Hi Wine Friends,
With Christmas just days away, I wanted to take a moment to sincerely thank you for all the support you’ve given this past year. It's hard to believe I’ve sent one of these out every single week, but here we are--51 newsletters in! What started as an experiment (Would I have enough to say? Would anyone care enough to read it?) has turned into one of my favorite parts of the week. I truly look forward to connecting with you all through our common language of wine, and I’m so touched by the overwhelmingly positive response to this channel.
I'm always curious to hear what topics you enjoy the most. Do you like the vacation reports? Spotlights on specific producers? Tactical tips on pairing or decoding labels? Or maybe lists of favorite producers and styles? If there’s ever a topic you’d like to see more of, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
I’m excited to continue growing this platform and finding new ways to serve you. As always, my mission is to make wine approachable and enjoyable, without the pretense or unnecessary complications. Whether it’s through storytelling, conversations with producers or silly sketch comedy, I hope you enjoy the content we create. If you do, I’d be so grateful if you’d share it with your friends.
A special shoutout to my accomplice in this endeavor: the incredible Dominique Rodriguez! Dom shoots, edits, and schedules all the content you see on the Raise a Glass channel (as well as for Arden), and she’s one of the most talented and wonderful humans I know. Thank you, Dom, for helping make this platform a reality!
And thank you to all of you for watching, reading, and listening as I throw all the wine things your way. I’m here in my holiday PJ’s raising a glass to you and wishing you the warmest of holidays, filled with Christmas spirit and excellent wine.
Cheers and Happy Holidays,
Kelsey
One Last Call on Seven Day Sommelier
If you’re still finishing up your holiday shopping, I’ve got the one-gift-fits-all solution for even the most difficult person on your list: my digital course, Seven Day Sommelier, plus a curated case of wine for a knowledge- and sensory-driven wine learning experience!
The deadline to purchase this offer is Christmas Eve—Tuesday, the 24th. Please note that the cases will be available for pickup or delivery December 27 - 30th.
Many of you have asked which wines are included, so here’s the selection, broken out by module:
Module 1: What Is Wine? An overview of winemaking and an introduction to ‘Old World’ and ‘New World’ styles
- 2019 Bordeaux Blend, Bordeaux, France
- 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon blend, Washington, USA
Module 2: The Major Grapes The major red, white, and grey grapes of the world
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2023 Syrah, Northern Rhône Valley, France
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2022 Vouvray (Chenin Blanc), Loire Valley, France
Module 3: How to Taste A masterclass in blind tasting!
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2021 Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc), Loire Valley, France
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2016 Rioja Reserva (Tempranillo), Rioja, Spain
Module 4: Old World Pt. 1 France & Italy
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2017 Nebbiolo, Piedmont, Italy
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2023 Bourgogne Blanc (Chardonnay), Burgundy, France
Module 5: Old World Pt. 2 Spain, Portugal, Germany, and Austria
- 2017 Dao Tinto (red field blend), Dao, Portugal
- 2021 Riesling Trocken, Mosel Valley, Germany
Module 6: New World The US, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and NZ
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