What Happens When You Lead with Passion (and Wine)

Here’s what I’ve learned in my 12 years of working in wine: when sommeliers and educators introduce wine to consumers with only facts and technical information, we risk missing something essential—the wonder. Yes, the facts matter. The AVAs, fermentation methods, acidity levels—they’re important for understanding wine. But they don’t always create an immediate connection.

What if, instead, we led with love? What if we shared the joy we feel when we drink wine and invited people to discover their own joy through the glass?

That was my inspiration behind “Wine Disrupted: Women in Wine Experience,” the event I curated at Bronzeville Winery, Chicago, IL. It was a guided tasting that wasn’t just about learning wine, but feeling it. The goal? To help people fall in love with wine first. The technical notes were woven into a discussion about the women behind the wines and the emotions, memories, scents, and sensations the wines evoked.

Celebrating Female Winemakers

We featured four wines, each crafted or led by exceptional female winemakers and wine professionals:

  • Day Wines, 2022 Lemonade, Willamette Valley – A delicious rosé by the brilliant Brianne Day, I introduced this wine through the lens of whole cluster fermentation, a technique that brings lift and complexity to the wine.
  • Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier 2023, California – Created under the care of Colleen FitzGerald, this wine sparked a conversation on weight and body, as we compared how each varietal moves across the palate and the notes they contribute.
  • Cambria 2023 Julia’s Vineyard Pinot Noir – Produced by a powerhouse team of women at Cambria Estate Winery: Barbara Banke (Chairman & Proprietor), Denise Shurtleff (General Manager), and Jill Russell (Winemaker). I invited guests to notice the salinity in this Pinot Noir—that mineral kiss that makes it unforgettable.
  • Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella Superiore 2020– A stunning expression of Valpolicella led by Nadia Zenato, this was the crowd favorite. I discussed the ripasso method and how it brings layers of flavor and body to the wine. It needed no technical intro—just space for people to experience its emotion.

A New Approach: Emotional Wine Tasting

Throughout the evening, I wove in just enough technical detail to spark curiosity, but I kept the focus on emotion. I used prompts from my upcoming journal to help guests filter tasting notes while exploring their emotional connection to the wine.

Some of my favorite moments?

A guest responding to the Cambria Pinot Noir said, “This wine opened me up.” I shared my own story of the opening powers of Pinot Noir.

When prompted to answer, “If this wine were a season, what season would it be?” In reference to the Day Wines Lemonade, the group was split between Spring and Fall—but everyone reacted to the wine’s cool freshness.

Asked what memory the Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc + Viognier evoked, someone said, “Fresh grass and flowers.” 

As for the Zenato Ripassa, one guest was so moved by its silky seductiveness that she said she only wanted to share it with her husband. While another responded to its warming component and shared, “I want to share this wine with my mother—while sitting in her kitchen.”

The Power of Wine to Empower

Introducing My Upcoming Wine Journal

I wanted guests to walk away having learned something technical, yes—but more than that, I wanted them to feel empowered. To know they can trust their own palate. That they, too, can evaluate and enjoy wine on their own terms.

Did we achieve that? Judging by the smiles, the laughter, and the lingering conversations—I’d say yes.

This is just the beginning. My upcoming wine journal was born from experiences like this—designed to guide you into a deeper connection, not just with what’s in your glass, but with the story it tells you.

Stay tuned.

Want to be the first to receive the journal? [Join the waiting list.]

Photo Credit: Lea Sharpe @LeaSharpeIG