WHAT A YEAR!
2025 has been the most action-packed, fulfilling, thrilling and challenging year yet. In February, Paul and I got engaged after 10 years together. It set the tone for an incredible year of connection and prioritizing time with our friends & family.
Career-wise, much of the year felt the same as the last few- studying, grinding, growing. Everything changed post-exams over the summer, and I’m looking at a total different landscape now in December. Let’s get into the major highlights of the year, and of course, the wines!
Twinning with vintage Krug
CAREER
Taking both the MS and MW exams- my second year in a row facing down both of these in the same 6 week span. I was not successful at either attempt, which took me some time to process. I’m declaring insanity and readying just for one at a time moving forward!
A major career shift- in November, I left supplier sales to take on a new role with a leading wine merchant to manage their US business. Changing companies was not on my vision board for 2025- and the opportunity came out of left field. In a way, it felt like the exact change I’d been working so hard to attain. I now work in an office 5 days a week and am in the thick of learning a new role. It’s hugely different to what I was doing, and I am loving the opportunity to take on this new challenge.
I continued to educate and mentor throughout the year. I lead tasting groups, taught parts of Diploma and the other WSET levels, flew to NC to help with the Certified Somm exam again, and ultimately leaned into being an active contributing member to my industry.
PERSONAL
Travels- this year just did not stop. Between expanding my region at JFW in the spring which had me traveling a ton for work, I also traveled to the following countries: UK (twice), Turkey, Turks & Caicos, Antigua & Barbuda, Portugal, and Greece.
Health- after exams wrapped in June, I got serious about my health. I realized that if I wanted to be able to continue to perform at the highest level and take on all of the stress that I had been, something had to change. I needed the right systems in place to be able to support my nervous system and brain. Now, I can’t think of a time in my life that I’ve taken better care of myself- I prioritize healthy foods, get 15k steps a day, do Solidcore a few times a week, and make sure I drink plenty of water. The by-products of this focus were that I lost 10 lbs, toned up, and had a blast doing it. I feel a lot better leaving this year than I did going into it.
Friends & family- I spent a lot of time with loved ones near and far this year. I am lucky to have so many great friends in my life, and I feel most aligned and fulfilled when I make time for the people I love. Major highlights for Paul and I- we got engaged, and we got a kitten!
BIGGEST TAKEAWAYS
All systems are a go- so many of my dreams became my reality in 2025. With my foundation stronger than ever, I want to focus on being the absolute best wine professional I can be. I’ll also be continuing to tackle my exams.
Prioritize my people- it’s a big year next year for weddings and travel, and I can’t wait to experience it all.
Physical & mental strength- in a period of so much change, it’s normal to feel pressure and stress. I want to make sure I get plenty of sleep and relaxation in 2026 to ensure I show up daily as my best self.
TLDR: This was the busiest, most fabulous, most challenging, most fulfilling year of my life. Some big dreams didn’t come to fruition, but several bigger dreams did.
THE WINES
I made sure I maintained my love of wine throughout this year. It felt in many ways like the year of Champagne, as I’d often opt for glasses of that over cocktails/beer/anything else available. I got to travel to some new wine regions for me- Madeira, Douro, Peloponnese- as well as teach and learn about most of the world’s finest regions. Here were my top wines (of course, an honorable mention to the 2000 Montrachet & 2003 DRC, but I’ve already written about those!):
Krug 2004- the year that I got to enjoy vintage Krug, and decided to wear a matching suit to a Sushi Nakazawa pairing dinner. Yes, it was epic. Krug just has that something “else” that really mandates attention, and I love it for being the showstopper that it is. The 04 was stunning.
Michel Lefarge Volnay ‘Clos des Chênes’ 1994- birth year Burg! Enjoyed on Christmas Eve. Savory, expressive, with finely wound tannins and a distinct flair.
Quinta do Bomfim 1994- enjoyed at the estate in the Douro, with one of my very best friends whose birth year is also 1994. Very special.
Drémont & Savart Éphémère 026 Blanc de Blancs- in keeping up with last year’s theme, I was an equal opportunist for anything Savart. I tried more of the BDBs this year, and they carry that same depth of fruit ripeness that I love so much about the BDNs, but with the crispness of Chardonnay. Delicious.
Mantinia- I’m not putting a producer for this one, as I enjoyed so many throughout the year and have come to love Moschofilero. I was lucky enough to be invited on a trip to the Peloponnese with Wines of Greece this year, and Mantinia was so beautiful and underrated. These wines smell like Muscat but have a palate closer to Sauvignon Blanc. They’re incredible with anything involving tzatziki.
Vega Sicilia Unico 1996- we enjoyed a whole flight of these wines at seminar at Odney. The ‘96 was opulent and insanely integrated and refined. Clear favorite for many and is in its perfect drinking window. Old school vintage- rich, explosive, menthol, strawberry.
Piper Heidsieck Rare 2008- the year we discovered that Rare came with removable crowns…!
Masseto 2018- we went to dinner to celebrate Paul’s promotion over the summer. The somm sent me a blind- it was Masseto. Incredibly cool experience to have to actually analyze one of the world’s most iconic wines. Yes, I correctly identified it as Merlot ;)
Joseph Colin St Aubin ‘Sur le Sentier du Clou’ 2023- I can never get enough of white Burg. Enjoyed this over a lunch at Humo in London and it’s stuck with me ever since.
Dante Rivetti Barbaresco 1998- Nebbiolo will always be a favorite grape for me. Enjoyed this at Bourbon Steak with some girlfriends and it was a perfect pairing for the steaks, caviar Twinkies, and excellent conversation.
BB&R own-label Champagne- since starting my new role in November, I quickly discovered this super tasty Champagne. Pinot-based from the Mailly Grand Cru, it was perfect in jeroboam for Friendsgiving and in magnum (with engravings) for birthday gifts.
Cardinale 2015- finally visited this estate this year. Gorgeous pairings and views, and utterly indulgent and delicious.
Scenes from Mantinia PDO