The Swirl Suite

Maiah Johnson Dunn is an accidental activist based in Upstate New York. She is the founder and host of Chasing Grapeness , a wine pairing dinner series focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in the wine industry. Alongside highlighting DEI, Maiah believes in telling heart-forward stories through her writing , speaking, and consulting, which she can now proudly call her full-time job. The Bosto...

When it comes to the wine aisle, Fetzer delivers delicious, quality wines that lead with an uncommon conscience, meeting the groundswell of demand for sustainable brands. Its also widely available in 50 states at your neighborhood supermarket or wine shop for under $10. Fetzerhas only NOW (after 50+ years!) started talking about their sustainability efforts with a fresh new package that actually t...

Tanisha and I were able to view the upcoming documentary, SPARKLING: THE STORY OF CHAMPAGNE .Directed by Frank Mannion and featuring Vitalie Taittinger, Bruno Paillard, Stephen Fry, and Sir Nicholas Soames, SPARKLING: THE STORY OF CHAMPAGNE will be available in select theaters and on demand on August 13th . The film is a love letter to the joys and pleasures of champagne. Major champagne houses fe...

This week on the Swirl Suite, we recap our experience at the FLXcursion at Lake Geneva. Glynis and I sat on a panel titled "A Seat at the Table" and Leslie sat on the "Terrior and the Age of the Internet" panel. This was our first conference pst COVID and we have a lot to share. Sarita's Activity Book: www.vinemeupdc.com/the-book Follow The Swirl Suite: @ SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.com Sarita @ Vin...

Nicole is a wine enthusiast and alumni of the Napa Valley Wine Academy. Blessed to be a Bay Area native and true California girl, she cannot imagine a better place to have as her foundation. Also, it's pretty amazing having a world renowned wine region minutes within reach. In 2018 she began to seriously consider her dream of pursuing a career in wine. Several classes and certifications later land...

Thatcher Baker-Briggs has dealt with more revered wines in his young career than most industry types do in a lifetime. Born in a small city in Canada, Thatcher knew from the age of 10 that restaurants were going to be his passion. His professional trajectory boasts key positions in kitchens and dining rooms of some of the most influential restaurants in the world including then three-Michelin star...

Its National Ros Day! Enjoy this 2016 episode, where we dive into different styles of ros, producers and trends. You can also watch this full episode on our YouTube channel . Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/SwirlSuite . See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dr. Nadeen White is a "Travel Blogger by Day, Physician by Night". She has over 20 years of experience practicing medicine & over 8 years of experience as a travel content creator. Her award-winning travel blog- The Sophisticated Life -covers affordable luxury travel, food & wine as well as health and medical topics related to travel. Nadeen is an O, The Oprah Magazine Brand Ambassador, a...

Cofounders Maria Calvert and Lydia Richards met while working in wine public relations at Colangelo & Partners, a well-known agency with offices in New York and California. Calvert, a native of Quito, Ecuador, is currently working as an independent Public Relations Consultant with a focus on startup and established brands in wine and food, while Richards, who hails from Panama, recently starte...

An obsession with stories took Janelle from the corner of her grandmothers couch, buried in a book to newspaper staffs around the country. After graduating from Hampton University in 2004, Janelle covered local government in Chillicothe, Ohio, Shreveport, La. and Roanoke, Va. Eventually Janelle discovered wine and began pairing local food with whatever she was sipping on. In 2021, the #BlackWinest...

This week on the Swirl Suite, we catch up and taste through 2 California sparkling wines. Decoy https://www.decoywines.com/product/decoy-brut-cuvee-sparkling-wine-release20 Sea Smoke https://www.seasmoke.com/#wines Follow The Swirl Suite: @ SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.com SwirlSuite@gmail.com Sarita @ VineMeUp Tanisha @ GirlMeetsGlass Leslie @ Vino301 Glynis @ Vino_Noire Support this show http://sup...

Before turning 30, Westbrook became the Cellar Manager of Alinea Groups NEXT restaurant, and the Beverage Director of the Michelin-starred, Elizabeth restaurant in Chicago. The sommelier was later recognized for his professional contributions by Wine Enthusiast magazine as a 40 Under 40 Tastemaker , becoming the first African-American in the wine industry to grace the publications cover. Today, We...

As Director of Vineyard Operations at Napa Valley-based Cliff Lede Vineyards, Allison Wilson is responsible for overseeing all farming and redevelopment of the winerys three estate vineyards in the Stags Leap District, Carneros, and Calistoga AVAs. She works closely with the internal winemaking team to develop and implement the vineyard departments farming protocols, while also managing all of Cli...

