Wine With Lisa

How did you start Wine with Lisa?

As far back as I can remember, our kitchen was filled with aromas of Italian Red Sauce on Sunday mornings when I would help my father prepare traditional family dishes. Our cabinets were lined with large jars of olives, capers, rich olive oil, Italian cookies and cannolis from Central Grocery in New Orleans. This is when my love for food and wine was born but for many years it just simmered under the surface.

This crazy, wonderful mixture of Sicilian Heritage, Louisiana Cajun and Mississippi Delta taught me to live my life out loud. My love for food and wine has been an integral part of my life from the beginning but my first calling was to get a degree in Pharmacy. I spent many years helping people improve their health but when I was not working I was known for my flair for casual gourmet cooking and wine pairing parties.

After a move to the Texas Hill Country right outside of Austin, my passion for grapes and wine was ignited to a new level.  Not only did I have great friends to cook fabulous food with, I had wineries and vineyards around our area. We spent many evenings sipping wine at sunset on those gorgeous vineyards, participated in wine education and events and even participated in a Grape Stomp that was photographed for a Texas magazine. (picture on the right)

I knew then that I wanted to learn as much as I could about wine and help others have this same passion for combining delicious food with the right wines. In order to have a solid foundation of wine expertise I earned a WSET Intermediate Certification and I am currently studying for my Advanced certification.

Now that I have discovered my “inner wine spirit” I have decided that wine will be my “second act” career. I am on a mission to help others embark on an adventure with food and wine to experience that same joy I do from great pairings.

For many people this adventure may begin as strolling through the sometimes overwhelming rows of corked bottles at a wine store.  I want to make choosing a great wine easy and fun. Knowing about the grape and where it comes from often makes it easier to decide which pairs best with your special event whether it’s a themed dinner with friends or enjoying a glass relaxing on the deck or under the trees at dusk listening to music.

For others this adventure may include working with me to host wine dinners & pairing events with friends. At these pairing events my client would learn essential information such as how to distinguish between a California Pinot Noir, Oregon Pinot Noir and French Burgundy, for example. Knowing this will make a huge difference when pairing with food.

Each grape, like each of us, has a story to tell. Where it comes from, how it is grown, the climate, the soil all give the grape its unique identity. In the wine world we call this terroir or how a grape expresses its place. My life adventures have given me my own unique story share and of course you have one too. Please join me on an adventure to learn the story of the grape and in the process you just might find a story of your own.