EXPERTISE

EXPERTISE

Hi! I’m Mindy Nicol. It is an honor to share my expertise with those that love travel and wine, like me! Here are some of my professional credentials.

 

WSET DIPLOMA OF WINE & SPIRITS

In 2016, I graduated at Guildhall in London with a Diploma of Wine & Spirits. This is the wine industry’s highest credential, second only to a Master of Wine. Evening and weekend classes in both New York and San Francisco led me to prepare for the challenge of exams. This took four years to complete and involved blind tastings under timed exam conditions.

TEN YEARS of WINE MARKETING

I began consulting for the wine industry in 2011 over the years have worked with more than twenty wine brands. I have managed everything from wine ecommerce strategy, email marketing, new websites, brochures, wine labels and packaging as well as complete rebrands.

EIGHT YEARS LIVING IN NAPA & HEALDSBURG

I don’t think you can truly say you know the wine industry until you’ve lived and breathed it every day. Living in small country towns you get to know the locals, the local wineries and understand vintage variation and the challenges of the winemaker and grape growers. I have lived in both the Napa Valley and Sonoma County, two of the largest wine regions in California.

WORKED IN THE NYC WINE INDUSTRY

One of my earlier breaks was overseeing wine experiences for a wine site called Lot18. At this time I was fortunate enough to travel to the Napa Valley, Sonoma County, the Finger Lakes and Virginia and learn about the best tasting experiences on offer.

global marketing / INVESTMENT wines

I led marketing for a luxury brand portfolio within the Jackson Family Wines portfolio for two years and traveled talk to wine industry peers in London and Bordeaux. Learning about collectable wines while working for Verite gave me an inside perspective on the perception and trading of collectable wines for investment purposes .

VISITED THE WORLD’S top WINE REGIONS

I have made countless visits to France, Italy and New Zealand and have visited every wine region. I am a Francophile, having traveled extensively in France, but I do appreciate all Old World wines, with Tuscany, Piedmont, Rioja, also being favorites. I was born in New Zealand and have close knowledge of both Central Otago and Marlborough. My travels have also taken me to Mendoza, Madeira and the Douro Valley in Portugal.