Ya'll, just within the last week, I've gotten several comments about how much everyone is enjoying my content. Thanks. Thanks a bunch. I guess I'll keep on going. That being said, would also love to hear what else you'd like to read/hear/see from me. Open to any and all suggestions. And that said, know that I'm taking a bit of a hiatus. By the time you read this, I'll have set up all of my away messages, packed my bags and am on my way toward an extended vacation to Japan.

Those of you who know me, or even 'know me' (via online-y things), know that one of my absolute favorite things to research and report on is regenerative agriculture. Ever since I wrote my first piece on the topic, I've been hooked. And since then, I've continued my coverage on the topic, as so much more scientific analysis has taken place to further align the practice within the global ag space. Wine is the perfect vehicle to help push those possibilities further.

This one goes out to all my cohorts and colleagues who sat the MW exam this past week. Here's hoping you have a relaxing weekend and some fun summer plans. Proud of you. ✌️🥂

Hey all. Short week, short list. And I'm going to be out and about celebrating my wedding anniversary. Peace. ✌️🥂

Hello my friends. Another two weeks gone. This time because I spent the week of the 10th traveling all around the Bay Area. First out to Livermore (my secret spot for amazing wines!) to cover an event at the beautiful Wente Estate for Tasting Panel. Then jet-set up to Santa Rosa to speak at this year's Wine Industry Sales Symposium. All while continuing to teach my classes as well as write my stories. So, of course the news piled up a wee bit. And, sorry NOT sorry that I've got bit of a rant about the majority of these headlines: I feel like the wine industry is just trying SO hard.

Hello, my friends. Not that anyone's keeping track super hard core, but I did take a week off from my regular check-ins here. I spent the week of April 28 in Mast of Wine Stage 2 course days. Those of you that follow me on social media (mainly Instagram) may have seen me in Stories mode talking through a wee bit of my experience there. On the last reel, I did reveal that I am actually deferring the exam this year and have made the decision to take a step back and take a deep breath from the program—at least in the short term.

I had the immense pleasure and honor of interviewing Andréa McBride John and Robin McBride of McBride Sisters Wine Company for this exclusive interview featured on the Wine Industry Network platform. We talk about entrepreneurship, sustainable business management, staying socially active and engaged with consumers—and how to make wine FUN! This is a much watch for anyone in the industry looking to learn how to stay up-to-date and relevant in the shrinking and oh-so-saturated market.

Celebrating women in wine with the Tasting Panel...

Hello my friends. Happy Spring, Easter, Holy Week, Passover—however and whatever you celebrate, I hope you enjoy it with good friends and shenanigans galore. For those celebrating a bit extra this weekend because, well, Easter and Orthodox Easter fall on the infamous 4/20—you're in luck! My shameless self-promotion this week is a byline brag in Full Pour's spring release. Where Wine Meets Weed is an exploration in the similarities between the aromas, flavors and structural components of both imbibes, meaning cross-category enjoyment can be possible. Yes, you can be both a wine and weed enthusiast.

Just in time for 4/20 (which I realize is also Easter this year), you can now read my first feature in Full Pour Magazine. Where Wine Meets Weed is an exploration in the similarities between the aromas, flavors and structural components of both imbibes, meaning cross-category enjoyment can be possible. Yes, you can be both a wine and weed enthusiast.

What does sustainability even mean anymore? “It’s a broad term, isn’t it?” says Leslie Frank, cofounder of Frank Family Vineyards. “You’re hard pressed to find any landowner, vintner, or anyone in the wine industry who’s not ‘sustainable.’” But for Leslie and her husband Richard Frank, owning Napa’s third-oldest winery (and nationally registered historic landmark), stewarding over 380 acres of vineyard property, and crafting notable premium Napa wines “that spans from sparkling to Cabernet and everything in between,” means they continuously seek to improve business practices in an effort to better the life forces both below and above ground, within their local community and throughout the wine industry at large.

