trends while running a wine program
And so much more……………

Tonya’s Bio

Tonya Pitts has been in the food and beverage industry for over 20 years. Her career started in St. Louis, Missouri as a host during college. Tonya was very fortunate to be surrounded by nurturing food and wine professionals who realized that she had a palate. Tonya’s Fine Art studies relocated her to the Bay Area and a new chapter was born. Tonya’s first job in San Francisco was with Chef Judy Rodgers at Zuni Cafe and Chef Jeremiah Tower at Stars Restaurant as a server. Needless to say, Tonya only paints for fun now. After three years, Tonya was running the wine program for Loretta Keller at Bizou Restaurant. It was with Loretta Keller that Tonya realized her true passion for wine. Tonya has worked in many notable houses in the bay area and has been featured in Wine & Spirits Magazine, Tasting Panel and numerous news and industry publications. She is also a judge for the San Francisco International Wine Competition and is a tasting panelist for Wine and Spirits Magazine. Tonya is currently pursuing wine studies with the Court of Master Sommeliers and continues to educate herself and others on the world of wine.

For more information:

https://www.onemarket.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @noirsommelier

Facebook:@tonyapitts

Twitter: @noirsommelier

https://www.inconnuwine.com/bio.html

https://www.donkeyandgoat.com/our-story

https://abalancedglass.com/

The Color of Wine Presents: Chevonne Ball of Dirty Radish Aug 15, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Chevonne Ball, founder of, Dirty Radish. In this episode we speak to Chevonne about:

GAMAY, GAMAY, GAMAY!!!!!
Wine and Food scene in Portland
Lyon and Beaujolais in France
And so much more……………

Chevonne’s Bio

Recently named a Rising Star by SevenFiftyDaily, Chevonne Ball is a lover of all things Gamay. First bewithched by this intriguing grape almost ten years ago when she studied gastronomy and viticulture in Lyon France, she combines her experience of almost twenty years in fine hospitality with her passion to share the magic of Lyonnais culture and cuisine with her self-made business, Dirty Radish Travel Company.

For more information:

https://www.dirtyradish.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @dirty_radish

Facebook:@dirtyradish

Email: bonjour@dirtyradish.com

The Color of Wine Presents: Rajat Parr Apr 12, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Rajat Parr. We speak to Rajat about:

Mentorship
Chardonnay and Gamay
Santa Barbara County
And so much more……………

Rajat’s Bio

Partner/Proprietor, Sandhi, Domaine de la Côte; Evening Land Vineyards

Co-founder of Domaine de la Côte, Rajat is a three-time James Beard Award winner and regarded as one of the world’s foremost experts on wine.

A trained chef, Rajat grew up in Calcutta, India, before journeying to the United States where he graduated from the Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park. It was at the CIA where his interest in wine took hold. After graduation, Rajat chose to pursue the cellar instead of the kitchen, venturing to San Francisco to join the staff of Rubicon, the renowned wine-focused restaurant of Master Sommelier Larry Stone. Rajat quickly rose in the ranks, becoming a protégé of Stone. Here he honed his wine knowledge and tasting skills, while beginning a career that would see him become one the world’s most celebrated sommeliers.

Raj eventually left Rubicon to take over the wine program at San Francisco’s landmark Fifth Floor restaurant before moving to join chef Michael Mina as wine director of that chef’s eponymous restaurant. The Mina Group would eventually spawn over 20 restaurants across the country, wine programs all overseen by Rajat. During this period winemaking began to evermore capture his imagination.

Eternally fascinated not just with the taste of wine, but the question of why it tastes the way it does, Rajat not only frequently traveled to European wine regions; he also made use of his proximity to California wine country, becoming close with several of California’s top winemakers. This ultimately translated into bottling his own wines. At first these were blends selected from wines produced by others, but in short time Raj became more deeply involved—calling picking times, overseeing fermentations, etc. As vineyards and winemaking became ever more an obsession, Raj made the transition from sommelier to producer.

During this period, he became closer to Santa Barbara County winemaker Sashi Moorman, as they found mutual interest in pushing the boundaries of California wine, every vintage seeing how much earlier they could harvest to achieve more balanced alcohols, racier acidity, and purer flavors. In 2011, Rajat and Sashi launched Sandhi, producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from select vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills. In 2013, they released wines from his new estate vineyard, Domaine de la Côte, located on the westernmost edge of the Sta. Rita Hills. Most recently, in early 2014, Rajat and Sashi took over the historic and acclaimed Seven Springs Vineyard in the Eola-Amity Hills of Oregon.

Beyond his wineries, today Raj has also co-authored the James-Beard-Award winning book Secrets of the Sommeliers (with Jordan Mackay), their new book The Atlas of Taste. He also co-founded the trend-setting California non-profit wine group, In Pursuit of Balance. He lives in Santa Barbara, though he can still be found frequently traveling the world speaking, educating, tasting, and obsessively learning.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Bill Evans, Duke Ellington, John Coltrane and Miles Davis

For more information:

Social Media:

Instagram: @rajatparr

@sandhiwines

@evening_land

@domaniedelacote

Facebook: @rajatparr

Twitter: @rajatparr

https://www.eveninglandvineyards.com/

http://sandhiwines.com/

https://domainedelacote.com/

https://www.rajparrwineclub.com/

https://bibijisb.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Sommeliers-Atlas-Taste-Field-Europe/dp/0399578234

https://www.amazon.com/Secrets-Sommeliers-Think-Worlds-Professionals/dp/158008298X

https://www.ciachef.edu/

https://www.michaelmina.net/restaurants/

https://www.linguafranca.wine/People/Larry-Stone

The Color of Wine Presents: David Brown of Brown Estate Apr 02, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with David Brown of Brown Estates. We speak to David about:

Family Legacy
Farming the land
Zinfandel
And so much more……………

David’s Bio

David Brown developed an interest in farming and agriculture as a teenager, and he was introduced to viticulture at the age of 15 when his parents planted their inaugural 10-acre zinfandel vineyard in 1985. With the family focus always on organic and sustainable farming practices, he learned all about vineyard cultivation and management, and moved into the position of vineyard manager in 1994.

Initially, the family sold all of their fruit to neighboring Napa Valley wineries, including Green & Red, T-Vine, Monticello, and Grgich Hills, however, with encouragement and support from his family, David began experimenting with winemaking in the root cellar at their estate property in 1995. This successful experiment led to the establishment of the Brown Estate label in 1996, and David worked under the tutelage of Duane Dappen of D-Cubed Cellars to create the early vintages of Napa Valley Zinfandel, their flagship wine.

As the 10-acre vineyard grew into 50 acres of planted vines, the family constructed the Estate winery in 2002, and David assumed total responsibility for winemaking. He is at the helm of all aspects of Brown Estate winegrowing - from vineyard to harvest to barrel to bottle. David and his family proudly celebrated their 30th consecutive harvest of the Brown Estate vineyards in 2018.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? 90’s Hip Hop – Eric B & Rakim and Public Enemy, KRS-One

For more information:

https://www.brownestate.com

https://browndowntown.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @brownestate

Facebook: @brownestate

Twitter: @brownestate

The Color of Wine Presents: Michael McClendon of Sage's Vintage Mar 22, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Michael McClendon of Sage’s Vintage. We speak to Michael about:

Everything Texas Wine!
The science of wine
Supporting Community
Sage’s Vintage
And so much more………….

Michael's Bio

Hailing from rural East Texas from the Prairie Creek community, Michael C. McClendon attended The University of Texas at Tyler as a Faulconer Scholar. After joining the Kiepersol Enterprises as a laboratory intern in 2008, he quickly rose to lead the wine production team. McClendon had the opportunity to learn from industry professionals such as the late Ken Fuglesang and Lisa Van de Water. In 2010 McClendon toured the Maipo, Colchagua, and Clos Apalta valleys in Chile to aid in the continuation of the artisanal winemaking style being cultivated in Texas. Recently Michael led the winery to Top Texas Winery at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Uncorked Wine Competition. In 2014 Michael worked a harvest season as a consultant enologist for Pacific Rim Enology Services in Marlborough, New Zealand. There he lived terroir and understood better how to use his skills in the laboratory. While wine writer and author of The Wine Slinger Chronicles Dr. Russ Kane recently named Michael as a Young Turk of Texas Wine, McClendon believes that the winemakers in Texas are all innovative and breaking away from traditional constraints with thoughts of wine producing regions and styles. He has grown to become more involved in the East Texas wine community as a board member for the Piney Woods Wine Trail, as well as in starting a custom crush facility to better serve the burgeoning Texas wine industry. In 2017 Michael partnered with a former grower to start Sages Vintage where they help new and established wineries with everything from special processes to complete wine production from grape to bottle. The wines being produced there are still bringing in gold medals and class championships. Michael enjoys being active in the community serving on a number of boards and advisory committees. Socially he enjoys being with his friends and family, and working out.

