My Wine Journey (Part II)
If you missed it, My Wine Journey Part I is available to read here.
Malbec: A wine that gets around. It started in France and ended up living it’s best life in Argentina. It gets a bad rap due to popularity in early 2000s, but offers flavors generally of blueberry and cocoa notes. It can rock it out still in Bordeaux blends or on it’s in own in France among other regions.
In 2010, the organization where I had worked for almost my entire adult life restructured my role. I took that as a sign that it was time to leave as the work, the people, and the place weren’t really serving me or me them. It was stable and comfortable and kept me paying my bills (mostly), but not really bringing any sort of happiness. I was really on an auto pilot convincing myself that life was good enough and I should be grateful. I wasn’t grateful. I was really sad and tired.
One of my many unemployment journeys soon began. I wasn’t sure how long it would last or where I would come out. It was scary. But I just knew – maybe I wasn’t destined to change the world, but I was destined for something better and I deserved it. Not because I am special or important, but because we all do. We deserve a job that doesn’t crush our souls, to feel fulfilled, to have friends.
My relationship with Young Winos of DC grew from crashing a tasting party that a friend, Nastassia, begrudgingly allowed me to attend. Initially, the Young Winos of DC was only for her and I was a kickball friend who might fuck it up with my humor, absurdity, or something.
I attended more events, chatted and got to know more those that weren’t just drinkers, but cared or worked in wine. I got to know a young woman, Tanisha, who had an amazing job that she secured after working hard and putting herself through grad school. It was boring though and she pursued more wine opportunities and certifications. Her knowledge was astounding. She encouraged me to look for wine jobs and eventually to write.
My unemployment ran out and after working a trade show with a friend I let move into my studio with me when she moved to DC, I realized I needed to find something. Unemployment never pays much, but sometimes you can eek out enough to survive. I had my parents, I had friends, I was very lucky and fortunate that I was never worried that I would not be able to eat or have a roof over my head. I did know though I wanted to rely as little on others as possible and they also wanted me to get what I could on my own.
I originally found a hostess gig, but it seemed real odd. It was at a wine related restaurant and the manager interviewed me over family meal. He…just kind of offered me the job, but not? It was really unclear if I should show up again or what the hell was even happening. I was like…this doesn’t seem like I am going to be able to trust this or him.
A friend through Young Winos of DC, Ali, mentioned her former colleague, Graham, was looking for help at his wine shop, Zola Wine & Kitchen (ZWK). I interviewed there. He asked me my favorite wine and I mentioned Malbec and I saw his eyes narrow. I was being judged, but it was ok. Judge me all you want, I’ll learn what I need and get money while doing it.
In 2011, I ended up working at ZWK for almost a year and a second one more focused on Italian wines, Potenza Wine, for almost two years. I poured countless tastings. A benefit of pouring tastings was taking home wine. I took home so much wine to enjoy. I once showed up after a rep tasted my boss on wines with like four bottles that were half full to a friend’s house. My friends loved me. One of the best ways to learn is simply to taste. You can read, watch videos, but you need to actually smell, see, and drink.
My friends also loved when I was lucky enough to win tickets for a large group of us to attend Wine Riot. Wine Riot was supposed to be the latest trend in wine festivals. It was bright, loud, full of wines to try, photo booths with props, and more. I met one of my favorite winemakers who I was surprised was there. He’s since grown his brand. He just made great wine, but made it fun. That seems easy right? There’s a lot of wine with labels and branding to draw you in, but it can vary from shit to mediocre to pretty solid. He was more of a negociant. That was the first time I learned about that. He didn’t per se grow his own, but knew how to choose and purchase and make the wine.
Potenza Wine provided almost no guidance or education and I struggled there. Italy is HUGE in the wine world and much more complicated than how many people simply think Pinot Grigio or Chianti.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t found the full-time role I needed and was still working at the wine shops in addition to part time rolls in office jobs along with any other work I could find. ZWK ended up closing. It was kind of shocking. I was expecting to find work at a think tank or something else and perhaps pouring wine on the side there…and also having a discount, but disposable income to properly use it.
