Wine lovers everywhere! Let’s hear from real, unpretentious people who love to drink wine…and who are right in our own neighborhood or who may even be next door. These are the people who actually purchase the wine and help make this industry work – I’ll be profiling these real people on a regular basis…
One of my Millennial dinner guests who helped taste several bottles of Petite Sirah not too long ago happens to be the daughter of Martin Barrett of Sozo Friends. I interviewed Martin several weeks ago with regards to his wine “Balance” which is the recipient of a Gold award for Rhone blends at the 2013 San Francisco Chronicle wine competition and is featured as a “house wine” at BOKA in Seattle. When he mentioned that his daughter is a graduate student at the college ten minutes from my house, I knew that I had to meet her and of course, let her know that I’ll have a home cooked meal and plenty of wine to offer!
Victoria Barrett is intelligent, adorable, and full of laughter with a zest for life. She is a grad student studying to be a Clinical Psychologist, has her priorities in the right place, and will amaze you with what she knows about wine (analyze that!). You’ll truly appreciate Victoria, our newest *Wine Lover* Next Door!
Tell the readers a little about yourself..
Victoria: I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and my family currently lives in Seattle. If I had all the money and time in the world, I would travel, travel, travel. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled to many places – Turkey being my favorite. The adventure of travel – cultural, relational and of course, the culinary adventure – is by far my most favorite hobby or interest. In the meantime, I love being outdoors and look forward to exploring the City of Chicago more. I’m studying for a M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Wheaton College right outside of Chicago.
When did you start enjoying wine?
Victoria: I grew up with wine. My parents have been in the wine business and there is always wine at the dinner table. I began to drink wine in middle or high school and really began to enjoy it later in high school.
How did you initially learn about wine?
Victoria: I learned from my family – my dad would tell us about the wine we would drink together.
What wines do you particularly like?
Victoria: I love Pinot Noirs and Nebbiolos. I’m learning to like white wines and enjoy a cool Riesling in the summer.
When you go out, what do you ask for?
Victoria: I like trying new things and find it interesting to try what the waiter suggests if it sounds good. I generally stay away from Cabs because I really enjoy trying to dissect all the gentle yet complex flavors in a more subtle wine such as Pinot Noir. I also look at where the wines are from and enjoy trying wine from countries I’ve been to.
With whom do you typically drink wine?
Victoria: Wine is totally social. My family’s favorite thing to do is to peruse the local markets, cook up a storm for hours together and then sit around the table for hours, enjoying laughter and conversation. Wine accompanies this plan quite well! This habit beginning with my family transfers over to my friends. I love cooking a meal together with great wine. There is simply no better way to enjoy life.
How often do you drink wine?
Victoria: It depends. At least once or even a few times a week.
How do you decide to purchase a type of wine?
Victoria: A grad student budget definitely makes price important. I also look at where it’s from. For example, I recently bought a wine from Chile because I appreciate their wine after studying there and visiting some Chilean vineyards. I tend to not buy wines that I’ve seen before or well known brands. Perhaps this is a silent rebellion – I like supporting the underdog!
How often do you purchase wine?
Victoria: I generally just purchase wine when I go out to restaurants or bars or am bringing wine to a gathering. Otherwise, I drink a lot of my family’s wine.
Where do you purchase wine?
Victoria: Sozo, my family’s wine business, the local liquor store, grocery store or Trader Joe’s.
How much do you typically send on a bottle or glass of wine?
Victoria: $6 to $15
What is your favorite food and wine pairing?
Victoria: Hmmmm…good question. The favorite wine I’ve ever had was a Bruno Giacosa Nebbiolo. It goes well with a dish with lots of yummy old/aged cheese, especially Parmesan.
Are there any wines you do not like? Why?
Victoria: As I said above, I don’t like white wines that much. I want to change this.
Why do you like wine?
Victoria: Good question. I love wine because it’s associated with good food and good friends and I don’t think there is anything better in life than that. Period. (I couldn’t agree more, Victoria!)
How knowledgeable do you feel you are about wine?
Victoria: Even though I grew up in a family who is involved in the wine business, I would like to be more knowledgeable. I know I like analyzing all the different flavors and tastes in wine and can tell when or if I like something, but I hope to be more educated on the distinctiveness of the different varieties.
Do you take steps to learn more about wine? If so, how?
Victoria: I read about wine generally online and like to ask people why they like the wine they do. I hope to do some more wine tastings here in Chicago!
Is there anything else you’d like to share?
Victoria: My family owns a wine business called “Sozo”. Sozo makes fantastic wine and the profits generated are used to serve local foodbanks and organizations and address worldwide poverty. One wine, Sozo Freedom, is paying for three women previously in the sex trafficking industry in India to receive a college education. It is all very exciting!
Thanks, Victoria, for being our lastest *Wine Lover* Next Door! A champion for the underdog in more ways than one, I’ll be sure to invite you to the house again for some wine tasting…maybe we can have some white wines this time…!
Cheers to wine lovers everywhere! ~ Cindy
