All About Vino Del Vida
“Wine of life!” — That’s our motto around here. Wine is life. There’s nothing quite like a glass of crisp pinot gris on a warm summer day or relaxing with a merlot around a fire. Wine is a gift from the gods that keeps on giving and we’re here to enjoy every last drop. Don’t you agree?
Our Mission at Vino Del Vida
We live and breathe wine. Ok, maybe not literally, but we sure do drink a lot of it.
We’ve made it our mission here at Vino Del Vida to help you discover, enjoy, and savor every beautiful bottle of wine, no matter the region or variety, at every price point. We’re here to guide you toward finding your favorite bottle of wine. And once we’ve done that we’ll help you find your next favorite!
We believe that wine should be fun, and not intimidating, and learning about wine should feel like exploration, not homework. You could dedicate your entire life to studying wine and still not learn everything there is to know, and that’s ok! That’s why we created Vino Del Vida to help you get to the good stuff and answer the questions you really want to know — namely, will I like this wine?
We think that the world of wine is a fascinating place and that there’s plenty of room for everyone who wishes to learn more. Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive red to enjoy with dinner or want to take a deep dive into the wine regions of the Middle East, we want you to feel welcome here.
What We Do
We aim to make wine buying easy for everyone. Anyone can enjoy a beautiful bottle of vino, no matter your preference, budget, or location. You don’t have to travel to Spain, Italy, or France to uncork greatness anytime, anywhere. We’re here to help you find your next favorite bottle so that you can swirl and sip (or even gulp, we don’t judge) to your heart’s content.
We provide guides to help you discover the best bottles a particular region or varietal has to offer. We’ll give you a breakdown of all the information you should know about that region or grape, including what to look for in those wines and what they taste like. Of course, we’ll also be sure to recommend some of our favorites from each category!
Our food and wine pairing guides are the first place, you should turn when planning to host a dinner party or picking up a bottle of wine to bring to a friend’s. We’ll teach you how to choose the perfect wine to complement a particular dish or cuisine, and talk you through what makes them go so well together!
Finally, whether we’re trying out the newest wine subscription service or searching for the best corkscrew, we’ll test each product and provide you with honest, in-depth reviews so that you can make an informed decision as to whether or not it’s right for you.
Why Vino Del Vida?
Unlike other wine sites, we don’t have any affiliation with any brand or company, which means we can choose the wines we personally like best to recommend. That means you can trust our opinions to be unbiased, giving you real information based on real experiences.
Our writers are just like you. They have their own preferences and they love wine. They’ve worked in the wine industry and studied wine, but they don’t know everything — no one does! There’s no need to gatekeep when there’s room for everyone to learn about and enjoy wine. Our writers strive to share their knowledge in a way that’s unpretentious and easy to understand.
We know that taste is subjective, which is why we aim to always provide you with an in-depth and honest review of what we’re tasting. What’s right for some people may not be right for others, and we keep that in mind with each wine we recommend.
We not only review specific wine varieties very thoroughly, but we also compare these types of wine with each other so that you can make better decisions based on what you already know you like. You can come to our pages to find out everything you’d ever want to know about the history of your favorite wine, where it came from, and fun facts you never knew.
How This Works
Here at Vino Del Vida, we only hire true wine experts. Our team knows how to thoughtfully taste a wine and provide you with a comprehensive, thorough review of the product. We bring our expertise to make other wine recommendations so that you can find the perfect bottle for your individual needs!
We look through all of the newest releases and fan favorites to try for ourselves. We try every wine and record our experience to share with you. Our team combines their passion for writing with their love of wine to bring you the most informative guides and honest recommendations.
Our team of editors checks every article to make sure it meets our quality standards. They make sure that all of the information is accurate and factual, and that the article is easy to read and looks beautiful.
Next is where you come in. We value the feedback provided by our readers. It allows us to grow and create better content. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions, advice, or suggestions for how we can improve. We look forward to hearing from you!
