Discover the Wines You Love… One sip at a time.
Dr. Lisa Drakeman is a wine consultant and educator, who has led wine education events for current and future executives at Oxford, Cambridge, Princeton and other universities. She also conducts regular wine tastings and dinners, tutors candidates for various wine certifications, trains food and wine staff, and writes about wine. She is especially interested in how wine pairs with food, and also how it pairs with business.
Lisa is a Certified Sommelier (Court of Master Sommeliers) and a Certified Specialist of Wine (Society of Wine Educators), and has completed the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma in Wines with Merit, after achieving the Advanced Level with Distinction. She holds dual U.S./Italian citizenship, has lived in Scandinavia and the U.S., and has traveled to many wine regions. She received a Ph.D. from Princeton University, where she has served as a member of the faculty. Full Bio
Read all about Lisa’s recent tasting experience: Wine Tour of Italy with Princeton Graduate Alumni during Princeton Reunions.
Finding your Wine style
Do your palms sweat when the sommelier approaches for fear you will be exposed as a vinus ignoramus? Have you ever walked into a wine shop, bought the first available bottle in your price range, and hoped you had heretofore undiscovered savant-like skills for wine selection?
Most of us are not savants and even wine experts can be overwhelmed by the amount there is to know.
Lisa developed this site to help anyone from the most novice wine drinker to an accomplished tippler build their knowledge and confidence. Her posts are jargon free and designed to teach everyone how to interact with wine successfully. She demystifies the wine world, answers questions you might have been embarrassed to ask, and helps guide you to wines you will love by using her simple, but effective method — taking it one sip at a time.
Convivio
Convivio is a wine society led by Lisa on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina that explores a fun and informative wine theme each month.
The wines are paired with a specially crafted menu by The Sage Room chef and owner Matt Jording. Menus of past events are posted here as inspiration for those looking to start or enhance their own wine clubs.
Learn With Lisa
Watch the videos below to learn a few fun and easy techniques for enjoying wine.
Sommelier Secrets of Blind Tasting
Lisa turns blind tasting into a fun and approachable process. Learn about appearance, aroma, flavors, and structure. Download the handout so you can taste along.
Tasting the Finish
The Princeton Club of Hilton Head learns how to taste the finish of Castaño Solanera Viñas Viejas 2017. Sip along at home and try it for yourself!
Great Taste, Good Value Wines
Lisa explains how to find excellent and affordable wines.
