About

Think global, drink local! I’m a Virginia wine enthusiast who is also very interested in wine marketing and tasting room operations. My career is not in the wine business, but given my B-school training I have a keen eye for what works and what doesn’t when it comes to almost any business endeavor. 

 

In terms of my wine preferences, I like reds, whites, and the well-crafted rose. Sparkling wines also get the thumbs up, but I’m not so much a fan of fortified wines like port. In my spare time I visit wineries across the Commonwealth and  try to educate myself about wines and vines.  Because it’s hard to find Virginia wines in restaurants, I must admit that I sometimes enjoy wines from Oregon, Washington, California and even Germany, France, and New Zealand.  However,  I remain very dedicated to buying and drinking local!

 

Last summer, I decided that I wanted to gain some real wine industry experience in order to develop some perspective. So, I volunteered to work wine events at my very favorite Virginia winery, Sharp Rock Vineyards (www.sharprockvineyards.com). The owners, Jimm and Kathy East, are like extended family to me. I love their high-quality hand-crafted wines, friendly wine dogs and cats, and breathtaking views of Old Rag Mountain. Through my experience at Sharp Rock that I realized that the key to selling wine in the tasting room is to provide an excellent customer experience–through telling great stories about the wines and by delighting customers. Essentially, making good wine is important, but it’s not the only factor at play. Think about your own experiences at wineries…what made the visit a memorable one?

 

My own wine knowledge is based on reading wine books and taking wine classes through Surry Community College in Dobson, NC and the Capital Wine School in Washington, DC. I also attended the DrinkLocalWine.com conference in April held at Lansdowne Resort in Leesburg. The event featured wine makers that spoke about the grapes that work best for Virginia’s soil, media representatives who shared their views on how regional wineries can get the word out using social media, and chefs and catering managers who talked about ways to promote local wine in Northern Virginia eating (and drinking!) establishments. 

Several wine bloggers participated in the DrinkLocalWine.com conference and I was inspired to start my own blog, with a focus on local Virginia wines and the total winery experience (not just the wine). I want to provide readers with enough information to make an informed decision about whether or not to fork over the requisite tasting fee! 

I’ll be posting my “tasting notes” with my thoughts on a few key factors, including: overall atmosphere, overall value for the cost, wine quality, staff knowledge, and tasting room design. 

Cheers! 

Lady Vino