Our Values
Authenticity
We are a team of real wine drinkers bringing you real wine reviews and selections. Our contributors are serious wine lovers and have field-tested their selections (tough job, right?).
Accessibility
You don’t need to become a professional sommelier to buy an amazing bottle. We will always give you a selection suited for any palate that you can find and purchase on any budget.
Passion
We are passionate about wine and bring that joy to every word we write.
Our Core Values
- Patience
- Honesty
- Curiosity
- Balance
- Creativity
- Exploration
Our Panel Of Wine Experts
Amy Dunn – Wine Palate Coach
After graduating from the University of Bath, England, having read International Management and Spanish, Amy made the move to London where she spent a few years stint working for various well-regarded wine establishments; on trade, off-trade, and market research, and where she undertook the holy-grail of exams the WSET qualifications. Her favorite grape is pinot noir for its sassiness and her favorite wine region to date is Lebanon for its history, authenticity, and potential. Find her on Facebook
Damian Pinon – Wine Businessman
Damian is a true wine connoisseur who was born and raised in Mendoza. He has traveled around almost all Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay learning about the wine culture of the country from direct and personal contact with winery owners.
At present, he is involved in two personal projects: starting a wine club in the United States with unique Uruguayan and Argentinian wines only made for the local market, and starting his own vineyard for making high-quality wine in his new home, Uruguay, in order to get a first-hand experience of the wine-making process and gain in-depth knowledge of the wine production to share with his/her customers.
Our Contributors
Lauren Vigdor
Lauren is a creative writer and hospitality professional with more than thirteen years of experience in the food and beverage industry. She has worked as a beverage director, bar manager, and consultant specializing in cocktail/menu development, bar staff training, and food/beverage writing.
She was responsible for curating the wine lists at several bars and, as a result, has had the opportunity to taste hundreds of wines from all over the world!
Her book, “Drink Like a Bartender,” was written as a guide to help novice drinkers navigate the beverage world and was rated one of the “Best Bar Books of 2017” by Forbes. She thinks wine should be unpretentious and loves to help people discover their next favorite bottle!
Why am I giving advice on Vino Del Vida?
I love wine and have been lucky enough to try hundreds of wines from all over the world. I think that wine drinking should be fun and unpretentious, and I love sharing my knowledge with others!
Where was the first wine you ever tried?
What’s your all-time favorite bottle of wine?
My friends and I also used to eagerly await the season’s drop of Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina each year like we were waiting for Beyoncé tickets!
What wine have you always wanted to try?
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone getting ready to buy their first bottle of wine?
Also, if you’re looking for a wine to pair with food, remember: what grows together, goes together. Look for a wine from the same region as the cuisine you’ll be making!
Thea Engst – Beverage Consultant and Hospitality Professional
Thea is a creative writer, beverage consultant, and social media guru with eleven years of experience in the hospitality industry.
She is the author of three books, Spirits of the Tarot, Nectar of the Gods, and Drink Like a Bartender. The latter was rated one of the Best Booze Books of 2017 by Forbes Magazine.
She’s constantly learning about wine and loves passing on her knowledge in a way that’s both helpful and easy to understand.
Why am I giving advice on Vino Del Vida?
I love wine, learning more about it, and helping others learn too!
Where was the first wine you ever tried?
My Nana is a Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc drinker. She always let me taste anything she was eating or drinking so I’d guess one of those two.
What’s your all-time favorite bottle of wine?
This is so tough! I can’t get enough of the Queen of the Sierra red blend or Mataro Papi both from Forlorn Hope. I also love all things Broc Cellar and Orin Swift and almost anything from France.
What wine have you always wanted to try?
I’ve never tried a Susucaru and I feel like I need to.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone getting ready to buy their first bottle of wine?
You don’t need to break the bank to get something good.
