When did you first become interested in educating people about wine?
I became interested when I discovered a niche for making wine usable. As a teacher of both enthusiastic wine lovers, and aspiring wine professionals my goal is the same –– to inspire and enlighten.

What inspired you to do the Sommelier program?
I realized that wine was a topic that made all of the subjects I studied in high school make sense. Wine covers everything from chemistry, geography, history, biology, geology and physics –– and it all fits into one glass!

Which is your favorite type to drink with dinner? Which one do you like to drink on special occasions?
I can find a reason to drink bubbles with any dish, from grilled cheese to caviar!

If you don't order wine at a restaurant or bar, which beverage do you choose?
Ketel One Vodka –– short, with 3 olives!

What's your best wine-drinking memory? What was the occasion?
Drinking rosé at a café in Paris with friends, watching the awning fill with water from the rain, and hoping that it wouldn't turn into that notorious scene from Flashdance! Laughing so hard we almost cried!

Do you have any favorite wine gadgets? Are there any new ones on the market? If so, what are they and where can people get them?
Aside from Wine in the Kitchen (which I think that every household should have!) I couldn't live without my Schott Zweisel glasses!

Do you have any basic rules for wine drinking, i.e. tips on how to pair your wines with certain foods?
Always drink in good company! I think that regional dishes with wines of that region is a good place to start when it comes to pairing. Always drink what you like!

What are your three best tips, tricks or techniques for wine lovers?
Play with serving temperature, so pour 2 glasses of the same wine. Put one in the fridge for an hour and leave the other on the counter. See how the temperature of each affects the flavor, the taste and the texture of the wine!

Try rice crispy squares with Champagne to revisit a favorite from your youth in a more sophisticated way!

Dipping chocolate cookies in Zinfandel is the grown up version of cookies and milk.

Don't be afraid to ask questions! Above all, remember that wine is fun!