The Last Sip: When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? UGK, Switcher House, Slim Thug, Scarface

For more information:

https://www.sagesvintage.com

Social Media:

Facebook - @michaelmcclendon

@sagesvintage

Twitter: @TheMcClendon

Email: sagesvintage@gmail.com

Resources:

https://texaswinetrail.com/

https://www.txwines.org/

https://txwinelover.com/

The Color of Wine Presents: Charles Springfield of The Wine Stylings Feb 26, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Charles Springfield of The Wine Stylings. In this episode we speak to Charles about:

Entertaining in college with boxed wine
Wine and food pairings
The food and wine scene in Harlem
Writing a wine focused book!
And so much more……………

Charles’ Bio

CHARLES SPRINGFIELD is a certified sommelier and wine educator in New York City where he developed a tailor-made lifestyle marketing company focusing on his approach to wine, events and joie de vivre (the joy of living). He specializes in matching the right wines with the right people and the right occasions: teaching wine classes, hosting wine events and promoting overall wine appreciation.

Prior to falling headfirst into the wine business, Charles was an award-winning journalist and public relations executive. As a print journalist, he began his career as general assignment reporter at the Pulitzer-prize winning Times-Picayune daily newspaper in New Orleans. He has written columns and covered everything from crime to health to entertainment and lifestyle feature stores.

In the public relations field, he has worked primarily in the consumer marketing/lifestyle realm at three advertising agencies and one boutique public relations firm.

Now he is using his unique approach to marketing communications, “life styling” experience and his love of wine to provide guidance on appreciating, understanding and enjoying wine in ways people never imaged possible.

Most recently, Charles has worked with a wide range of brands and companies including New York Vintners, Veuve Clicquot, The House of Burgundy, Wine.com, Adega Wines and Spirits, The Wine Riot and Corkbuzz Wine Studio. In 2017, he was featured as one of the Top 40 Black/African American Sommeliers in the country by LinkedIn. And in early 2018, he launched a YouTube channel focused on all-things wine and wine-related called “Maneuvering Wine with Style.”

Charles holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree of science degree in Mass Communication, both obtained from Jackson State University in Jackson, Mississippi.

He is also certified by the Sommelier Society of America based in New York City.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? JAZZ – Nancy Wilson, Phyllis Hyman, Nina Simone, Sarah Vaughan, John Coltrane, Dexter Gordon

For more information:

https://www.charlesspringfield.com/the-wine-stylings/

https://www.thewinestylings.campsite.bio/

Social Media:

Instagram: @charlesspringfield

Facebook: @charlesdionspringfield

Twitter: @thewinestylings

Resources:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFZUfUKHP-4Hbo7WnInDGQ

https://sommeliersocietyofamerica.org/

https://www.vinaterianyc.com/

https://harlemhops.com/

https://www.barawine.com/

https://www.redroosterharlem.com/

https://www.ginnyssupperclub.com/

https://winefolly.com/review/orange-wine/

https://www.bottlerocket.com/

https://www.wosa.co.za/home/

https://winefolly.com/review/the-best-wines-to-try-from-chile/

https://pasowine.com/

https://www.newyorkwines.org/

The Color of Wine Presents: Chris Christensen of Bodkin Wines Feb 15, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Christensen of Bodkin Wines. In this episode we speak to Chris about:

Sauvignon Blanc!!!!!
Realizing how you learn and teaching yourself
Sparkling Wine
And so much more……………

Chris’ Bio

Bodkin Wines was founded by Chris Christensen, an Iowa native, in 2011. His passion for aromatic wines and winemaking led him to create America’s first Sauvignon Blanc with bubbles. In 2013, Andrew Chambers, an Oregon native, joined the brand and they purchased 24 tons and made 1,100 cases of their award-winning Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc.

Since that time, Bodkin Wines has produced over 15 varietals of wine, eleven of which were scored at 90 points or higher by Wine Enthusiast. They are consistently growing, year after year, but are determined to keep their presence small and unique. Bodkin Wines is still 100% owned by both Chris and Andrew, two guys living and working hard in Sonoma County.

For more information:

https://www.bodkinwines.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @bodkinwines

Facebook: @bodkinwines

Twitter: @bodkinwines

The Color of Wine Presents: Myles Franklin, Founder of Julian Wines Feb 01, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Myles Franklin of Julian Wines. In this episode we speak to Myles about:

The marriage of Art and Wine
The joy of entertaining
The Story of Julian
Distribution
And so much more……………

Myles' Bio

Founded by award-winning television producer and filmmaker Myles J. Franklin, Julian Wines is quickly expanding to become one of the industry’s most celebrated new wine labels.

Led with artistic vision and business finesse, Julian Wines represents simple luxury with an emphasis on the artistic lifestyle experience. This concept is echoed throughout the brand, with subtlety and imagination.

Since its inception in 2009, Julian Wines has focused on highlighting artists and their work across various creative mediums. In 2016, Julian Wines launched its special edition initiative, turning its labels into a canvas, giving artists a platform to showcase their work, and truly make “Every bottle, a masterpiece!”.

Julian Wines is currently distributed online to over 30 states, and is poised to move from a regional brand to one that is nationally recognized and enjoyed.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist?

Lounge Music, Atmospheric, Electronica, Jazz

For more information:

https://www.julianwines.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @julianwines

Facebook: @julianwines

Twitter: @julianwines

Resources:

https://musicians.allaboutjazz.com/rickyhopkins

https://www.amazon.com/Bella-Ros%C3%A9/dp/B07B1HLNLN

The Color of Wine Presents: Derrick C. Westbrook Jan 24, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Derrick C. Westbrook. In this episode we speak to Derrick about:

• Switching his career trajectory • Guiding his clients and customers to try something new • The marriage of wine and music and Samples & Samples • Bibliophile • Being chosen for the cover of Wine Enthusiasts Top 40 under 40 in 2018

Derrick's Bio:

A love for people and passion for spirits has served as the driving force behind Derrick C. Westbrook’s journey into the wine industry. The Chicago-based sommelier has led a successful career in wine over the last 10 years, with numerous accomplishments and accolades along the way. Before turning 30, Westbrook became the Beverage Director of the Michelin-starred, Elizabeth Restaurant in Chicago, and later served as Manager and Head Buyer of 57th Street Wines in Hyde Park. In 2018, he was recognized for his professional contributions by Wine Enthusiast magazine, landing him a spot on their coveted 40 Under 40 list. Today, Westbrook serves as Sommelier & Service Manager for Bibliophile Gastropub & Public House, where he curates seasonal menus that introduce unique wine varietals, from regions around the globe. He also owns and operates Derrick C. Westbrook LLC, a company that hosts pop-up wine-tastings, dinners and develops beverage programs for some of the city’s best restaurants and bars. Throughout his career, Westbrook has remained dedicated to simplifying the wine discovery process for newcomers. He’s combined his love for wine and music to create his signature, Samples & Samples event series, a unique tasting experience for residents of Chicago and across the U.S. Through both traditional and experiential learning, Westbrook takes his extensive knowledge of wines and makes it accessible and relatable for the everyday connoisseur.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Big K.R.I.T, Chance the Rapper, Jay-Z, O’Jays, Gallant, Gin Joint Music, String Instrument Concerto’s

For more information:

https://www.derrickcwestbrook.com

Social Media:

Instagram: @derrickcwestbrook

Facebook - @derrickcwestbrook

Twitter: dcwestbrook_

Instagram: @bibliophile.us

Resources:

https://www.bibliophile.us

https://winefolly.com/tutorial/in-search-of-the-best-wines-from-priorat/

https://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/11/dining/11Pour.html

https://chwinery.com/

https://winefolly.com/review/no-cure-for-grape-phylloxera/

The Color of Wine Presents: Tinashe Nyamudoka of Kumusha Wines Jan 17, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Tinashe Nyamudoka of Kumusha Wines and The Test Kitchen. In this episode we speak to Tinashe about:

Chenin Blanc
Being in the right place at the right time
Starting at the bottom
How wine can change your life

Tinashe's Bio:

I have gained my extensive wine knowledge and experience in a span of 10 years. Starting all the way from the bottom as a wine waiter, working at the Roundhouse Restaurant in 2008. I rose from wine butler, assistant sommelier to sommelier during my five-year tenure (2009-2014) at the One and Only Hotel Cape Town. During this period, I worked in world-class restaurants (Maze by Gordon Ramsey, Reuben’s and NOBU) and had the opportunity to work alongside these talented chefs). I assumed position as Head Sommelier of The Oyster Box Hotel in 2014 where I was responsible for the hotel’s wine program. Under my watch the hotel’s wine list won the 2014 Dinners Club Wine List of the year. Currently I am managing the wine and beverage program at The Test Kitchen, number one restaurant in South Africa and Africa and recently named 50th on the Pellegrino 50 Worlds Best Restaurants 2018. I am a regular wine judge on various local wine competitions. 3 years for Michelangelo wine and spirits awards. 3 years at the Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge. 3 years for Platter’s five star panel. I have judged for World Class Bartending Regional finals for 2017 South Africa’s best mixologist. I have been featured in various local publications and even caught the eye of one of the world’s best wine critic Jancis Robinson. I have also been featured on CNN’s Africa African Voices program.

