About Me
My first exposure to wine came when I was 15 and had the opportunity to live in France as part of a 3-month student exchange. During this time, my entire optic on the world changed. My relationship with food became a celebration of ingredients, seasons, and traditions. I gained an understanding of European culture and how wine was a vital part of every day life. Oh, and I discovered the glorious world of cheese… who knew that there were SO many cheeses out there!!
This formative experience shaped my world view and eventually, after being out of university for a few years, it nudged me in the direction of finding a new career that incorporated three of my favourite things: food, wine and travelling. The decision to move to wine country in Niagara, Ontario cemented my intention and set the wheels in motion to where I am today.
I’ve now been working in the wine business now for nearly 15 years. I’ve been very fortunate over the course of my career to have seen many facets of the industry. From the global wine landscape, to media communications, to portfolio management and procurement, to importation and distribution, to sales. But what truly gets me out of bed in the morning is the opportunity to share stories of the wines and their places with professionals and consumers alike. When I get the opportunity to talk about the wines I love and am truly passionate about, I am fuelled by my own sense of curiosity and need to explore and learn, and my hope is to inspire others to do the same. As a communicator and an educator, I seek to take people on a journey - not only a journey to understand and appreciate the bottle that is in front of them, but also their own personal journey in wine and where they want to go - and I try to do so in a generous, inclusive and honest manner.
What is Cab Franc Chronicles?
Simply put, it is a celebration of the humble Cabernet Franc grape around the world.
I examine the different places where Cabernet Franc shines - from old world sites in the Loire to the new world sites in Canada, the US and beyond.
It is a deep dive into the grape’s versatility and the multitude of wine styles it can produce.
It contains stories of the people who have championed the grape around the world - whether they are the winemakers behind the wines themselves or other wine professionals who have done their own part to spread the good word.
What was once just a mild obsession has turned into my passion project.