Yo. There's a lot of...stuff...✌️🥂

My friends, this week's list is just as much for me as it is for you. I've been OOO the center of the week on an amazing field trip focused on Regenerative Organic Certified viticultural practices, diving deep into what it means not just in the field, but above ground as well—from animal welfare to the human impacts and, of course, the resulting wine style and quality. Tasty bits coming your way as I work on my assignments about this super important topic that's become a dual personal and professional passion of mine.

So, this week just flew by. But welcome to your weekly wine news round up. Short but sweet. As most of you know the 200% tariff situation continues to dominate headlines. I have only included one on my list this week—the one that I think is the most well-rounded, eloquently stated and explains things in a way that if you're super confused about how this effects the industry on a global and local scale, explains it in a digestible way. But you'll have to scroll aaaaaaalllll the way to the blogs to read it.

Hello my friends. Now full disclosure, there's a lot on the list this week. And my snarky comments get, well, quite snarky. You have been warned. Also, a bit of shameless self-promo: If you've not checked out my latest article on GuildSomm, Vermouth Past & Present, this was a fun one to study explore. I have to give a high-five and shoutout to my girl Kara Newman, spirits writer extraordinare, who hooked me up with some stellar producers who helped me grasp the history and current state of the category as well as Liz Pirnat, spirits educator for the NVWA, who hooked me up with some L1 basics on the topic.

Vermouth Past & Present: My latest piece for GuildSomm was a fun and challenging one, exploring an oft overlooked and under appreciated drinks category.

Here we are, end of another week and, if you're like me, lots of catching up to do with the news. No surprise, the leading headlines are all about the tariff conundrum. This may sound naive, but, can't we all just get along? You'll also find some shameless self-promotion, some great scientific studies, and more. Buona lettura. Snarky comments are all my own. ✌️🥂

For the March/April Spring issue of Sonoma Magazine, I had the pleasure of highlighting one of my favorite local Sonoma winemakers, Cindy Cosco. Take a trip on the way back machine and scroll through this website to its beginnings (I delete nothing lol), and you'll see she's one of the first folks kind enough to send me samples to review on, what was then, a new platform. Since then, we've become very good friends. So I was thrilled at the opportunity to write about some of the new, innovative things this lady is working on at the moment.

ALT: The The Office GIF

Good Saturday morning to you. As you open this, hopefully cozy in your humble abode, I am up bright and early ready to teach my WSET Level 1 class at the NVWA. I love teaching these lower-level wine education courses. They're super fun and engaging and there's a kind of thrill being the person who's introducing a room full of wine newbies to what could be their next passion—personal or professional. I usually get the most interesting and insightful questions in these classes. It challenges me, keeps me on my feet, and can also be quite humbling.

For regenerative viticulture to make a meaningful impact on the wine industry, it needs to be adopted by both boutique wineries and high-volume producers—can it be done? Bringing you my latest published piece from SevenFifty Daily. While I work on sprucing up my portfolio page, I thought I'd just share it here in the blog roll. Many thanks in advance for reading and sharing!

Way too excited for the weekend. How is it that four-day work-weeks can actually be more stressful than a full one? Whatever. Me, I plan to wear my lazy pants and do what lazy pants do best...laze. I highly recommend the stretchy fluffy kind as you lounge about and read some of this week's booze news. Snarky comments are all my own. ✌️🥂

Hello, and welcome (back) to your weekly dose of what-I'm-reading, weekly-wine-headlines extravaganza. Not an exhaustive list this week, as I literally decided to (re)start doing this, um, yesterday. 🤷‍♀️😂 What is up with me, you ask? (Or not, too bad.) Working away on more freelance stuff (yay) that I hope to be sharing soon(ish) and also chipping away and cleaning up this old-lady of a website. No major revamp in the near future, but at least get her up and running again. ie: A wee bit 'o' botox, not a full on facelift.

Hello my friends. Been another hot minute. As most of you are by now probably aware, I resigned from my post at Wine Enthusiast at the end of 2024. 🙀 Yeah. But I’ve got a few fun updates that have hap...