Over the years I have built strong networks and connections in the local and international wine industry. These include producers, wine sales representatives, wine distributors, wine marketers, private wine merchants, fellow sommeliers and wine writers. Using this wealth of knowledge I came up with my own wine brand KUMUSHA WINES. To date I export to the Netherlands and Zimbabwe. Hopefully in the near future the wine will be available in Mauritius, USA and the UK. I’m passionate about learning and always improving and broadening my skills. I also endeavor to help nature and mentor young talent in the wine industry.

Other Positions

Board Member – South African Sommelier Association

Board Member – BLACC (Black Cellar Club)

Wine Tasting Panelist - Wine of the Month Club

Independent Wine Judge

Brand Ambassodor – Liqourama Victoria Falls

Wine Columnist – FastJet Flight Magazine

Qualifications

Wine Diploma – Cape Wine Academy

WSET - Level 3

Wine Business Management – GSB UCT

Certificate – Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy

Achievements

Best Wine Service – 2016 Mercedes Benz Eat Out Top 20 Restaurant Awards

Best Wine Steward – 2013 Showcook Inter-Hotel Challenge

100 Inspiring and Aspiring Leader in South Africa – 2016 Young Independents

Team Zimbabwe 2017 & 2018– World Blind Tasting Championships (France)

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Reggae

For more information:

Social Media:

Instagram: @tinashe_nyamudoka and @kumushawines

Facebook: @Kumusha Wines

Resources:

https://www.winemag.com/2018/01/24/s3e2/

https://www.thetestkitchen.co.za/home/

https://www.winemag.com/gallery/black-cellar-club-blacc-south-africa/

https://wine.co.za/contact/contact.aspx?CONTACTID=6561&SPOTLIGHTID=104

https://www.cnn.com/videos/world/2018/08/06/african-voices-zimbabwean-sommelier-tinashe-nyamudoka-wine-vision-a.cnn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KmQtvBee2RU

https://za.linkedin.com/in/tinashe-nyamudoka-6098b33a

https://www.wineofthemonth.co.za/the-wine-press/40_panel-tinashe-nyamudoka

https://www.pindula.co.zw/Tinashe_Nyamudoka

https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/sowetan/20180927/281651076034163

http://zimbabwedigitalnews.com/2018/05/03/there-are-wine-tasters-and-wine-judges-and-then-there-is-zimbabwes-tinashe-nyamudoka/

https://www.winemag.com/2015/09/02/7-questions-for-sommelier-tinashe-nyamudoka/

https://www.vivino.com/wineries/kumusha

https://www.businesslive.co.za/fm/life/food/2018-01-25-wine-top-picks-from-a-top-sommelier/

The Color of Wine Presents: Brenae Royal of E & J Gallo Jan 10, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Breana Royal of Ernest & Julio Gallo. In this episode we speak to Brenae about:

Drinking Apothic Red and watching Jeopardy
Having a “seat at the table”
Tending to 132 year old vines
Surviving Harvest
Knowing that she is exactly where she is supposed to be

Brenae's Bio

Brenae Royal grew up in the town of Atwater, in California’s Central Valley. “I come from a family of teachers and doctors, so when I started raising pigs, my family thought, where did she fall off?” Brenae says, laughing. When asked about her first farming memories, she recalls picking weeds and planting flowers with her grandmother. “My grandmother has a ginormous garden.” As the Vineyard Manager for the 575-acre Monte Rosso Vineyard on the eastern hills of Sonoma Valley, one the most acclaimed winegrowing sites in California, Brenae might have her grandmother beat.

Brenae put her passion to action at a young age, joining 4-H at 12 and becoming an officer in the Future Farmers of America when she was 17. The program took her all over California and immersed her in a world she knew she wanted to be a part of for the rest of her life. Brenae studied Crops and Horticulture Science at California State University, Chico and during her senior year, after developing a palate for bold red wines, decided to pursue a career in viticulture.

She joined E. & J. Gallo Winery in 2013 as an Operations and Viticulture Intern and quickly established a relationship with an important mentor, winemaker Deborah Juergenson. “Deb started out as one of the first few women winemakers in a very male-dominated field. It’s been amazing to have her as a mentor, both professionally and personally,” Brenae says. “Viticulture is still very male-dominated, so to drive more inclusion and diversity is very much an uphill battle.” It’s a battle that Brenae has done anything but back down from. Since joining Gallo, Brenae has farmed Monte Rosso Vineyard with increasing levels of responsibility. In addition to her internship, Brenae also served as Viticulture Technician for 11 months before being named Vineyard Manager in 2015.

Monte Rosso is home to some of the oldest producing grapevines in California and has garnered a near- mythic reputation among winemakers. “When I started, it was intimidating. Here I am as this 24-year-old coming into to manage Monte Rosso, a world-renowned vineyard and one of the oldest in the state. It’s difficult and complex. Our vines range from four months old to over 130 years old, so it’s a lot to take on, but I love it,” she says. “We’ve brought a lot of technology and innovation to the vineyard, so much so that we can be farming up to three different wines within the same block.”

Mount Peak Winery, like Brenae, is singularly focused on expressing Monte Rosso’s uniqueness. “When our winemaker Mark Williams visits, it’s not uncommon to hop in my truck and then hike into his favorite blocks. It’s a hands-on approach to winemaking, and he’s very honored to work with the fruit.” When asked how Monte Rosso’s distinct terroir shows up in the bottle, Brenae quickly answers. “Acidity,” she declares, “and minerality and spice.” Part of the vineyard’s mystique is that its signature qualities seem impervious to producer and variety. “You can taste Monte Rosso wines blind and recognize them immediately,” she adds. Brenae is doing everything in her power to keep it that way. “My goal is always to preserve what is special about Monte Rosso,” she says. “Hopefully it will be producing for another 132 years.”

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Alabama Shakes, Bee Gee’s and 90’s R&B

For more information:

Social Media:

Instagram: @_cabrenae

Resources:

https://historicvineyardsociety.org/vineyard/monte-rosso

http://www.gallo.com/

https://winefolly.com/update/moon-mountain-ava-mountain-cabernet/

https://www.alabamashakes.com/

The Color of Wine Presents: Jermaine Stone, The Real Wolf of Wine-Part 2 Jan 06, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Jermaine Stone, The Real Wolf of Wine and CEO of CRU Luv Selections. In this episode we speak to Jermaine about:

Competing on 106 and Park
How to start at the beginning and rise to the top
Tasting some of the finest wines in the world at the age of 20
Starting Cru Luv Selections

Jermaine's Bio

A Bronx native, Cru Luv Wine's President and CEO Jermaine Stone was raised worlds away from wine country with plans to become a rapper. By age 19 he had already made appearances on XM Radio, BET and Hot 97, and had the attention of prominent figures in music including Chris Lighty and LL Cool J.

A temporary job packing boxes in the shipping department at Zachys Wine Auctions, though, persuaded him to make a career in fine wine. There, Jermaine would begin an accomplished 9-year career with them, learning the intricacies of fine wine warehousing and shipping, client service, and auctioneering. He rose to the position of Logistics Manager, overseeing the inbound and outbound transport of $60 million worth of fine wine annually.

In 2013 Jermaine left Zachys to become one of the founding Directors of Wally’s Auctions, the New York-based subsidiary of a major Los Angeles wine retailer. At Wally’s, he used talents and expertise in auctioneering, operations, and business development to co-create and implement the full client experience, including the auction website and online bidding application; live simulcast auction bidding; warehousing of collections for sale; and distribution and fulfillment of client purchases. In addition to these major operational roles, he served as an auctioneer and public speaker at commercial and charity auctions and provided strategic advice to Wally’s President and Vice President.

