Meet the Women of DC’s Wine Scene
How many female sommeliers in DC can you name? How many local woman-owned businesses do you know? If you were at (woman-owned) Shop Made in DC on the Wharf Tuesday night, you would have good answers these questions.
You would have heard how a Jamaican born, Boston educated social worker came to lead the wine program at Charlie Palmer’s Steak House for 17 years. You would have learned how a Florida State University educated English Teacher in South Korea and Thailand came to be the Cellar Master at District Winery. And you would have felt the passion for wine only a sommelier who got her start crushing grapes in her father’s garage in West Virginia could convey.
On a Tuesday evening, less than a week after Washington Nationals won the World Series and just a stone’s throw from Nat’s Park, Shop Made in DC owner, Stacey Price hosted Women in Wine: Wine Tasting 101, at her Wharf location led by SommStock owner, Veronica Kunkel.
Veronica’s mission is not only to sell beautiful wines to District residents, but to elevate women in the wine industry and promote local women business owners. So she recruited beloved DC Sommelier Nadine Brown, District Winery Cellar Master Claire Corbin, Third-generation Wine Key Experience owner, Marcelle Folk, and She Collective co-founder, Emily Zeigenfuse and introduced these fascinating women and compelling wines to fellow wine lovers from all over the DMV.
Throughout the evening, these “virtuosos of vino” all spoke with depth and knowledge about the wines, imploring participants to use all of their senses to gain a full appreciation of each wine.
As guests were offered a “greeter wine” when they arrived, they were soon treated to a tried and true Sauvignon Blanc, starting off in familiar territory before the “shock and awe” of a Roussanne that nobody saw coming! Then on to a truly exquisite Pinot Noir before finishing off the evening with an Old Vine Mendocino Zinfandel.
In between sips, were shared stories, exchanges of business cards, plans for future events, and of course, support for the women of DC’s Wine Industry and locally owned women’s businesses.
Who needs an old boys club, when you’ve got #WomenInWine?!
To learn more about SommStock and to find out how you can get specially curated selections delivered right to your door in DC, visit SommStock.com
All photos courtesy of Richard Randolph/CapitolCaptures