Lauren Cummings began working in restaurants in the Washington, DC area at age 14. She was thrilled to meet Chef Rachael Ray during her senior year of high school, then to meet Chef Emeril Lagasse just after graduation. After earning her BA from The University of Maryland, College Park, Lauren moved to Lima, Peru, where she learned Spanish and worked as a bartender. Lauren returned to the USA to s...

Peter began his adventures in wine as a teenager, suckering and tying vines and driving irrigation tractors during summers in the vineyard where his father grew grapes for Napa Valley wineries. He moved to Budapest, Hungary in 1990, working in the World Bank and USAID programs to privatize the countrys wine industry after the fall of communism. In the four years before returning home to manage the...

Some might call Desiree Noisette a renaissance woman; others may refer to her as a real-life mermaid. Both are true. As the founder of Mermosa Wines, Floridas first Black woman-owned wine company, she brings a unique blend of intelligence and creativity with a splash of mystery and magic to the brand. Desiree has always had a sharp mind for business and finance, so she pursued an undergraduate deg...

Margo Gabriel is a freelance writer from Boston, MA and is based in Lisbon, Portugal. Her writing has been published in Boston Art Review, Cuisine Noir, Edible Boston, Popsugar and Solstice Literary Magazine. Follow Margo: https://www.instagram.com/margoscreativelife/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9lJ6OSitzY&feature=youtu.be Vote for Swirl Suite! tastingdark.com/taste-awardsvieweoice-2021-v...

An industry changemaker and compassionate role model, Tonya Pitts is known globally as a multi-talented wine professional who catapults wineries, winemakers and brands into the mainstream. Equally important, she is a leader who champions diversity and inclusion in the hospitality, food and beverage industries. Tonya is a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and a member of Le...

Kodjo is a Certified Italian Wine Professional and Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador. He is the first person of African descent to qualify as an Italian Wine Ambassador. Kodjo is the founder and sommelier at Africa Wine Club which seeks to bring club members together to explore wine, food, culture, and business across the continent of Africa. Kodjo has also led travel groups t...

On this episode of the Swirl Suite, I talk with power couple, Brenae Royal & Chef Joseph L. Paire III. A dating app brought them together and the rest is a black Hallmark ending. They started a YouTube channel, Chef and Wine Girl to share their connection. These 2 will upgrade your life with fun and educational food and wine pairings. Follow: https://www.instagram.com/chefandwinegirl/ https://...

On this episode of the Swirl Suite, we discuss tariffs, lobbying and wine with friend fo the podcast, Brionna Jimmerson. Follow Bri: https://www.instagram.com/bribookspod/ https://www.instagram.com/brionnajay/ Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @ SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.com Sarita @ VineMeUp Tanisha @ GirlMeetsGlass Leslie @ Vino301 Glynis @ Vino_Noire Articles discussed: https://www.w...

Sabrina Ransom is a professionally trained chef that enjoys teaching others how to expand their palate and make great food with accessibleingredients. As a small business owner she hand blends spices and produces small batch artisansauces to help others accomplish the goal. You can find food inspiration, recipes and shoppable items on her website myforkintheroad.com Follow Sabrina: https://www.ins...

Shakera Jones of BlackGirlsDineToo a lifestyle brand, blog, and social media spaceserves as a guide to the wonderful world of high-end food and wine; a need she identified from her own experiences exploring her passion for food, wine, and culture in this space. Shakera hosts bi-weekly virtual tastings, exploring grape varietals, production, and regions to broaden the palates of her followers throu...

On this episode of the Swirl Suite, we candidly relive the events of January 6, 2021. Luckily we had some great wine to lift our spirits. Wine from we wine from Two Old Dogs. We discuss the nuances of the Saint Helena Sauvignon Blanc, Ros, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Follow Two Old Dogs: https://twoolddogs.com/ https://www.instagram.com/twoolddogscellars/ Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @...

We conclude 2020 with an After Dark episode with Rae Mathis. This conversation is full of twists and turns but full of life. Feel free to watch the unedited version on YouTube. YouTube Link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZa4pg30o18 Follow Rae: https://www.instagram.com/vermillionpearl/ https://twitter.com/vermillionpearl Follow The Swirl Suite: SwirlSuite@gmail.com @ SwirlSuite www.swirlsuite.co...