The Swirl Suite

This week, Tanisha describes the services she provides for tourists visiting Paris and what her social life is like being a Black expat. I talk about being a wine tasting tutor for the first time and entering the My Favorite Chef competition. https://favchef.com/2023/sarita-cheaves Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.com Sarita @VineMeUp Tanisha @GirlMeetsGlass...

Launched in 2020, Music in the Bottle Podcast is a weekly show revolving around wine, music, & current events. With a focus on making the wine industry more accessible & inclusive to individuals from underrepresented groups within the industry, Music in the Bottle has created a unique opportunity for all to feel welcomed within the wine industry. With over 4,500 total listeners & 16,00...

A typical night out for sisters Leslie and LeAnn Jones includes great wine, great food and great friends at some of their favorite restaurants in Los Angeles. Leslie, a luxury wedding planner, and LeAnn, an attorney, were tired of going outside of their neighborhood to enjoy delicious wine and food. With Leslies background in hospitality and LeAnns knowledge and love of wine, the sisters decided t...

Boyd Cru wines is the first Black, family-owned wine brand in Maryland. They believe in making wines that are locally grown with sustainable practices in Maryland, with a niche focus on creativity and blends. The quality of our wine comes from bridging the traditional grape-to-bottle method using locally grown vinifera and hybrid grapes with the winemaking practice of blending varietals in a non-t...

This week on the Swirl Suite, Sarita and Leslie give updates on current wine events and discuss DC being the home to the most wine drinkers in America. The second half of the episode, they discuss all things TV and the MET Gala looks. Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.com Sarita @VineMeUp Tanisha @GirlMeetsGlass Leslie @Vino301 Glynis @Vino_Noire

Grant Hemingway is a dynamic, passionate entrepreneur that has devoted his entire 16-year career to growing wine brands. Grant thrives on challenging the status quo and expressing his creativity through innovative wine plays, be it process, packaging, or marketing. He is motivated by making wine more approachable and inclusive for the next generation of drinkers. After graduating from UC Davis Vit...

Chef S. Renee Weaks is the Owner & Executive Chef of Kindle Cuisine, formerly Nee's Kitchen. From a young age, she had a passion for everything food. Her Southern roots nurtured the love of cooking, as well as her distinct preparation and colorful presentations. She was not the typical childhood picky eater, she loved to experience different foods. She believes food should be just that, AN EXP...

After graduating from the Culinary Institute of America, Nicholas discovered his love of wine working in some of the most notable wine regions in the world. After earning the title of Certified Sommelier through The Court of Masters, Nicholas decided to take the dive into winemaking in 2016 when he moved to Napa, California to participate in his first vintage. Wanting to gain more experience with...

Raising a toast to celebrate the extraordinary achievements and contributions by women in the beverage alcohol industry is a year-round goal of J. Lohr, the premier, family-owned wine estate located on Californias Central Coast. And the newly launched 2023 #JLohrWomen Campaign is a first-of-its-kind effort aimed at doing just that - elevating the voices of women in the industry, creating new oppor...

Jummy Olabanji co-anchors News4 Today, the #1 morning news in Washington, D.C. A native of Fairfax County, Olabanji has spent most of her life in Virginia, graduating from Westfield High School in Chantilly and Virginia Tech. She earned a Master's degree in Communication and Leadership Studies from Gonzaga University. Olabanji started her journalism career as an intern for NBC4. She has also worke...

Dr Michelle Grant is the founder and sommelier of Era Wine Bar. Prior to Era, Dr. Grant spent years as a subject matter expert and business development leader in both non-profit and private sector consulting firms. Her former life included many of the travels that were the inspiration for Era. Dr. Grant lives in Mount Rainier, MD with her husband Ka-ton, their two children, Leila and Lionel, and b...

In 2010, I decided it was time to follow my dreams and turn my passion and purpose into a business. I left my corporate job, moved back home to Charlotte, N.C., and enrolled in a culinary arts program. From there, Heart and Soul Personal Chef Service was born. https://cheflisabrooks.com / https://www.instagram.com/cheflisabrooks / The Wine Concierge Club https://thewineconcierge.co/ VineMeUp Newsl...

Danielle Fiala didnt always want to be a chef. But after completing her engineering degree in Philadelphia, she found herself missing the tastes of her native Jamaica and began seeking comfort in the kitchen. Thus began the journey that led her to culinary school in San Francisco and a new careerand lifeas a chef. In the twelve years since then, she has worked at numerous acclaimed restaurants in...

