Today we’d like to introduce you to Kellie Martin.
Hi Kellie, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I can remember the first glass of wine I ever had.
Despite my best attempts with earbuds, eye masks, blankets, and travel pillows, sleeping on red-eye flights has always eluded me. This day was no exception.
The summer after my freshman year in college, I arrived in Paris. It would have been an understatement to say that I knew nothing about wine. I knew there was white and red, but that was about it.
Tired and bleary-eyed, a friend and I managed to navigate our way through the Charles de Gaulle airport and make it to a nearby café. I sat my achy body down relieved and ready to be swept off my feet by the romance of the renowned lover, Paris.
Instead of butterflies though, anxiety filled my stomach as the waiter dropped an encyclopedia in front of me: the menu. Did I mention I don’t speak French?
Taking a deep breath, I flipped the book open and attempted to decipher what meant chicken and what meant snails. As if this wasn’t enough to handle zero minutes of sleep, he then came back over and dropped off another volume of Britannica: the wine menu.
Now, I was underwater. Not only did I not speak French, but I certainly didn’t know any of these wine terms in English much less a foreign language. Completely lost, I’d decided I would just point to an item on each and hope for the best.
Just then, my friend piped up. “Want me to order the wine?” “Sure,” I said, relieved I could just get back to trying to decipher which one was the chicken.
When the wine came to the table a few minutes later, it wasn’t anything like what I had been expecting. I was expecting something harsh and bitter that I was going to have to pretend to like. But this was different.
It was light and bright and sweet and delicious. And while the glass itself was amazing, what made the experience was my friend. She smiled and began to explain to me why she ordered what she did. She taught me about different styles and regions and types like the dessert wine in front of me.
She explained to me about people’s palates and preferences and the journey that starts with one sip and leads to more and more worlds being opened to you with each new glass. It was at this moment I realized wine could be so much more.
It could open up countries far away, history of long ago, and cultures yet to be experienced. And all I needed was someone to show me the way. SommSchool was started to do just that – show people the way to wine confidence one glass at a time.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Running my own business has presented many challenges.
The most significant one was realizing how much of my time would be spent doing “everything else” that goes into a business versus teaching about wine: the billing, marketing, legal work, social media, etc.
As you know, we’re big fans of SommSchool. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
SommSchool is a woman-owned business that specializes in creating dynamic virtual team building and client appreciation events, fun and interactive virtual wine classes, and wine retreats abroad.
Led by Chief Sommelier Kellie Martin, Kellie has over a decade of experience crafting world-class experiences for wineries such as Duckhorn Vineyards, William Hill Estate, and MacMurray Estate Vineyards and for events including Super Bowl 50, Savor Big Sky, and Vail and Park City Wine Classics.
At SommSchool, we believe in an authentic community in which everyone is invited to the table to confidently raise their glass.
Join us for a virtual public wine class soon or book a private wine class to enjoy with friends and family. And if you want the ultimate wine experience, travel with us to Portugal this September for the trip of a lifetime!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
Covid transformed my business from a local, in-person model to a national, virtual model. Today, we work with clients all over the country (and the world!) in a way that we would never have imagined before.
Pricing:
- Grab a seat in an upcoming public virtual wine class for just $30.
- Take your wine confidence to the next level with exclusive monthly classes and wine buying know-how for just $49.97 per month.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sommschoolwine.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sommschool/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sommschoolconfidence
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellie-sharpe-martin-5bb33214/
- Other: Free Wine Buying Guide: https://bit.ly/thewineguide
Get Free Wine Tips & Tricks Each Month: https://www.sommschoolwine.com/get-the-guide-1
Image Credits
Olivia Bond