After leaving Wallys, Jermaine founded Cru Luv Selections, a New York-based creative agency dedicated to blending the best elements of wine and hip hop culture through; brands, media and tastings that highlight the two arts at their highest levels.

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Trap Music

For more information:

https://www.cruluvwine.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @therealwolfofwine

Facebook: @cruluvselections

@jermainestone

The Color of Wine Presents: Jermaine Stone, The Real Wolf of Wine - Part 1 Jan 04, 2019

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking with Jermaine Stone, The Real Wolf of Wine and CEO of CRU Luv Selections. In this episode we speak to Jermaine about:

Competing on 106 and Park
How to start at the beginning and rise to the top
Tasting some of the finest wines in the world at the age of 20
Starting Cru Luv Selections

Jermaine's Bio

The Last Sip:

When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Trap Music

For more information:

https://www.cruluvwine.com/

Social Media:

Instagram: @therealwolfofwine

Facebook: @cruluvselections

@jermainestone

The Color of Wine 2018 Recap! Jan 01, 2019

Check out this episode with Sukari and Shomari recapping The Color of Wine podcast for 2018 and talking about what to expect for 2019 and Season 5!!

The Color of Wine Presents: Wanda Cole-Nicholson Founder of VinBev Dec 18, 2018

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

The Color of Wine Presents Cha McCoy of Cha Squared Hospitality - Part 2 Dec 06, 2018

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

The Color of Wine Presents: Cha McCoy of Cha Squared Hospitality Dec 06, 2018

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

The Color of Wine Presents: Paula Harrell of P.Harrell Wines Oct 19, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on? Chateaunef-de-Pape
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Dad
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Focus on your interest and learn how to say “No” more.
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Jameelah Lewis of Uncorked DC and Uncorked Maryland Sep 16, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Sir Churchill by Pol Roger
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Oprah, Barack and Michelle Obama, Nelson Mandela and Maya Angelou
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Drink More Wine, Work on Balance
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Jason Candelario of NakedWines.com and Voces Cellars Aug 29, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on? Any Bottle! Cash-In!
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Vicente Fernandez
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.
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Nothing, Leave it as it is. Life Happens.
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

The Color of Wine Presents: Larissa Dubose, Founder of The Lotus and The Vines Aug 20, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Vintage Champagne
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Mom
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Get in the wine industry earlier
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Glenn Murray, Founder of Wine Crawl USA Aug 09, 2018

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:

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.
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Wine - Barak Obama Spirits – Lenny Kravitz and Bono
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Leave that girl alone! Save more, Patience, Plan more for the long term
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Martin Reyes MW of Peter Paul Wines - Part 2 Jul 26, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? 1965 Krohn Port
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Thomas Jefferson
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Start with Wine now! Buy all of the Screaming Eagle you can!
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

The Color of Wine Presents: Martin Reyes MW of Peter Paul Wines - Part 1 Jul 26, 2018

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!

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? 1965 Krohn Port
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Thomas Jefferson
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Start with Wine now! Buy all of the Screaming Eagle you can!
When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Spotify, Discovery Weekly playlist

The Color of Wine Presents: Chrishon Lampley of LCS Entertainment LLC and Love Cork Screw Wines Jul 19, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? – The most expensive bottle of Chianti available
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Sade
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Stop Overthinking – Don’t take it personal – It will work out
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

The Color of Wine Presents: Regine Rousseu of Shall We Wine Jul 13, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? 1989 Domaine Laflaive Batard-Montrachet Grand Cru
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Toni Morrison
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Stay the course
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Melody Fuller, Founder of The Oakland Wine Festival Jul 06, 2018

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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Sarah Pierre of 3 Parks Wine Shop Jun 28, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? DRC
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Julia Child and Michele Obama
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Take your time and enjoy life a little more
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

The Color of Wine Presents: Alisha Calvert Apr 11, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Domaine Romanée Conti (DRC) – Pinot Noir
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Beyoncé
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. Save Money – Invest and prepare for a better future
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: Dalia Ceja of Ceja Vineyards Mar 21, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? A bottle of Moet Chandon Grand Cru
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Frida Kahlo
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
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
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

The Color of Wine presents: Paul Charles of Charles Wine Company Mar 14, 2018

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:

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
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Grandmother, Father and President Obama
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Keep moving and don’t’ settle!
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

The Color of Wine Presents: Sherrijon Gaspard of Vina Sympatica Feb 28, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Any wine from Chateau De Gaspard
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Gloria Ferrer
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Be Bold and Be Strident
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/

The Color of Wine presents: Chef Rhonda Russell Feb 21, 2018

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:

If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Any wine produced from Chateau Lafite-Rothschild
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Edna Lewis and Leah Chase
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Walk in your Purpose
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/

The Color of Wine Presents: April Richmond of Sip and Swirl Events Feb 14, 2018

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:

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
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Oprah
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)
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!
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

The Color of Wine Presents: Dorothy J. Gaiter Part 2! Feb 14, 2018

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:

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)
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Her Parents
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Spend time developing and maintaining friendships
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

The Color of Wine Presents Dorothy J. Gaiter Feb 07, 2018

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:

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)
Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Her Parents
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
What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Spend time developing and maintaining friendships
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

The Color of Wine Jan 24, 2018

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!

For More Information:

www.blackgirlswine.com

Social Media:

Facebook - @blackgirlswine

Instagram - @blackgirlswine

Twitter - @blackgirlswine

The Color of Wine - Lawrence Boone of Lawrence Boone Selections Dec 07, 2017

As a child wine was never in our house and I stumbled upon it later in life during an overnight trip to Barcelona with a friend. Spanish culture and Barcelona in particular has a way of seducing the senses, so I cannot say whether it was the city or the wine, but I do know I was in love! When I returned to the States I decided to become an importer and to learn as much as I could about wine. Slowly this quest to learn as much as possible began consuming all my free time and somehow this still wasn’t enough. I then enrolled in the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) program where I’m currently enrolled as a Level 4 Diploma student with aspirations of obtaining the next level of Master of Wine. The process of starting Lawrence Boone Selections has been slow, tedious, and at times daunting. Since I knew no one in the industry I had no idea of the normal channels needed for locating wineries or securing wines. So my wife and I took a list of published Robert Parker ratings from Catalonia (even though I’m not a big fan of ratings) and emailed everyone on the list. Only a few replied back, explaining they already had importers and were happy. We then decided to fly to Spain, rented a car and drove to each winery on that same list to try and personally entice someone to take a chance with a new importer. Our initial trip netted us only one very influential producer and two wines, but with persistence over the past year we have added 9 more wineries and 32 wines across Spain and Sicily. While it has become easier for us to find wines to import, most of these do not represent the qualities we seek in a wine or winemaker. Our goal is to find vintners who create wines that express not only the terroir, but also embodies the vintner’s unique personalities and characteristics. We are dedicated to finding the best Organic, Biodynamic and Natural wines sourced from small family owned wineries that are true expressions of their terroir. Recently we’ve also started hosting organized tastings with classes ranging from the basics of wine to in- depth discussions on the intricacies of Biodynamic viticulture. For more information: http://booneselections.com Social Media: Facebook and Instagram: @booneselections Other Links: http://spanishwinecountry.com/ https://www.bevindustry.com/ http://winefolly.com/tutorial/in-search-of-the-best-wines-from-priorat/ https://www.amazon.com/How-Wine-Insider-s-Deborah-Gray/dp/1935879405/ref=dp_ob_image_bk http://winefolly.com/review/what-is-madeira-wine/ https://grutera1.bandcamp.com/