A proud Oakland native, Aminah Chef Mimi Robinson-Briscoe is the founder of the Black Food & Wine Experience. She is passionate about bringing Black culture and food together for the most amazing culinary experiences. For more than a decade, she has focused on the often-overlooked intersection of food, social justice, and entertainment. Through Chef Mimi LLC, Chef Mimi has brought to life thre...

Born and raised in Crete, Greece, and moved to the US to continue with her studies in Marketing. She holds a degree in Political Science and a Masters in Political Analysis from the University of Crete. She is a WSET Diploma Candidate, and a wine documentary filmmaker. Chrisa combines her experience as a journalist and a former Political Strategy Advisor to create her films. Her latest film, In th...

Owner, Chosen Family Wines NBA CHAMPION. HUSBAND. FATHER. FOODIE. WINE CONNOISSEUR. EVERYONES FAVORITE. This is a passion project. I get excited talking about this every day. In my office at home, I have my championship ring, and then right next to it is my first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir bottles. The three things that for me, outside of my family, Im the most proud of. https://www.chosenfamilywin...

Sadie Drury Sadie Drury is a Walla Walla native who decided to combine her love for agriculture with her interest for wine by attending the Center for Enology and Viticulture at Walla Walla Community College and pursuing a career in viticulture. Sadie worked on Red Mountain for 5 years before joining the North Slope Management team in early 2013. She currently manages6vineyardsin the Walla Walla V...

Mari Womack, Damsel Cellars Mari Womack began her love affair with wine while working in Seattle restaurants. She caught the wine bug early when food and wine pairings captured her heart and her imagination. In 2010, she began working in nearby Woodinville tasting rooms, including Obelisco Estate and volunteering at Baer Winery during harvest. Becoming a part of the Woodinville wine community fost...

JJ Williams, Kiona Vineyards JJ Williams is General Manager at Kiona Vineyards & Winery on Red Mountain. Williams is the third generation at Kiona, where his grandparents John and Ann Williams planted the first grapevines on the mountain in 1975. Williams grew up on Red Mountain and started working in the family business at age 14. He says he spent his childhood stacking and unstacking ladders...

Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf, a French native grew up in Auvergne; the land of Volcanoes and fabulous cheeses. Inspired by the power of a Mouton Rothschild, she earned a wine degree in Chile and then embarked for France to work harvest in St Emilion and the Cte du Rhne. While working in South America, she met Paul Hobbs and got a job first at Via Cobos in Mendoza then in California. After numerous oppo...

This week on the Swirl Suite, we talk about the evolution of our wine and food palates. The Wine Concierge Club https://www.instagram.com/thewineconciergeclub/?hl=en VineMeUp Newsletter https://www.vinemeupdc.com/newsletter Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.com Sarita @VineMeUp Tanisha @GirlMeetsGlass Leslie @Vino301 Glynis @Vino_Noire

Born and raised in Jamaica and Puerto Rico, Nadine is a twenty year veteran of the Washington Area restaurant industry. She spent over 14 years at Charlie Palmer Steak as their Wine Director and Sommelier. Nadine holds certifications from both the Court of Master Sommelier, WSET, is a wine judge and writer. Her company At Your Service, offers a range of services from wine events, cellar management...

Kevin Atticks has been Maryland Wineries Associations executive director since 2003. Kevin began writing press articles for the wine industry, but soon grew the organization with new events, promotional programs, government affairs initiatives and more. He founded Grow & Fortify in 2015 to support all Maryland value-added agricultural businesses, including distilleries, breweries, hemp growers...

It was Christmas morning when Chrishon got the call. A freak flood in the building of Chrishons thriving Chicago art and wine bar that she had co-founded several years prior had destroyed everything. When an insurance loophole didnt cover the damages, Chrishon was forced to shutter the business. Finding herself back at ground zero, Chrishons instinct to pick herself up and figure out what was next...

This week on the Swirl Suite, Tanisha recaps the Global Wine Conference in Alba, Italy. We discuss the differences in wine tourism in Europe vs the US and the changes she made to her tours post pandemic. Watch Tanisha's Panel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZgzXRP_x3M Oysters and Wine in Cancale https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRmj9Kky/ Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @SwirlSuite www.swirl...