Welcome to the Wine Geek of the Week
Where I ask my favorite wine geeks shitty questions!
Where I ask my favorite wine geeks shitty questions!
This week's guest is Ray Sholes @theroyalvines
Tell us a bit about yourself. Why are you a wine geek?
I think I'm a wine geek although I'm not sure if anyone would call me that... I just get really excited to share knowledge that I have about wine, in an entertaining way, pretty sure it's my calling
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Okay, so I would offer them Riesling or Chenin Blanc because I can switch up the style who knows maybe they love the stickies or like really off dry styles..... maybe they like bubbles. Whatever they want as long as there is no anal-probing
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What's your favorite scent you have ever smelled in a wine?
Gasoline lmao...... because it everyone knows what gasoline smells like so everyone can pick up on it. Close second is honeysuckles and florals. Love me some terpenes.
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Any favorite music or podcasts you like to listen to while you drink wine?
Honestly I am so captivated by the wine and the people that I am sharing a good wine with I don't hear anything else, but if I had to choose softly played 90's R&B.
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If you could visit any wine region in the world right now what would it be any why?
I really want to visit Portugal. I have not spent a whole lot of time studying it, and I could really spend some time there working and learning from the people.
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What do you think is the most exciting thing going in the world of wine right now?
The most exciting thing sorry to say is how The Court of Master Sommeliers is getting their asses handed to them left and right. They are not catching a break, and I think for them to pull through and be the organization they think they are they are going to make some really radical changes. I mean totally gut and rebuild.
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What would you like to see in the future of wine?
I would like to just see more inclusion of BIPOC!
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What advice would you give yourself looking back to when you first started working in the wine industry?
You know more than you think, study more and drink more and don't be afraid to fail.
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Who are some people that inspire you in the world of wine?
George Walker III, Tahiirah Habibi, shittywinememes, Amanda Fraga, DLynn Proctor, James Tidwell MS, Chasity Cooper, Jermaine Stone, Phil Long, Theodora Lee
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Anything in the works you'd like to mention or promote?
Royal Vines Merch is ready - TheRoyalVines.com/merch
Black Owned Wine Reviews on youtube channel
All links are in my bio on Instagram! @theroyalvines