Kathy Merchant and Amy Neyer, local wine enthusiasts, recently launched their wine education blog,
Vino Ventures. The pair designed the blog to provide a creative environment to share their passion for wine, as well as provide educational content and information about events happening in the area.
“We want to tell stories in a verbal and visual manner,” says Neyer, who has written about wine for the
Cincinnati Enquirer and
CityBeat.
Merchant, the president and CEO of
The Greater Cincinnati Foundation, became interested in wine a business trip to California in the summer of 1994.
“I visited Napa Valley, and it felt like coming home,” she says. After that, she pursued her wine education informally, and then decided to become more serious about it about 10 years ago. She holds a diploma level accreditation from the
Wine and Spirit Education Trust, and is a
Society of Wine Educators Certified Specialist.
Neyer’s love for wine began in 1990, when a friend, who was a great cook, exposed her to different types of wine and food pairings.
“Over time, I visited San Francisco and became more interested in wine, and I met people who were like-minded,” she says. “I learned as much as I could, and decided to take it to the professional level a few years ago.”
Neyer holds an Advanced Certified designation from WSET and like Merchant, is a SWE Certified Specialist in Wine. The pair actually took the exam for that certification together last fall.
“Wine can be intimidating if someone doesn’t take the time to simplify it and make it fun,” says Merchant. “We want to offer that to people through education and our blog.”
Along with their blog, Merchant and Neyer are also launching a new independent credentialed wine education program in the area. Starting in July, they’ll be offering a Level One certification course on behalf of the Cleveland-based
American Wine School.
“We see this as an opportunity to provide something that no one else is doing,” says Neyer. “If people want to learn about wine, there are wine tastings of different forms, which can be fun. But some people want to learn more and immerse themselves more deeply than an hour at a wine store or smaller event. We’re hoping to provide that—an independent perspective that was born out of getting smart about wine. And we’re passionate about getting people to enjoy it and learn more about it.”
The classes will be held at the
Metropolitan Club in Covington, and founders describe them as perfect for wine novices and enthusiasts who are looking for a formal education or a credential in wine. Register for the class
here.
By Caitlin Koenig
Follow Caitlin on Twitter
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