Today I’m sharing my own story—how wine, connection, and a little leap of faith brought me to where I am today. If you’ve ever wondered how I got started with wine tastings or what sparked this podcast, let me take you back to where it all began.

A Trip to Wine Country Changed Everything

It was 2004. My husband and I had frequent flyer miles about to expire, and we thought, why not take a trip somewhere romantic? I had heard wine country was beautiful, and I could pronounce Merlot, so that settled it—we were off to Napa and Sonoma.

We flew into San Francisco, drove up the coast, and spent an entire week visiting 5 to 7 wineries every single day. What we thought would be an inexpensive trip turned into the most expensive vacation we’d ever taken—not because of the travel but because we joined seven wine clubs.

Over the next week, 16 cases of wine showed up at our door. We got to know our UPS driver very well.

At the time, we didn’t know much about wine, but we loved it. We learned something new at every winery, and it sparked a passion I couldn’t ignore. Of course, we also learned some hard lessons—like the fact that not all wine gets better with age (thank you, Hollywood, for misleading us).

From Corporate Burnout to a New Path

Back then, I was working a corporate sales job that I enjoyed—for a while. I loved my company and the people I worked with, but the pressure started to get to me.

I’ll never forget sitting in a sales meeting one day and feeling my heart race. I checked my pulse—it was 130 beats per minute… while sitting. I knew something had to change.

I started researching careers in wine—maybe a wine steward, wholesaler, or distributor. But after talking with people in those roles, I realized it wasn’t for me. The miles on their cars, the schlepping, and the constant hustle didn’t feel like the right fit. I put the dream on hold… for a little while.

Discovering a Fun Opportunity

Then one day, my girlfriend Jennifer handed me a newspaper article about a company that offered in-home wine tastings through direct sales. She said, "You loved Mary Kay—you should check this out!"

At first, I brushed it off. I didn’t want to be that person who was constantly selling or bugging people. But then I thought, what’s the worst that could happen? If nothing else, I’d drink the wine and call it a day.

So, I reached out to the company, connected with a wine guide who answered all my questions, and took a leap of faith.

Three weeks later, my corporate department was eliminated in a reduction of force, and I was laid off. Talk about timing. I took it as a sign to give this wine thing a real shot.

From Tasting to Thriving

For the next 12 to 18 months, I went all in. I started building my business, hosting 10-12 wine tastings a month. I loved it—teaching people about wine, why you swirl and sniff, what foods to pair, and how to store it properly (seriously, if you don’t know, we might need to talk!).

It was fun, it was connection, and it was so different from the stress I had felt in my corporate job. I also started building a team—helping others learn how to host tastings, grow their businesses, and hit their goals. Watching their success brought me so much joy.

Why a Podcast? Sharing Women’s Stories

Over the years, wine has brought so many amazing people into my life. It’s not just about the wine—it’s about the connection. I realized that the women I’ve met—from college, work, and my wine journey—all have powerful, inspiring stories.

Too often, women’s voices go unheard. So, I created this podcast to share their stories. Stories of resilience, triumph, lessons learned, and advice they’d give their younger selves. Stories that remind us we’re not alone and that we’re all worthy of chasing our dreams.

And of course, there’s always room for some fun. We talk about wine, favorite cocktails, recipes, and the little things that make life sweeter.

What’s Next?

Today, I still host wine tastings—both in-person and virtually. I even get to partner with companies to host virtual wine happy hours for their teams. Whether it’s a corporate event, a fun gathering of friends, or a holiday celebration, wine has a way of bringing people together.

With this podcast, I’m continuing to share my love of wine and my love of women’s stories. I hope these conversations inspire you, make you laugh, and remind you that anything is possible.

Cheers to Us

If you’re listening, thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting this journey, for tuning in, and for lifting each other up. Because we all deserve to be heard.

So, pour yourself a glass, settle in, and enjoy the stories. Cheers to us—and cheers to all the women whose stories deserve to be shared.