Well hello there! So glad you could stop by. Welcome to Spin the Bottle, my little corner of the Internet.

Before you start wandering around, here’s a quick tour to help you get your bearings: If you’re very new to wine, you might want to start out at Spin the Basics, which gives an overview of some fundamental wine concepts. Spin the Blog is where you’ll find my latest thoughts on what I’m drinking, where I’m going, and the world of wine. The Spinsider is just for people who take my classes (which you can read all about here). Spin the Table is my take on food, restaurants, and recipes, and matching what you’re eating with what you’re drinking. Spin TV is the home of my (extremely) fledgling on-camera career, as managed by my dear husband Paul, himself a very talented actor and director.

I’m an easy-going hostess, but there are a few things you should know about me before we begin:

1. I’ve spent a lot of time studying the minutiae of wine so you don’t have to. I’ve written about wine for several magazines and blogs, I’ve worked in wine stores, I’ve visited vineyards around the world, I’ve been to more tastings than I can count, and I’m currently working on my Diploma, a comprehensive, multi-year, wine wonk degree.

2. My day job is not in the wine industry. I’m first and foremost a consumer, just like you. I pay for what I drink, and I want to make sure whatever I’m imbibing is worth every dollar.

3. I’m here to make wine accessible and enjoyable – not easy. Like all great things in life, wine is complicated. I can’t compress everything you need to know about wine into a handy mnemonic device, nor am I here to give you advice like “never drink Merlot.” But I can provide some helpful guidance, in plain English, that should serve you well.

4. I believe that the most important thing to understand about wine is your own palate. Each of us has distinct smell and taste preferences rooted in our culture, our childhood, our experiences, and our physiological differences. My classes, in particular, are a place where you can pay close attention to what your nose and mouth are telling you, and discover the best way to articulate what you like.

5. Full disclosure: my preferences run to wines with good acidity and lots of aromatic character, which is why I adore Riesling, Cabernet Franc, and Syrah above all else. Also, I’m a bit of a Francophile and, when possible, opt for organic, sustainable, or biodynamic wines. I’m still trying to understand Pinotage, I don’t love Chianti as much as I think I’m supposed to, and yes, I do believe there’s a time and a place for a buttery, oaky California Chardonnay. But that’s just me.

I look forward to getting to know you better. So please look around, leave a comment, and let me know what you think.

Salud,

Sasha