Joining the USA Wine Tasting Team has been one of the most humbling, hilarious, and eye-opening experiences of my career. The pros are obvious: connecting with some of the coolest people in the industry, learning from insanely talented tasters, and gaining insights from professionals I deeply admire. Every session feels like both a masterclass and a celebration of why I love wine in the first place.
The challenges? Well, they’ve been a little more personal. This experience has a way of holding up a mirror to your strengths and weaknesses. It forces you to ask hard questions: Where am I solid? Where do I wobble? And—most importantly—what’s my plan to shore up those wobbles so I can bring my best self to the team? It’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying.
One of the biggest learning moments for me has been realizing that we’ve turned what is traditionally a “solo sport” into a true “team sport.” Blind tasting has always been an individual pursuit—you and the glass. Now, it’s about us. I have to be sharp in my tasting, theory, and communication, but I also need to listen, trust, and collaborate. That last part? Way harder than it sounds. But also way more rewarding.
What’s wild is how much this collaboration expands the experience. Alone, you can get pretty far. But together? The nuance, the debate, the moments of “Ohhh, I didn’t see that until you said it” are pure magic. It’s changed not just the way I taste but the way I think and connect—with wine and with people.
I can’t fully describe all the subtle and big ways this team has pushed me to grow—not just as a taster, but as a professional and as a human. Hopefully, I’ve been able to offer something back to my teammates along the way. If nothing else, we’ve learned to laugh, stay humble, and raise a glass to the joy (and challenge) of doing this together.
