My Journey into Wine

From a young age, growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, my mom had a “Nice Day Rule” – where, any day that was nice enough to spend outside, was spent exploring the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, building forts in the woods, or searching streams for salamanders and frogs. The cold winters and heavy snows didn’t keep me and my siblings inside – building snow forts and carving paths on sledding hills kept us warm and busy. Boredom was non-existent – a bit of imagination and creativity made games and fun out of everything. This upbringing – outside, appreciating nature – laid the foundation to pursue a life studying the mysteries of the world around us.

​

University of South Florida opened opportunities a many resulting in spending almost two years bouncing between majors until I found myself sitting in Prof. Mike Zawarotko’s inorganic chemistry class. This class introduced me to his area of research – developing functional porous materials and adsorbents to capture carbon dioxide. This class opened the door for me dive into research materials to combat the energy and climate crises – preserving and remediating the world I grew up in for future generations.

​

The next turn in my journey led me back to Cleveland, Ohio, and Case Western Reserve University. There, under the guidance of Prof. Thomas Gray, I studied the redox and photophysical properties of various organogold and organoboron species for a variety of applications. At Case, beyond chemistry, I learned the value of methodical approaches to science – quality science arises from quality questions constructed upon deep, fundamental understandings. 

​

While the wet chemistry lab may help solve individual problems and crises, no crisis is small without scientifically literate world citizens. Without a scientifically literate society, solving future, unknown crises becomes an insurmountable obstacle. With this understanding, and guidance from mentors such as Prof. Santiago Sandi-Urena, Dr. Philip Bishop, and Prof. Manoug Manougian, I journeyed down the path of developing the next generation of scientists by studying how students learn science and chemistry and then implementing modern curricula and pedagogy in science classrooms.

​

These research opportunities gave me experience with a wide-breadth of research ranging from materials chemistry, synthetic organometallic chemistry, and qualitative and mixed-methods research in secondary and post-secondary education. These experiences taught me how to develop expertise in new areas quickly and apply my experiences in new situations. My experience in education and educational research equipped me with unique tools and understandings about the interface between humans and science.

​

Working my first harvest at Realm Cellars in 2022 sparked a passion for wine that changed my perspective entirely. The high-energy pace of the cellar, and the meticulous processes of transforming juice into wine highlighted how craft, science, and art converge in winemaking. For me, shifting from lab-scale work in grams to managing tons underscored the impact of every detail—temperature adjustments, oxygen exposure, and precisely timed additions to refine acidity. I quickly realized that while the work is demanding and physically intense, it’s driven by an infectious and passionate spirit. By the end of the harvest, I was hooked, filled with excitement and a deeper respect for the collaborative effort behind every bottle.

​

My time at Ovid was a truly formative experience that expanded my passion for winemaking in countless ways. The mentorship I received there helped shape nearly everything I know about the craft, from understanding the nuances of grape development to mastering cellar techniques. One of the most valuable parts of my role was splitting my time between sampling and monitoring the vineyard and carrying out the careful work in the cellar. Witnessing the entire lifecycle of the grape—from its ripening on the vine to its transformation in the winery—instilled in me a deep respect for the detail-oriented nature of this industry. The team’s guidance and commitment to excellence were constant motivators, and it was their supportive environment that pushed me to refine my skills and truly appreciate the art and science behind every bottle of wine.