The Color of Wine Presents: Dr. Dawna Darjean Jones Oct 25, 2017

As a Louisiana native, the love of good food and drink is coded in Dr. Dawna Darjean Jones’ DNA. It is as much a part of her winemaking journey as her early experiences in Napa Valley as a plant pathologist working on diseases of wine grapes. Experiencing Napa Valley first as a research scientist helped to formulate her deep respect and appreciation for vineyards and the abundant wealth of grape varieties sown on those diverse soils. Although Dr. Jones’ focus in the early years was on the plant diseases that affected wine grapes, she later developed a new kinship with winemaking. This adventure in winemaking was born of her personal quest for true “joie de vivre,” joy of living! Following employment with the United States government as first a plant bacteriologist and later a national security analyst, Dawna sourced grapes for her first vintage, a Napa Valley Merlot, in 2010. Darjean Jones Wines is the culmination of an enduring affair with wine, fermentation science and the microbes responsible for the magic. Darjean Jones award winning wines are spirited, adventurous and possess a charisma that will seduce wine lovers of all kinds. It is a small family owned winery specializing in boutique wines from California’s most acclaimed growing regions. The objective at Darjean Jones is to produce wine that imbibes the essence of the quintessential California vintage with a uniqueness of character only achieved through artisanal winemaking. Darjean Jones wines are produced in small lots with epic intention…“joie de vivre,” joy of living! The support and fearless encouragement of her husband, Dr. Chauncey Jones, completes her circle. The Jones’ travel to Napa, California often to nurture their current wine vintages, but make their primary home in Houston, Texas with their two children Chase and Ava. The best odysseys in life involve seemingly purposeful wandering to a most unexpected and glorious destination. At some point, if we are lucky, we allow our moments in life to merge equaling the entirety of who we are. Dr. Dawna Darjean Jones is a proud alum of the University of California Davis (Ph.D., 2004) and Southern University and A&M College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (B.S., 1997). For More Information: www.darjeanjoneswines Facebook, Instagram and Twitter: @darjeanjoneswines Damien Escobar: http://dameesco.com/ Bordeaux, France: http://ca.france.fr/en/discover/bordeaux

The Color of Wine Presents: Episode 4 with Femi Oyediran Oct 17, 2017

Femi Oyediran is the co-owner of Graft Wine Shop and Bar in Charleston, SC. Femi made the rare achievement of passing the first three levels of the Court of Master Sommeliers within two years, including gaining the Walter Clore Scholarship for achieving the highest score on his certified exam. He is one of 7 Advanced Sommeliers in the state of South Carolina. He is also a two-time national finalist for the Chaine des Rotisseurs Best Young Sommelier in America competition, and the winner of the 2017 Top Somm Blind Tasting Competition of the Charleston Wine and Food Festival. He was featured as one of Zagat's Charleston 30 Under 30 in the food and beverage industry and was listed as one of the "The Next Big Names in Wine" by Tasting Table magazine. For more information: Instagram: @femingtonsteele Graft: Instagram: @graftchs Yussef Kamaal: www.yussefkamaal.com Fela Kuti: www.fela.net Thundercat: Facebook @thundercatofficial The Roots: www.theroots.com

The Color of Wine - Marcia Jones of Urban Connoisseurs Oct 04, 2017

Marcia Jones is Urban Connoisseurs. Marcia has over thirty years as an accomplished professional who developed excellent relationships with major clients in the corporate, government and not-for-profit sectors. During those years she successfully negotiated mutually beneficial outcomes for all stakeholders. In 2011 she became a Social Winepreneur and created Urban Connoisseurs. She integrated her wealth of talent with her passion for wine. Urban Connoisseurs is an added value of sales and marketing for Black owned wineries, winemakers, and/or vintners seeking for further expand their products to the connoisseurs. Initially, Urban Connoisseurs focused on Direct to Consumer sales and marketing through the Urban Connoisseurs Quarterly Wine Club. In the latter half of 2016 Urban Connoisseurs shifted directions and began to market some of her clients’ products to retail. As a wine consultant, Urban Connoisseurs orchestrates the purchase between the vintner and distributor and/or owner. She also helps vintners determine the best strategy to market with brand. Urban Connoisseurs also promotes these vintners through tasting events and tourism. Marcia is working on her first book about the history and present day African Americans in the wine industry. She is also developing a fund to provide scholarships to African American students who want to begin a career in the wine industry. Additionally, beginning fall 2017 Urban Connoisseurs will begin filming the first ever documentary highlighting the lives of six Black Winemakers. Marcia is currently bi-coastal. She shares her time between the east and west coast, spending much of her time with winemakers to better understand their wines and their visions. For more information: www.urbanconnoisseurs.com http://www.urbanconnoisseurs.com/the-black-winemakers-story.html http://www.urbanconnoisseurs.com/reserve-your-bottle.html https://marionmeadows.com/ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm4134656/ Social Media Instagram - @wine_talk_marcia Facebook - @urbanconnoisseurs

The Color of Wine - Season 2 - Episode 2 - Shae Frichette Sep 26, 2017

Shae Frichette is Co-owner of Frichette Winery, a limited production winery and tasting room in the Red Mountain AVA in Washington State, USA. As a minority business owner in the Washington wine industry and with her background in leadership, Shae has been provided opportunities to speak at various events sharing her story and skill sets. Shae has completed Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 2, is the 2015 ATHENA Young Professional Award recipient, a recipient of the 2015 Entrepreneurial Award, 2015 Young Professional Award recipient and graduate of the Leadership Tri- Cities Class XX. Shae serves on the Board of Directors for the Red Mountain AVA Alliance, Tri-Cities Regional Chamber of Commerce, Visit Tri-Cities and is a mentor with eMERGE, a STEM based leadership program for girls. She is an active volunteer with the American Heart Association hosting an annual fundraising and awareness event and also founded the Benton Cities Wineries Giving Garden Project where more than a dozen wineries grow food and provide financial donations to the local food bank. In addition, she serves on an Advisory Board for the UW Foster School of Business. As a community advocate, Shae volunteers by sharing wine and wine education for more than twenty non-profits in the Tri- Cities area each year. Prior to starting Frichette Winery, Shae lead the Organizational Development Function for Stanley Black & Decker - HHI where she designed Leadership Development Programs for associates in four countries. She served as the emcee and facilitator for business conventions and hosted video communications for the organization. Today, in addition to running the daily business of Frichette Winery, Shae speaks at conferences and events on topics such as networking, providing stellar service and teambuilding. Shae holds a B.A. in Theatre from Winthrop University in South Carolina, leadership and facilitator certifications from Franklin Covey, Ken Blanchard and Achieve Global and has the distinction of the CPCC from Coaches Training Institute. She loves spending time with her family, enjoying a glass of wine and writing. For more information, follow Shae at: http://frichettewinery.com/ Instagram, Facebook and Twitter - @frichettewinery Taste Washington: http://tastewashington.org/

The Color of Wine - Season 2 - Episode 1 (Part 2) - Janeen Jason Sep 19, 2017

Janeen was born in New York and raised in Atlanta, GA. After high school, she attended Georgia State University with the idea of going into Marketing but hated math and science. Janeen graduated with a Public Relations degree and minored in Music Management. She got into wine on accident but with a purpose. Throughout her college career, Janeen was a server and bartender and found her love for wine while working at a wine restaurant in Atlanta. She realized that she had to learn about wine very quickly, especially to make more money on the floor. Janeen’s curiosity turned into a passion and she received her certification as a Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers in April 2015. Currently she is the Sommelier for Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park, but spends most of her days at Barcelona VinoTeca, the first retail wine store for the company. Janeen is also studying for the Advanced Sommelier certification, which requires a wider spectrum of wine knowledge that includes world history, geography, and blind tasting wine. She loves high acid, low alcohol wines that can be enjoyed with or without food. For more information, follow Janeen at: @shopvinoteca @jellybeanmean @sommsebastian www.shopvinoteca.com www.barcelonawinebar.com Wine Maps: www.fernandobeteta.com Pinot Gris: http://winefolly.com/?s=pinot+gris

The Color of Wine - Season 2 - Episode 1 (Part 1) - Janeen Jason Sep 19, 2017

Janeen was born in New York and raised in Atlanta, GA. After high school, she attended Georgia State University with the idea of going into Marketing but hated math and science. Janeen graduated with a Public Relations degree and minored in Music Management. She got into wine on accident but with a purpose. Throughout her college career, Janeen was a server and bartender and found her love for wine while working at a wine restaurant in Atlanta. She realized that she had to learn about wine very quickly, especially to make more money on the floor. Janeen's curiosity turned into a passion and she received her certification as a Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers in April 2015. Currently she is the Sommelier for Barcelona Wine Bar in Inman Park, but spends most of her days at Barcelona VinoTeca, the first retail wine store for the company. Janeen is also studying for the Advanced Sommelier certification, which requires a wider spectrum of wine knowledge that includes world history, geography, and blind tasting wine. She loves high acid, low alcohol wines that can be enjoyed with or without food. For more information, follow Janeen at: @shopvinoteca @jellybeanmean @sommsebastian www.shopvinoteca.com www.barcelonawinebar.com Wine Maps: www.fernandobeteta.com Pinot Gris: http://winefolly.com/?s=pinot+gris

