Tell us a bit about yourself. Why are you a wine geek?
The name is Rhynita. You may call me Rhy (Rye) like the whisky. I’ve been called many things but wine geek is my favorite one so far. I can’t help it if my eyes widen, end of lips curl upward, and ears wiggle at the sound wine speak. An open bottle brings new conversation which typically brings new information. And maybe I’m just nosey but I love a good story set in historical regions, filled with drama, triumph and booze. The stories that come about after the bottle are also very intriguing.
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Extraterrestrials just landed on earth. What wine do you pour them?
Chateauneuf Du Pape, 2016
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What's your favorite scent you have ever smelled in a wine?
Anytime I can pick out a floral scent in a wine I am very pleased. Jasmine, Lavender, Orange, Honeysuckle are all flowers I don’t think I’ve ever even held in my hand but their aromas are so unmistakable. I happy I am able to connect these scents to wines from certain regions. Perhaps I’ll stop and smell some actual flowers one day.
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Any favorite music or podcasts you like to listen to while you drink wine?
OH YES!
Scene 1: Friday night, ready for the weekend, Pop a bottle of bubbly and turn on some dancing music. Soca music is lively, enticing, and a guaranteed good vibe. Perfect match for bouncy bubbles.
Scene 2: Lazy Sunday afternoon, laying outside in the hammock with some chilled white wine reading about wine and war.
Wine & War: The French, The Nazis, and the battle for France’s greatest treasure.
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If you could visit any wine region in the world right now what would it be any why?
Well this is a tough question.. My first thought was Champagne but as I thought about it more I think I would love to visit the extreme slopes of Argentina. Though I am afraid of heights I think it’s fascinating that they can cultivate and produce great wines at that altitude, temperatures.
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What do you think is the most exciting thing going in the world of wine right now?
I find the most exciting thing happening in wine right now is finding all these other wine geeks. The ones who make shitty wine memes, the ones who pair wine with their traditional black cuisine, the ones who talk about wine and hip hop, the ones who teach and are still learning, and the ones who look like me that I didn’t know were out there. There is space for everyone and I am so excited to be able to find and interact with them
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What would you like to see in the future of wine?
More experimentation. Canned wines, crazy blends, growing traditional grapes in non-traditional regions, more hip hop wineries, more spaces in general that feel relaxed, inviting, and educational and not domineering to newcomers.
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What advice would you give yourself looking back to when you first started working in the wine industry?
Find a mentor, find a wine tribe, and record everything in a wine journal. The journal is important because there is so much to remember and a lot of it will be specific to your taste. It’s best to work off of your experience and knowledge of wines you’ve tasted and then confer with others. Otherwise you might just end up agreeing with everyone and that stalls the conversations and education.
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Who are some people that inspire you in the world of wine?
I don’t have any specifics but anyone who is able to express their love and passion for wine in their own unique way. Mostly the people now starting to make wine are the most inspiring and fun to watch grow. They make blue champagne now!! The new world of wine will include innovators like never before.
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Anything in the works you'd like to mention or promote?
Of course! For those looking to start your wine journey today, you must check out Black_Somms on Youtube and Instagram
For a private in home or virtual tasting email FoxDenBim@gmail.com IG is @Foxdenbim