Why everyone needs a wine concierge for the holidays

If you’re wondering what’s a wine concierge, let me tell you. A wine concierge is an independent wine consultant whose role is to make recommendations, know your preferences, help manage changes to the wine club and make it quick and easy to keep your wine rack, fridge or cellar stocked. They also come in handy when it comes to holiday gifts.

As the holiday season approaches, a wine concierge can help manage your family, friend, and customers' gifts. If you’re ordering ten or more gifts, she can help you process that in one order. Or, if you are planning a couple of gifts, orders can be processed individually.

Scout & Cellar packages its gift sets in a decorative box with a QR Code that’ll take you to a virtual wine tasting with Jon McDaniel, director of product and education at Scout & Cellar. He was Food + Wine Magazine’s Sommelier of the Year, on Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 Tastemakers, and has been knighted in both Piemonte and Verona, Italy.

This takes your gift to a whole new level. You’re not just giving wine; you’re giving a wine-tasting experience with one of the most recognized wine educators and professionals in the United States. Pretty cool, right?

Your wine concierge will keep you in the loop for any wine specials, deliveries, and help resolve any issues on your behalf. She can also help you manage your Scout Circle Wine Club or AutoShip. If you’re curious about the difference, Scout Circle is curated for you and includes shipping, while AutoShip allows you to choose from specific wines. You can schedule monthly, bimonthly, or quarterly and make changes at any time.

I have customers who shoot me a text with their order, so they never have to log in to the website if they don’t want to.

There are approximately 18,000 wine consultants across the United States, and I’d be honored to serve you.

If you’d like more information about becoming a customer or joining as a wine consultant, click this link and fill out the form to request more information.

How a side hustle made me a better employee

Have you ever had those days when your daily tasks became mundane? For me, it was responding to hundreds of guest reviews for three hotels, a spa, and a restaurant and creating content for seven different Facebook pages and three Instagram accounts. After years of doing the same projects every week, it was time for a positive outlet or distraction, so I jumped into a side gig.

When you work a side hustle, through direct selling, social selling, and multi-level marketing or whatever you want to call it, these companies provide many resources and training. And typically, a lot of personal development, such as creating a positive mindset and setting SMART goals. The great thing is that you can implement these skills into your day job.

One of the things I've loved most about Scout & Cellar is the incredible people I’ve met and the resources they’ve provided. For example, our annual meeting called AMP, is all about amplifying your business. AMP stands for Amplify, Motivate and Pave. In 2020, they brought in Robin Arzon, a coach from Peloton, who shared her story and her life's challenges, and it was truly inspirational. In 2021, our virtual meeting featured one of my favorite authors Mel Robbins. And although the conference was virtual, she resonated with me about all the things you would use in your social selling or network marketing business to help you grow as a person. Mel’s talk focused on building confidence, taking risks, and getting out of your comfort zone to grow. While I didn't get to snag a picture with Mel Robbins since it was a virtual event, I did get a picture the previous year with our CEO/Founder Sarah Shadonix in 2020 which was pretty amazing.

My marketing communications job gave me a lot of speaking skills and presentation skills. But I’m innately shy, so empowering me to set and reach my business goals has allowed me to grow further. And, of course, when it’s your business and you’re in control - it’s entirely different.

My partners in wine include a former engineer, an office manager, and a fitness instructor. I've also met doctors, lawyers, nurse practitioners, realtors, and accountants that work in this business. I think it's fun for them to do something very different than what they do in their day job.

Of course, you get out of this business what you put into it. And for me, I genuinely enjoy meeting new people, making new friends, and the opportunity to share these delicious wines and educate people about what they may find in mass-produced or commercially farmed wines. I also love that our company is all about the environment. Even our wine bottles are lighter weight, and everything that comes in your box is recyclable. Plus, the supplemental income is a nice perk as gas prices and groceries go up.

So if you'd like to find a way to grow outside of your day job by doing something fun and exciting on the side then click this link and fill out my form to request more information and we can chat soon. Cheers to growing personally and professionally and my favorite lesson for Mel Robbins - 5-4-3-2-1.

How to Travel with Wine

One of my hats is an independent wine consultant and, as you can guess, wine is typically part of my travel. One of the perks of this job is sharing my favorite wines when I travel with family and friends and bringing back wine to enjoy at home.

According to the FAA, it’s all about the alcohol content! So lucky for you, wine is lower than spirits.

Alcohol less than 24% alcohol by volume (ABV) or 48 proof, like wine:

• For your carry-on, you are limited to containers of 3.4oz or less that can fit comfortably in one quart-sized, clear, zip-top bag. If it’s overflowing from the bag, that isn’t comfortable. But, honestly, who wants to fool with that.

• For checked bags, there is no limit! I wish this were true when I was in college. Domestically, I have checked six bottles of wine for a trip to visit family. I’m sure you understand. But, if you’re traveling internationally, you’ll want to check. When I went to Italy, I was able to bring back two bottles in my checked luggage.

Here are my essential tools for traveling with wine.

Don’t you remember the days of wrapping up your wine in clothes or a hotel towel and keeping your fingers crossed it will make it back on the flight unscathed? Well, things have come a long way.

Wine Wings

Let me say - 4 Pack Wine Wings Reusable Bottle Protector Sleeve Travel Bag Luggage Leak Safe. Yes, these things work. You won’t have to hassle with wrapping your wine in clothes and saying a prayer beforehand. No one wants red wine to ruin their dress for the wedding you’re attending.

Wine Carrier

If you’re taking a road trip, Wine Enthusiast 6-Bottle Wine Bag - Waxed Canvas Weekend Wine Carrier is reasonably priced and will carry six bottles. It has thick thermal insulation and includes a reusable ice pack that keeps pre-chilled wine cool during transport for a picnic or a weekend getaway.

And, just in case…

Wine Opener

My favorite is the Hicoup Wine Opener. Remember, don’t bring this in your carry-on. Instead, pack this in your luggage. You never know if the hotel has a crappy wine opener.

Red Wine Stain Remover

You never know… Chateau Spill Red Wine Stain Remover is something to keep in your purse, but check it when traveling.

There are my favorite essentials for traveling with wine. If you’re interested in learning more about being a wine consultant, let’s connect. Find me on Instagram and request more information on my wine link.

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