About Me

Welcome to The Academic Wino!

The Academic Wino is a blog dedicated to dissecting current research in enology and viticulture, and provides fascinating insights and thoughts on the current state of research related to wine.  It is my goal to review at least one peer-reviewed article per week related in some aspect to wine, while simultaneously providing entertaining forays into my own experiences with wine.  The articles reviewed will span nearly every aspect of academia: from enology and viticulture, to effects of wine consumption on personal health, to social and psychological effects, and beyond!

How am I qualified to write this blog?

When it comes down to it, I am passionate about wine!  I am by no means a Sommelier, Wine Maker, or Vineyard Management expert, however my knowledge thus far is much greater than the average American wine consumer, and I have a strong thirst for knowledge that will allow me to bring you the most up-to-date and fascinating advances in wine science.

I graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Saint Michael’s College in Colchester, VT.  After a few years, I moved to Charlottesville, VA to pursue graduate school at the University of Virginia.  In May of 2011, I graduated with my Masters Degree in Environmental Sciences.  My Master’s Thesis was entitled: “Ecological and Evolutionary Shifts in Pollen Chemistry and Their Implications for Pollinators”.  This work further strengthened my knowledge and skills in environmental sciences, ecology, and pollen chemistry.  Additionally, I worked for the University of Virginia as a Program Manager for several clinical research trials.

My wine education started unofficially in Boston, MA, when my roommate and I would purchase wine and make observations and notes on which bottles we enjoyed better and why.  Once I moved to Virginia, however, my wine education took off.  In 2008, I started working as a part time Tasting Room Associate for a small winery in Afton, VA, and later for one of the largest wineries in the area.  My exposure to winery owners, sommeliers, wine makers, and other wine/grape experts increased my knowledge of wine making and viticulture tremendously.  After graduate school, I was employed as a Tasting Room Manager of one of the local Afton, VA vineyard/wineries.  I have also taken college courses in enology and viticulture, and independently seek more information and knowledge on wine, wine making and viticulture in my free time.

I hope you will enjoy reading this blog, and hope you will share my site with others whom you think would appreciate a more in-depth education in wine.

Cheers!

-Becca 

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