The Color of Wine is in The Classroom Jul 08, 2017

Yes Way Rosè Rosè All Day Whatever you say, I love Rosè!!!!!! In this episode we give you the ins and outs of this luscious wine, from its history to the accidental creation of White Zinfandel. Yes, White Zinfandel is Rosè! Let's take our wine snob hats off!! We hope you enjoy this episode! Check out the links below to get more info on the Rosè that we are guzzling!! Annibals Rose - https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/annibals+cuvee+suivez+moi+jeune+homme+rose+coteaux+varois+provence+france/1/usa Bourgeois - https://moutonnoirwines.com/wines#/bourgeois/ Love Drunk - https://moutonnoirwines.com/wines#/love-drunk-rose/ Summer In A Bottle - http://store.wolffer.com/summer-in-a-bottle-white--2016-p626.aspx Muga Rose - http://www.wine.com/v6/Bodegas-Muga-Rioja-Rosado-2016/wine/176098/Detail.aspx Liquid Geography - https://www.wine-searcher.com/find/liquid+geography+rose+bullas+murcia+spain Liquid Farm Rose - http://www.liquidfarm.com/product/2016-Ros--Mourv-dre1?pageID=0F8C64CF-CA25-0C9F-9957-FDFFABF32197&sortBy=DisplayOrder&maxRows=10&

The Color of Wine is in The Classroom Jun 21, 2017

Let's talk about Moscato!!!!!

The Color of Wine Presents: André Hueston Mack of Mouton Noir Wines May 24, 2017

In this episode we talked to André Hueston Mack of Mouton Noir Wines. Despite having a successful career with Citicorp Investment Services, Mack decided to leave his “desk job” to pursue his passion for wine. While working as a sommelier in San Antonio, Mack discovered the joys of introducing guests to the little known vineyards that first attracted him to the business and “the instant gratification of a guest’s reaction.” While still in Texas, Mack was awarded the prestigious title of Best Young Sommelier in America by the highly regarded Chaine des Rotisseurs. This recognition led to a job as sommelier at Thomas Keller’s world-renowned French Laundry in Yountville, California. Mack went on to accept the position of Head Sommelier at Keller’s equally famed Per Se in New York City, where he managed a 1800-selection award-winning wine list and consulted regularly with Chef Keller on menu and pairing development. Winemaking had always been a dream of his and came to fruition in 2007 when he founded Mouton Noir Wines. Throughout his career, Mack has forged special relationships with star growers and winemakers from Oregon and it is with this luminary group that he is currently making his most exciting wines. Mouton Noir wines are served at the best restaurants across the United States. He recently began curating wines for Club W, a wine club for a new generation of drinkers, to continue his mission of making wine more accessible. Based on the success of his own wine labels, in 2011 Mack established Get Fraîche Cru, a boutique graphic design firm, for which he serves as creative director. He was worked with clients such as Joel Gott, Palm Bay Imports, and Charles & Charles. Most recently, Mack authored and designed Small Thyme Cooks, the world’s first culinary coloring and activity book. Mack has been married since 2008 to author Phoebe Damrosch, whose New York Times notable book, Service Included: Four-Star Secrets of an Eavesdropping Waiter, detailed their courtship and collaboration in opening Per Se restaurant. Mack has been featured in major publication such as Food and Wine, Wine and Spirits Magazine, New York Times, The Huffington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. Mr. Mack has been recognized for his outstanding contributions to business. He was honored in 2007 with The Network Journal’s 40-Under-Forty Achievement Award. Mack is an ardent wine educator who has been invited to host seminars as well as lead panel discussions at several of the country’s most prestigious food and wine gatherings including Aspen Food and Wine and Newport Mansions Wine and Food Festival. For More Information: www.moutonnoirwines.com

Facebook: fb.com/MoutonNoirWines
Twitter: @MoutonNoirWines
Instagram: @YouKnowMouton

The Color of Wine - Episode 8 - Phil Long of Longevity Wines May 17, 2017

Winemaker/Founder Phil Long of Longevity Wines, began his journey making wine in the garage with his wife Debora. Now with over a decade of winemaking experience, and a list of awards too long to print, Winemaker Phil continues his journey with the constant of always improving in place. "In the business of winemaking, the minute you think you know it all, it's time to get out." The cellar practices and techniques that Phil uses in the production of wine are constantly re-evaluated and improved, to ultimately elevate the quality of the wines produced. The grapes are personally sourced and chosen by Phil. "Great wine starts with great fruit, there is no way around that." Grapes are sourced from only the best vineyards for use in the production of Longevity Wines. Phil began making wine in the Livermore Valley in 2006 under the Longevity label, using other facilities. It was only a matter of time before production was moved from other facilities to Longevity's own facility in Livermore. Yearly production has grown from 500 cases per year, to the current production of 2500 cases per year. Phil enjoys the challenge of making many different wines, and continues to strive for wines that are high in quality instead of high quantities. For more information: www.longevitywines.com Instagram: @longevity_wines Facebook: @LongevityWines Twitter: @longevitywines Pinterest: @longevitywines

The Color of Wine - Episode 7 - Bertony Faustin of Abbey Creek Vineyard May 10, 2017

In this episode we had the privilege of speaking with Bertony Faustin of Abbey Creek Vineyard. Born from Haitian immigrant parents and a transplanted New Yorker, Bertony has found not only his family, but his destiny in Oregon wine country. An Anesthesia Technician by trade, Bertony started his wine career like many, somewhat by accident. It was the passing of his father in 2007 that ispired him to take that leap of faith as his family once did in the past. Noting his in-laws had a small vineyard, he began exploring the potential of making his own wine and gradually launched Abbey Creek Vineyard. Always a student and innovator, Bertony is producing a documentary called Red, White & Black .The first recorded Black winemaker in Oregon, Bertony began the Red, White & Black journey to help identify and tell the stories of other minority winemakers. As the project has taken shape, more minorities in winemaking have surfaced and an important story has become ever more important. Abbey Creek Vineyard is all Bertony, all his personality, style and grace. Get to know him and you know his wine. For more information: Website: abbeycreekvineyard.com Instagram: @abbeycreekvineyard_winery Facebook: Abbey Creek Vineyard & Winery Twitter: @ACVineyard

Episode 6 - Gwen and Brittny Hurt of Shoe Crazy Wine May 02, 2017

In this episode we talk to Gwen Hurt, the Founder and CEO of Shoe Crazy Wine and her business partner Brittny Hurt. Shoe Crazy is a wine company based in Chesterfield, launched in December of 2013 as an online direct to consumer business. We offer 6 delectable varietals [Sweet Harmony, Sauvignon Blanc, Ménage A Red, Chardonnay, Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon]. The wines are available in Costco, Kroger and several restaurants in the VA, NC, DC & MD markets. I didn’t grow up under the easiest of circumstances. I was raised by a single mother and as the oldest girl was responsible for helping to raise my siblings. My mother was mostly illiterate, but she found the strength to leave a physically abusive husband. She took us 4 kids, a few dollars and a can of pork and beans and headed north! My mother’s example and courage helped shaped the person I am today! Her journey taught me to keep faith and never give up. Sometimes, we had very little to eat and only 1 pair of shoes to wear for the whole year! Card board was our friend. It repaired many a worn out shoe sole. As a kid, I always said to myself, “one day I am going to have enough money to eat until my stomach is full and I am going to buy as many shoes as I want”! Thus, the shoe has always been very symbolic in my life. To me it is the base that supports us on our journeys! Eventually my mom learned to read and write and ultimately earned her Master’s Degree! Prior to launching Shoe Crazy Wine, I worked for a Fortune 300 Tech Company. I built a Global Process and Controls organization. I led a high performance, cross cultural team located in multiple geographic locations (The Americas, Asia, Western and Eastern Europe). During my travels I learned to appreciate a smooth glass of wine. I became enamored of the intricacies of wine. My new passion! In 2013 hardship struck. I was downsized by the company in which I had spent 15 plus years and two days later was in a car accident that would take me and my daughter nearly a year to recover from. During my physical therapy and rehabilitation, I made the decision to “NOT” succumb to depression. I told my daughter Brittny that we were going into the wine business. She asked, how many drugs had the emergency room Dr. given me? I chuckled and responded “not enough to stay in this bed and do nothing about my situation.” We both said, “If those Housewives of whatever city could start a wine business, then so could we.” My daughter Brittny is the one that suggested that I name my company something that I love. I love Shoes and Wine. Hence the name Shoe Crazy Wine. Brittny has been with me throughout this journey. We have had ups and downs and personal challenges but through it all, we have had our heart and soul on growing this company into a national brand. The life of an entrepreneur can indeed be very hard and crazy at times. However, perseverance, tenacity, faith and family are paramount. I firmly believe in these core values. I want to share my story and my wines. After all a lot of successful business have been founded due to life’s challenges and hardships and have been discussed over a glass of wine. For more information: Website: www.shoecrazywine.com Facebook: @shoecrazywine Instagram: @shoecrazywine