Erin Jamieson – Self-Proclaimed Oenophile
Erin Jamieson brings the latest information to you on wine flavors and types so you can enjoy your next glass to the fullest. In the past, she covered wine selections for weddings and engagement parties. She also previously worked with a private chef company to suggest the perfect wine pairings and believes there is a flavor for every occasion.
Why am I giving advice on Vino Del Vida?
I’ve always been fascinated by the wine industry, and that passion only grew from my studies of French culture. A lot of my passion also comes from working in the food industry and spending time with my uncle, who’s always trying a new variety. I am advising because, for me, wine is more than just the flavor. Wine is a way to connect with others and with other cultures.
Where was the first wine you ever tried?
I tried a glass of Barefoot Cellars Chardonnay. While I prefer red wine and wines from around the world, it was a pleasant introduction.
What’s your all-time favorite bottle of wine?
I suspect I have yet to taste my favorite bottle of wine. However, I have a strong appreciation for French red wines from Jean Foillard.
What wine have you always wanted to try?
I’ve always wanted to try Italian Malbec from the Gaja winery.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone getting ready to buy their first bottle of wine?
Sometimes it takes a while to discover what type of wine you like. It’s helpful to take a flavor quiz. That said, be open to trying a few types of wine. You might be surprised if you take a risk.
Kathryn Loveless – Connoisseur of Wine
Kathryn Loveless fell in love with wine after her first sip. She loves the entire experience that comes with wine. Her brain always feels stimulated because of the difference sights, tastes, smells, and smoothness that comes from different wines. Now, she’s dedicating herself to helping other people have the same experiences!
Why am I giving advice on Vino Del Vida?
There are so many different reasons why I love wine. And while it may be selfish, I want other people to live wine for the same reasons I do too! So, I want to help other people learn how to fall in love with wine.
Where was the first wine you ever tried?
I tried a glass of Zinfandel at my parent’s wedding anniversary!
What’s your all-time favorite bottle of wine?
I fell in love with 1962 Penfolds Bin 60A! It’s fine Australian wine.
What wine have you always wanted to try?
I really want to try a 1978 Montrachet Domaine de la Romanee-Conti.
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone getting ready to buy their first bottle of wine?
Pair your meal with your first glass of wine. I always love recommending Zinfandels to anyone who hasn’t tried wine before. Grill up something yummy on the grill, pour yourself a glass, and you’ll be amazed!
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Lauren Staehle – Traveling Wine Enthusiast
Lauren loves to travel and she loves wine. What better thing could she do with her life than to combine her two passions? So far, her favorite destinations have been Ios, Greece, and Paris, France where she enjoyed some of the best bottles of vino around and she looks forward to traversing more of the globe with friends and family. She loves that she can always crack up a bottle of wine that she picked up from a country she just traveled to. It’s like she’s able to travel back to the place she just visited, all with a small sip of wine!
Why am I giving advice on Vino Del Vida?
Wine tastes good with so many different foods and is even beneficial to your health. A lot of people think they don’t like wine, but I think everyone is capable of liking wine. I think that people who do think they don’t like wine haven’t had a good glass. And that’s what I want to help people find, their favorite glass of wine!
Where was the first wine you ever tried?
I don’t remember, it was a red wine at a family dinner. My mom let me have a little taste!
What’s your all-time favorite bottle of wine?
The 2010 Chateau Lafite Rothschild Pauillac was amazing! This was also the fanciest wine I’ve ever tried.
What wine have you always wanted to try?
I wouldn’t say I’ve always wanted to try it, but I’ve found it recently and it’s really piqued my interest. The Blumond Blue Bubbly is a wine I want to try!
What’s one piece of advice you’d like to give to someone getting ready to buy their first bottle of wine?
Don’t be afraid to experiment! Just because you don’t like one type of wine, doesn’t mean you don’t like wine. I would recommend going to a wine tasting if possible, because it’ll give you a whole lot of wines to try!
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