Vinfolio Blog

As our first “real” job out of college, working for Vinfolio has opened our eyes to an industry we had little knowledge of. We were very familiar with drinking wine in college but not with the business aspect of wine sales and storage. Who knew what a Nebuchadnezzar was or that prior to 1978 Bordeaux jeroboams were typically 4.5 liters? These were basic wine facts we quickly learned along with other names, sizes, varieties, and qualities. Over a month has passed since we have started working at Vinfolio and our wine knowledge has increased tremendously. We are nowhere near the level we want to be at but we are working hard to retain as much information and to take in all this industry has to offer.

One project that has exposed us to the vast wine world is uploading auction results to our website. In the past five months, there have been 37 wine auctions, with as many as 1900 lots each. Each auction, for us, is a great building block because we get to witness pricing trends, view differences between regions, and come across obscure details that we would not otherwise see. The satisfaction of finishing an auction is incredible, knowing that our hard work directly affected our customers by providing a valuable resource. In the long run, our primary goal is to learn as much as possible from our skilled co-workers, who are enthusiastic and passionate about their careers. They encourage us to explore this industry with an open mind and inexperienced palette so one day we can taste the difference between Charles Shaw Chardonnay and Corton Charlemagne.

Featured here are some frequently asked questions about how I got into the wine industry and my personal interests.

What attracted you to the wine industry?

As a college student when I studied abroad in Nancy, France my host family prepared many multi-coursed meals in which they paired wines with the various courses. It was at this point that I first realized the power of wine to enhance a meal and its versatility as a beverage. After visiting the wine country in the Bay Area I was later convinced that I had to take part in the industry on some level.

Are you a sommelier?

I would not call myself a sommelier although I have comparable knowledge and have worked as a wine steward. True sommeliers have typically passed the intermediary Certified Sommelier Exam from the Court of Master Sommeliers and are pursing the ultimate certification, Master Sommelier (MS).  Personally I have been studying towards the Master of Wine (MW) exam and am currently completing the prerequisite diploma from the London-based Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET).

What are your favorite books about food and wine?

I love all the books written by Peter Mayle including A Year in Provence, Encore Provence, and A Good Year. Mayle has a great sense of humor and is terrific at recreating the local atmosphere of Provence. Under the Tuscan Sun and Bella Tuscany by Frances Mayes and Mediterranean Summer: A Season on France's Cote d'Azur and Italy's Costa Bella by David Shalleck are also good. Most recently I enjoyed Julia Child’s memoir, My Life in France (penned by Alex Prud'homme), in which she recalls her inspiration to study French cuisine.

What are your favorite restaurants?

Some of my favorite restaurants in San Francisco include Chez Spencer, Frascati, Sociale, Spruce, Piperade and the Foreign Cinema. In Sonoma wine country I like Cyrus and The Farm House Inn. My husband and I both love Radius in Boston where we held our rehearsal dinner for our wedding.

Who are some of your favorite wine producers?

I am particularly drawn towards French wines although I am more and more interested in German Rieslings and Italian wines. Champagne: Bollinger, Gosset, Krug, Pol Roger, Ruinart, Taittinger. Burgundy: Comte de Vogue, Dujac, Faiveley, Leflaive, Leroy, Ramonet, Raveneau. Germany: Donnhoff, Muller-Catoir, Von Simmern. Italy: Antinori, Castello Banfi, Conterno, Giacosa, Tenuta dell’Ornellaia, Pio Cesare, Vietti.

What do you do in your free time?

I love to play with my seven-month-old daughter Sophia and listen to classical music. I enjoy taking long runs, watching foreign films, and learning more about wine.