Episode 5 - Theodora Lee of Theopolis Vineyards Apr 25, 2017

Ms. Theodora Lee, a partner and trial lawyer at Littler is the founder and owner of Theopolis Vineyards. Her passion for wine began upon her arrival to San Francisco from Texas in 1987, primarily due to the influence of her law firm mentors, many of whom owned vineyards. This led Ms. Lee to take several viticulture classes at UC Davis, before deciding to develop her own vineyard. In 2001, Ms. Lee purchased sheep land in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley, and began developing her vineyard. Finally, in 2003, Ms. Lee planted her vineyard, and adopted her Greek name, from pledging Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and established Theopolis Vineyards. In the wine world, Ms. Lee is known as Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards. Wine Critic Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points, a spectacular showing for the vintner's first harvest in 2006. Emboldened by the great fruit produced by the land, Ms. Lee, a bold and dynamic Texan, decided to bottle her own wines in 2014. In addition to bottling the richly intense and flavorful Petite Sirah, Theopolis Vineyards strikes a lighter note by bottling a Symphony, a white wine grape, which is a crossing of Muscat and Grenache Gris. Ms. Lee also bottles the unique Rosé of Petite Sirah, an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, and a Yorkville Highland Pinot Noir. The Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition has consistently given the Estate Grown Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah stellar Gold Medals. The 2012 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah won a stellar Gold Medal at the 2015 Competition, and the 2013 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah won a stellar Gold Medals at the 2016 Competition. The 2016 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition has bestowed on the 2014 Estate Grown Theopolis Vineyards Rosé of Petite Sirah a stellar Double Gold Medal. The 2013 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah recently won a Double Gold Medal and 95 points at the 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition, which is considered to be one of the most influential wine competitions in the world. The September 2016 Issue of Somm Journal listed the 2013 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah as Best in Class, meaning it is considered the best Petite Sirah in the world. The other wines from Theopolis Vineyards including the 2014 Symphony and the 2014 Pinot Noir have won either silver and/or bronze medals at the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition, the Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition or the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Wine Enthusiast Magazine has bestowed on wines from Theopolis Vineyards 90 plus Points, and those wines are featured in the March 2017 Issue of that magazine. In addition to practicing law and making wine, Ms. Lee serves as Co-Chair of the Board Development Committee for the Board of Directors of the YMCA of San Francisco and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Legal Aid. She is the Past President of Bay Area Black United Fund and the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and Past Vice President of the United Negro College Fund San Francisco Advisory Board. Ms. Lee is a graduate of Spelman College and the University Of Texas School Of Law. Prior to entering the practice of law, Ms. Lee worked as a Senate intern in Washington, D.C., for Senator Sam Nunn. For More Information: http://theopolisvineyards.com/ Instagram:@theopolisvineyards Facebook:Theopatra Lee Twitter: @TheopolisV

Episode 4 - Nicole Kearney of Sip & Share Wine Apr 18, 2017

In this episode we had the privilege of speaking with Nicole Kearney, the CEO of Sip & Share Wine. Nicole is a Wine Enthusiast and is bringing her passion for wine into your home. She travels to drink wines made by African Americans, then writes about those experiences for her Sip & Share blog, magazines and journals. When she is not traveling or writing o producing for stage, screen or streaming platforms, she can be found pouring wines produced by African Americans, Women and boutique producers, for Sip & Share Wine. For more information: nicolekearney.com or sipnsharewine.net

Episode 3 - Marcus Johnson of FLO Brands and FLO Wine Apr 11, 2017

In this episode we speak with Marcus Johnson. Marcus is an independent Billboard-ranked musician and NAACP Image Award-nominated jazz keyboardist and pianist. He is also the CEO and Founder of Flo Brands, LLC and more recently Flo Wine, LLC. Marcus has combined an eminently successful musical career with his love of wine by marrying the two in a unique endeavor.

Over the last decade, Marcus Johnson has released 15 successful studio albums. On Pandora, Marcus receives 5.1 million spins per year with 2,000 new stations added each month, and his music receives a 74% “thumbs ups” rating verses an average of 56%. Johnson is the owner of a music label, Three Keys Music, and has emerged as one of the young lions of the “DIY” music world. His unique self-taught style of piano play has earned him distinction among his peers, praise from the media and accolades across the music industry. Marcus is on the cutting edge of ‘Euro Jazz’ having formed JURIS, a musical collaboration with acclaimed Parisian DJ and producer Young Pulse. The duo quickly developed a name within the international music community, enjoying large-scale performances and preparing a Q3 release of their latest project entitled “Eiffel Tower.”

Johnson’s FLO Brands, LLC,tm is aptly titledFor the Love Of ; LLC. ™ FLO began as a musical publishing, production, and lifestyle branding company to house all of Johnson’s musical and entrepreneurial ventures. However the scope and reach of the company has expanded delving into winemaking, sourcing grapes and production in California. FLO Brands launched FLO Wines, LLC in March 2012. FLO Wine is capturing the taste buds of wine-lovers from California to South Carolina. To date retail partners in various states include Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Whole Foods, Giant, Harris Teeter, Renaissance Hotels, Kroger, Aloft Hotels, Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, Farm Fresh, and Total Wine.

As the owner and brand ambassador, a marketing initiative is currently underway with Johnson’s “Sips & Sounds” performances marrying music and wineFor the Love Of concept. FLO Wine currently offers a FLO Red Californian Blend and a FLO California Chardonnay. As of July 2013 the company is launching its 2011 FLO California Moscato.

A graduate of Howard University, Johnson went on to simultaneously earn both his MBA and Juris Doctorate degrees at Georgetown University. In 1995 during this demanding period at Georgetown, he also decided to independently produce and distribute his first jazz album, Lessons in Love,which sold more than 40,000 units, a major success for an unknown independent artist’s debut release. One year later, he releasedInter Alia,with great acclaim. These two albums led to Johnson signing with N2K Encoded Music with whom he released several CDs until the label was sold in 1998.

Johnson’s success caught the attention of Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder and businessman Robert L. Johnson who invested in Marcus and his newfound company, Marimelj Entertainment Group (MEG). Under their partnership, MEG’s label, Three Keys Music based in the Washington, DC metro area, established its own full service recording studio, Studio 8121; and two music publishing companies, Marimelj Music Publishing and Three Keys Music Publishing. Marcus was responsible for releasing and producing CDs on the Three Keys label for national jazz artists Michael Lington, Jaared Arosemena, Bobby Lyle, Nick Colionne, R&B singer, Alyson Williams and neo-soul songstress Yahzarah and smooth jazz Saxophonists Phillip Martin and Brian Lenair.

While producing music for the aforementioned artists, Marcus also released several critically acclaimed albums:Inter Alia,Chocolate CityGroovin’;Coming Back Around;Urban Groove,In Person: Live at Blues Alley,Just Doing What I Do,Smooth Jazz Christmas andIn Concert for a Cause,all charting at Top 20 or more on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Charts.

Marcus has released 15 Billboard-charted CDs. He has the distinction of having his groundbreaking 2008 Billboard Top 20 Contemporary Jazz FLO (For the Love Of) CDs which consisted of three distinct albums: FLO Chill,FLO Romance andFLO Standards , all charting Top 10 on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts simultaneously. Johnson’s previous solo 2007 release, The Phoenix, was widely lauded by jazz critics and aficionados alike and like Johnson’s previous CDs, it peaked in the Top 20 of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts.

Johnson’s next Top 20 Contemporary jazz releases, the unique and multi-facetedPoetically Justified (2009) andThis Is How I Rock (2011) solidified Marcus Johnson as heir apparent to the George Duke and Herbie Hancock style of funky urban groove music. Creatively, Johnson continues to evolve as an artist. With the release of his 2012FLO: Holiday CD and the ongoing collaboration with famed Parisian Producer DJ Pulse – as the musical duo “Juris” – he has managed to maintain his traditional jazz roots, while also remaining on the forefront of the expanding “Euro Jazz” movement. His music continues to enforce and define his musical legacy as a “jazz movement for all people”.

