Welcome to Grape Experiences. I hope you’ll enjoy reading my interviews with winemakers, winery owners and others, wine reviews, articles about my national and international travels, food & wine pairings and more. Each article is meant to be an insightful and hopefully, entertaining way to help guide you towards your next wine experience.

A firm believer in life long learning, I have completed the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 3 certification program and hold the WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate with Merit. As of November 2023, my online wine course, Discover the Essentials of Wine (and choose it like a pro!) is published on Teachable. You may find details, then enroll here.

I was listed as one of Exel Wines’ Top 100 Most Influential Wine Bloggers of 2015 and received the awards, Best Wine Blog 2016 – United States,  Best Wine Blog 2017 – United States, and Best Wine Blog 2018 – United States from Lux Life International Magazine. In both 2017 and 2018, one of my articles was a Finalist in the Millesima Blog Awards in the Wine Travel category. An email in January 2018 informed me that Grape Experiences was awarded Best Wine Blog 2017 by Drizly.

Currently, I’m on the panel of judges at Chicago’s Beverage Tasting Institute and in June 2022, 2023 and 2024, helped judge over 500 wines submitted in the Central Coast Wine Competition held in Paso Robles, California. In 2023, I was accepted into membership of the prestigious Circle of Wine Writers, the world’s leading international association of wine and spirits authors, writers, journalists, bloggers, broadcasters, photographers and educators.

My work has been published in Wine Enthusiast, The Tasting Panel Magazine, SOMM Journal and The Somm TV Online Magazine. I’ve been featured on Good Day Chicago Fox 32, WGN-TV Channel 9, The Jam on Chicago’s WCIU TV, Good Day Sacramento (The CW31), The Rhode Show WPRI Channel 12, Colorado’s Best Fox 31 Denver, Good Day Philadelphia Fox 29, NBC Miami Six in the Mix and Yahoo Finance. I’m also co-founder of YouTube’s wine video series Crush On This since 2020. 

Currently, Grape Experiences is ranked in Feedspot’s 100 Best Wine Blogs You Must Follow in 2023  and I’m among the Top 101 Wine Writers of 2020 chosen by Corking Wines. I’m honored to be recognized alongside a group of incredible wine writers and professionals.

If you are a distributor, representative from a winery, publicist or other wine lover in the business who would like to send me samples, please email me at cindy@grape-experiences.com.  I will be happy to share my policy, address to which the samples should be sent, and any other information you may need.

Please add your name to the Grape Experiences mailing list for subscriber only updates, your complimentary infographic “4 Keys to a Stellar Wine Pick,” and a coupon code for a discount when you purchase my online wine course on Teachable. (Click here to join.)

Cheers! ~ Cindy

 

Cindy Rynning

Photographer: Rebecca Peplinsky

 

10 comments

  1. Sherry Schmidt

    Hi Cindy,

    Found the adjective I couldn’t remember when we spoke on Saturday. It is “minerality!” Not a word I’d heard used before in wine reviews but I love it. You probably did use that word when we talked because I have vague memories of me asking you to describe its meaning. Good golly…I really have a memory, don’t I? Anyway, always love the reviews and now I’m thinking about that sparkling rose! Have great rest of the week and a wonderful holiday weekend.

    • Cindy Rynning

      Thanks, Sherry! The next time you come over, I’ll open some bottles you’ll love!! Cheers to you!

  2. sam jonas

    Hey Cindy, ever visited or know of Niagara Wine Country Ontario region….Forbes.com & Lonely Planet mentioned it’s a must see Cool Climate wine region in 2017!

    • Cindy Rynning

      Hi Sam!! I know of the region, but have never been there. The closest I’ve been is to the Finger Lakes area. I’ll definitely check out the articles and put the area on my bucket/wine list! Thanks so much – Cindy

  4. Mary Ann Sgarlata

    Hi Cindy,
    I checked out your website this morning and am now following you on Facebook. It was great drinking wine with you this weekend!
    Mary Ann/Moonstruck

    • Cindy Rynning

      Thank you so much, Mary Ann! I look forward to the next time we have the chance to sip some wine together – hopefully it will be on a sunny day on our boat!!

  5. Pedro Mansilha Branco

    Dear Cindy,
    I’ve just read your article from January 6th that features one of our wines. I really loved the way you descibed it!
    I’m very happy that you enjoyed the wine as much as we do and I thank you for including it.
    In your next visit to Portugal it would be great if you have some time to come visit us in the Douro.
    Kind regards,
    Pedro Mansilha Branco
    Quinta do Portal

    • Cindy Rynning

      Thank you Pedro! I will let you know when I return to Porto since I’d love to visit Quinta do Portal! Cheers! Cindy

Leave a comment

Verified by MonsterInsights