MindfulVine brings wine education to you, and let's you determine what it is you want to learn.  The goal is to increase your enjoyment of what is in your glass, and to build confidence as you make buying choices.  MindfulVine will cater a wine class to your needs, because we all want different things.  One-size-fits all classes exist.  So do wine blogs.  But why look for general information when you can ask for what you need.

The idea for MindfulVine emerged over many dinners and conversations with friends who enjoy wine but feel intimidated by the vast amount of wine available and the many wine gurus that tell you what you are supposed to like.  What do you like, really?  Let me help you find out.

My Story

My journey to wine began early in life.  I was born into an extended family of wine producers and sellers.  Growing up with it, I felt no need to learn and understand it.  I drank a glass of wine with dinner, but I paid little attention to what was in the glass.  I realized that the wine world was immense, and figured it would take multiple degrees in biology, chemistry, food science, languages and economics to understand a bottle of wine.  That made me feel tired rather than inspired.

Fast-forward 25 years.  As part of my career in higher education, I sign up for classes to remind myself what it feels like to be a student.  One day in 2013, I signed up for wine tasting. That class took me right back to my roots and I found myself hooked to everything there is to know about wine, from yeast to cork, from acid to tannin, from Bordeaux, France to Marlborough, New Zealand. 

Wine is an amazing beverage, with a history that goes back a long time, and if there was ever proof of human ingenuity, cultural diversity, and a desire to package happiness, count the bottles on your supermarket shelves. Wine makes for memorable meals, late-night conversations, and all that stuff that actually matters.  Wine is social.  Religions use wine symbolically to create community (not beer, not spirits). Wine is so much more than a drink.

It is this passion for wine I want to share with people who are ready to take that step into the bewildering world of wine.  Let's talk about wine!