Once upon a time, there was this college professor in Virginia who had a defining wine moment in 2008 with a bottle of 2005 Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyards Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. She began drinking wine regularly, enjoying it, and talking about it. In 2010, she started participating in virtual wine tastings, but it wasn’t enough. She decided on June 16, 2011 to create a blog called Traveling Wine Chick. She had no idea what she was doing back then, but today, after a career loss, three WSET wine courses, multiple part-time jobs involving wine and travel, and a huge move from the East to the West Coast, leaving behind friends and family, this little blog celebrates three years and its creator now has a full-time job in the wine business at the aforementioned winery in Napa Valley. Who’da thunk it?
Therefore, it is with short version of my story that I’d like thank everyone who has supported and followed my journey. I wouldn’t be where I am without you.
Elizabeth Smith is a French and Spanish professor turned wine and travel professional. In 2013, her part-time role as executive assistant to a wine broker and importer became her stepping stone into the wine business. In January 2014, she moved from Virginia to the Napa Valley to begin her second career. Her wine industry experience includes wine club membership management, direct-to-consumer sales, and social media marketing. Elizabeth holds a doctoral degree in community college and foreign language education from George Mason University as well as Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s advanced wine certification. She has written about wine and wine destination travel for various media outlets such as American Winery Guide, Basil & Salt Magazine, Plum Deluxe, Snooth, The SOMM Journal, Wine Industry Network Advisor, and her own website. Elizabeth won the 2017 Born Digital Wine Award for Best Tourism Content with a Focus on Wine for her piece entitled, “Lodi: Beyond the Zinfandel.”
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4 thoughts on “With Love and Gratitude”
Congratulations Beth! That’s what I’d call “full circle” and I have a feeling that when all is said and done that you wouldn’t have changed a thing. You seemed to have blossomed my friend; now as for Einstein….well, Einstein is just happy and content; must be something in the air. Again, Congratulations, it’s been a ride!
Thank you so much. I call my journey unexpected survival that turned out to be better than expected. Looking forward to meeting you at WBC14. Want to try a Conn Valley wine? If so, I’ll bring one. Cheers!
Congratulations Beth! That’s what I’d call “full circle” and I have a feeling that when all is said and done that you wouldn’t have changed a thing. You seemed to have blossomed my friend; now as for Einstein….well, Einstein is just happy and content; must be something in the air. Again, Congratulations, it’s been a ride!
Thank you! I hope there is still some circle left here in California for me to enjoy! And yes, Einstein seems very fond of California air. 😉
Ah, no, thank you! You have been an inspiration to me–I hope someday to follow a similar path!
Thank you so much. I call my journey unexpected survival that turned out to be better than expected. Looking forward to meeting you at WBC14. Want to try a Conn Valley wine? If so, I’ll bring one. Cheers!