Johnson is also evolving as an innovative wine expert. He resides in the Metropolitan Washington area and is a new father. His daughter Chase was born on September 12, 2012. Marcus is currently featured weekly on Fox News and is involved with community and charity events, including service on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club.

Discography:

Billboard Top 20 CD Releases:

Lessons in Love (1997 and 2005)In Concert For A Cause (2006)

Urban Groove (2000)The Phoenix (2007)

Comin’ Back Around (2001)FLO: For the Love of Chill (2008)

Inter Alia (2002)FLO: For the Love of Romance (2008)

In Person, Live at Blues Alley (2002)FLO: For the Love of Standards (2008)

In Person, Live at Blues Alley DVD (2003)Poetically Justified (2009)

Just Doin’ What I Do (2005)FLO: Holiday feat Juris (2011)

Smooth Jazz Christmas (2005)This Is How I Rock (2011)

Education:

B.A. in Music, Howard University

JD/ MBA, Georgetown University

Business:

CEO/President, Marimelj Entertainment Group, Three Keys Music, Three Keys Publishing

CEO/Founder, FLO Brands, LLC, FLO Wines, LLC

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Affiliations: Professional Awards, Speaking Engagement, Community Support

NAACP Image Award Nominee “Poetically Justified”
Billboard Contemporary Jazz Artist Top 20
Professor/Speaker: Harvard, Georgetown, Howard, MTSU and Bowie State University
Speaker Harvard University Law School: Recording Artists Projects, Contracts, Entrepreneurship and

Protecting Your Rights

Speaker BMI: Copyright and Publishing Rights in the new Millenium
Speaker, World Copyright Summit: Intellectual Property Rights (Representing BMI)
Speaker, Miami Music Conference: The Business of Jazz
Panelist for Microsoft Corporation: Build Your Business
Speaker, GMAC: “The Importance of Intellectual Property and Protecting Your Work Product
Panelist, Howard Univesity School of Law: Center Court Panel on Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property
Speaker, Georgetown University Law Center
Ambassador: BMI Intellectual Property;
Panelist: MIDEM Music Convention, France
Award Recipient: U.S. Small Business Administration: Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Community Leader: YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Red Cross Holiday Cards for Heroes, MJ Music Camp, and Hear Our Voices Anti-Bullying Campaign, American Cancer Society, Rachel’s Women’s Center, National Center for Children and Families; Capital Youth Empowerment Program; Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival, Obama Victory Fund, Elmira University “Bullying” Program, Elmira, NY, Mentoring to Manhood Recipient of “Men Who Make A Difference” Award.
Speaker/Leader: Music Business Seminars at Studio 8121 Silver Spring, MD

Television and Radio

Featured Commentator: Idol Chatter, Fox 5 News Segment on American Idol - Current

Radio Host: Smooth Jazz 105.

Performances:

Capital Jazz Festival, Capital Jazz Cruise, Ghana Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Bermuda Jazz Festival, Atlantic Artscape, Huntington Beach Jazz Festival, Trenton Jazz Festival, Dell East, Blues Alley, Blue Note, John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, The Hamilton, Congressional Black Caucus, 100 Black Men of Orlando. , Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit (Paris, France), Carter Barron Theater, Spring Breeze Soul Jazz Festival, Southern Tier Jazz Festival, Centennial Olympic Park Wednesday’s Winedown, Lincoln Foundation “Evening of Jazz”, Low County Jazz Festival, Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival, Spaghettini’s, Jazz Fest West, Silver Spring Jazz Festival, Gardena Jazz Fest, Rams Head on Stage, Temecula Jazz Festival, to name a few.

Performances With: Boney James, Kim Waters, Najee, Alex Bugnon, Dave Koz, Diane Krall, Brian Culbertson, Gerald Albright, Will Downing, Fourplay, Pieces of A Dream, Bobby Lyle, Arturo Sandoval, Alyson Williams, Maysa, Erykah Badu, Peter White, Rich Braun, Chuck Mangione, Marion Meadows, Mike Phillips, Jakeim Joyner, Miles Jaye, Jeffrey Osborne, Chaka Kahn, Peabo Bryson, Jeff Bradshaw, Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Kenny G, Kem, BeBeWinans, Alyson Williams, Jean Carne, Norman Connors, Kirk Whalum, George Duke, Jean Carne, and many others…

For more information:

www.threekeys.com

www.flobrands.com

www.facebook.com/marcusjohnson3k

www.youtube.com/marcusjohnson3k

Live Performance and Speaking Clips

http://youtu.be/YkLXSoniUZ4 Spaghettini's 2013 http://youtu.be/rEsN4lAVCs0 Marcus Johnson with Bobby Lyle Pavillion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwRbi7NDxWA Road To Los Suenos http://youtu.be/7OQyrANpPsk Maxin http://youtu.be/Z9Wc8gMmA-I This Place Hotel Live from Germany

http://youtu.be/mKTdpXeUVjk AARP Speaking Engagement

Episode 2 - Benita Johnson of The Vine Wine Club Apr 04, 2017

In this episode of The Color of Wine, we speak to Benita Johnson of The Vine Wine Club, about her path to wine, her annual Exclusive Blacklist event, her journey to becoming a Sommelier and so much more! Sit back and enjoy Benita's story and share in plenty of laughs. Cheers! Benita's Bio I started drinking wine like most of us…sneaking wine from your parents’ house and believing all of it was disgusting. But because I’m no quitter, I kept trying. By the time, I got to college, I realized that I could actually finish an entire glass all by myself. Then one became two and two became the bottle and so on and so on. In 2005, I decided to walk away from a “glorious” career as an Accountant to open a wine shop. It was definitely a gutsy move because I knew little about wine. I knew that I liked it. But I had also chosen an area that folks dared to open “upscale” shops. It was very close to the neighborhood where I had grown up and far from the areas that you would expect to find such a shop. “Grapes & Barley” became my love. It was where I knew that wine would forever be a part of my life. So in 2007, I attended classes with the Court of Master Sommeliers and earned my pin. From that point on, teaching people about wine and celebrating its nuances became my passion. Fast forward to 2014. A lot had changed. The grocery store scene had changed dramatically in Richmond, I no longer had the security of a husband with a steady paycheck, and I had overcome the fear of failure. With the help (and badgering) of my partner “G”, The Vine Wine Club was launched as an online wine club and retail shop. We “deliver the best pours to your door”. We also offer educational experiences and grand events such as our signature, The Exclusive Blacklist. In short, I’m a regular girl with a discerning palette and willingness to share what I know. Catch me each Friday at 3pm as I host my radio show, “Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia” on Blogtalk and Google Play. Here's where you can find Benita: Website: www.thevinewineclub.com Facebook: The Vine Wine Club Instagram: @vine_wine_club Twitter: @TheVineWineClub Pinterest: @thevinewineclub

Episode 1 - The Purple Corkscrew Wine Store and Tasting Room Apr 04, 2017

In this episode we speak with Steffini Bethea of The Purple Corkscrew Wine Store and Tasting Room, in Avondale Estates, just south of downtown Atlanta. In 2012, a different type of wine room was pioneered – one that you could feel comfortable in whether you were a wine novice or a seasoned connoisseur. That space was a cozy eclectic wine room that made you feel as if you were hanging out in your best friends den enjoying a glass of your favorite vino. In Late 2013, we incorporated a retail wine shop where we sold a hand-picked selection of small vineyard, boutique wines. Today, we are enjoying the best of both ideas in one location. The Purple Corkscrew Wine Shop & Tasting Room was launched early this year and allows you the opportunity to Sip & Shop in one location. Steffini Bethea, the proprietor of the Purple Corkscrew has created a space that is like an extension of her own home. She and her team taste every wine that goes into the shop. For Steffini, it’s not about just buying a bottle or flight of wine but it is about providing you with impeccable customer service and a wine experience that leaves you wanting to come back tomorrow! Here is where you can find Steffini and the great staff at The Purple Corkscrew: 32 N Avondale Rd, Avondale Estates, GA 30002 Website: http://purplecorkscrew.com/ Facebook: Purple Corkscrew Wine Shop & Tasting Room Instagram: @purplecorkscrewwine

Episode 000 - The Color of Wine Introduction - Meet the Host! Apr 01, 2017

Episode 000 - Meet the host of The Color of Wine, Sukari Bowman. The Color of Wine is a podcast where we put the spotlight on people of color in the wine industry. In this episode, Sukari takes you through her journey to wine and how she came to be a self proclaimed "wine-o".

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