Susannah at Vino

I am a communications professional with a wide number of specializations, including an in-depth knowledge of wine which I have been imbibing and studying for over 25 years. I started learning about wine when I was young as my Dad and a Sicilian friend made wine in the basement of our house. Since 2006, I am a home winemaker on my 7th vintage. I only make about 40 bottles a year but it’s been a great learning experience and helps in my understanding of the processes of wine.

In addition to offering writing services to clients and writing articles, blog posts and the book I’m working on, I’ve focused much of my time educating both the trade and consumers. I hold various wine certificates from schools around the world including an Italian sommelier certificate from the Associazione Italiana dei Sommeliers (AIS) which I received in Milan and the prestigious Diploma in Wines & Spirits (DipWSET) from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET). I am also certified as an Italian Wine Ambassador from the Vinitaly International Academy, hold the CSW and CSS certifications from the Society of Wine Educators, the Italian Wine Scholar and the French Wine Scholar certificates from the Wine Scholar Guild, a Spanish wine certification from the Spanish Wine Academy and a certification as a Sherry Wine Specialist from the House of Lustau and the Sherry Board. I am currently studying for the Spanish Wine Scholar certificate from the Wine Scholar Guild, among other projects.

During the pandemic, I paired up with Italian chef Silvia Baldini to host an Aperitivo all’Italiano food and wine pairing series for Les Dames d’Escoffier, an organization we are both part of for distinguished women in the food, beverage, and hospitality sectors. I’ve also created a new podcast called Vigneto – A Podcast and am focusing on sustainability for the coming 10 weeks along with a guest host – Sunny Gandara. I also have three series running on Instagram – one about Italian indigenous grape varieties, one on Women in Wine and one called the Pandemic Pivot which focuses on how entrepreneurs have shifted their businesses during this difficult year.

I teach wine classes in a host of different ways, in person and online and am happy to work with you on planning a wine class for your team. I have taught intensive Italian wine classes for the Italian Trade Commission for the past two years focused on all the Italian regions and wine denominations. I have also taught seminars and webinars both for individual wine producers and wine regions both in person and online at various wine schools and at trade and consumer events. In addition to a specialization in Italy, France, Spain and Portugal, I have also had the good fortune to work with Brazilian, Chilean and South African wines, presenting seminars and leading wine tastings of these wine regions and specific producers.

Through my company Vigneto Communication, I promote wine and food products and host events in the U.S. with my team. We do media relations, trade relations, organize events and often help producers to find importers and distribution.
Languages and travel are a huge part of my life and I am fluent in English, Italian, and French, speak Spanish and am now studying Portuguese. I often translate for Italian producers when they come to town if they need my services and have also translated many articles and even a book from Italian to English. I work with clients in all five languages. I am a proud member of Les Dames d’Escoffier’s New York Chapter and am co-Chair of their annual event entitled, “The Next Big Sip.”

I have a master’s degree in International Affairs from the Paul H. Nitze School of International Affairs (SAIS) of Johns Hopkins University and have a certificate in Global Philanthropy from New York University. I earned my undergraduate degree from Colgate University and graduated Phi Beta Kappa, with Magna Cum Laude honors