Back when I was still teaching wine communications at the Slow Food University of Gastronomic Sciences, we would always devote a session to blogs that push wine writing into new and interesting spaces.

One of those sites was Rebecca Hopkins’ extraordinary A Balanced Glass, the first “wine blog” to make mental health and self-care a focus of its media.

Rebecca, whom I admire immensely, is one of the most successful media relations and marketing specialists I have ever interacted with. She has worked at the highest levels of our trade and has had a hand in building countless “household” wine brands. It took a lot of guts to launch a blog like hers, especially in a time when few were examining the physical and mental toll of working in wine.

When she first mentioned that she wanted to profile me on the site, I was thrilled but I wasn’t quite ready to take account of my own well being. It took a little gentle nudging on her part. In the process, I realized that she was quite literally fulfilling her site’s mission by encouraging me to take time out and reflect on my own health.

Mission accomplished, Rebecca!

Thank you so much for thinking of me for this. And thank you for your voice and the space you have created for myriad voices in our community. We are all the better for it.

Check out the profile here. Buon weekend a tutti! Have a great weekend, everyone!