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 native of Asheville, North Carolina. She is a Virginia community college French and Spanish professor turned California wine industry professional turned financial relationship manager. Her experience includes relationship and membership management, direct-to-consumer sales, freelance writing, social media marketing, travel management, and community college education. Elizabeth holds a doctoral degree in community college and foreign language education from George Mason University, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in French from The University of Tennessee – Knoxville and Western Carolina University, and Wine & Spirit Education Trust’s advanced wine certification. 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. As a previous winner, she served as a judge for the 2018 Born Digital Wine Awards. Elizabeth’s passions include travel, tourism, craft beverages, food, and fitness. She is always on the move to new destinations and loves discovering inspirational stories and places to share.
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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!