Cristie Norman
Persistence pays off – or so we’re told. The one thing the platitude leaves out, however, is just how hard it is to be persistent. For Cristie Norman, a certified sommelier and entrepreneur, the fight to earn her credibility in the wine world started at age nineteen. She’s persevered through multiple challenges ever since. “I was terrified […]
Samantha Capaldi
You know those corny motivational posters that hang in classrooms and offices? The ones with the eagle soaring majestically over the Canadian Rockies or the cat hanging from the tree branch with some lame caption about hanging in there below it? Those things don’t really do it for me when I want to get jazzed […]
Summer Altice
The Beatles sang about the long and winding road leading to a mysterious lover’s door. The Eagles sang about the ups and downs of life in the fast lane. For our guest today, Summer Altice, her journey into the world of fine wine has had a little of both. A collegiate volleyball standout, Summer’s used […]
Prospecting for Volcanic Wines in Napa Valley
Even in January, the sharp mid-winter sun still casts warm light across the valley, first awakening the Mayacamas Mountains with its gentler morning rays before turning its attention towards the Vaca Mountains with its more energetic afternoon glare. Cheerful yellow mustard flowers light up the neat vineyard rows, as though to signal to the vines […]
Alberto Aguayo
The connection between old and new is fundamental to any tradition, and the world of wine is no different. As Monarch explores the things that connect people to one another through wine, we’re gaining an understanding of how some of the old world conventions are mingling with the newer generations’ contributions. And there’s no better place to […]