We have opinions (and we're ready to share them)
What is Pour Memories? Who are Kristin & Heather? Why should you tune in?
Conversations about wine, food, and culture, and the dope people behind it all. By Kristin Harris of Cote of Paint Wine and Heather Daenitz of Craft & Cluster.
Who We Are
We are passionate wine professionals with a collective 25 years of experience in the industry. Our journey has been rich with learning, from vineyards to tasting rooms, and we’re here to turn that knowledge into engaging discussions with you - whether you’re a fellow industry professional or a novice to experienced consumer, we want you to chat with us.
Kristin
I started work part-time at Dragonette Cellars in January 2015 just to bide some time before applying to medical schools. But after my first taste of harvest that Fall, I basically said screw medical school. That, and within my first few months in the tasting room I hosted an array of medical professionals all telling me to run, not walk, away from medicine if I was happy in wine. I let the idea marinate and decided to change career paths. Over the course of 7 years, I wore many hats at Dragonette, morphing me into a bit of a Swiss Army knife in the industry. Still being a wine noob, relatively speaking, I was able to get a big-picture view of wine’s role in the average consumer’s life, how they interacted with wine, and ideate on how to reach a broader audience. When 2020 slowed things down a bit, I enrolled in online business and marketing classes through Harvard and Wharton. Between those classes, locking in my professional values (make👏🏽 wine 👏🏽 accessible 👏🏽), and binge-watching Schitts’ Creek, my wine brand Cote of Paint was conceived. I worked a bit for other wineries, both family-run and corporate, but found my values and ideas were better suited for being a passionate, self-employed risk-taker. Currently, I work alongside badass femmes and friends in the industry, bringing my expertise to their spheres: Maryam Ahmed of Maryam + Company, Terah Bajjalieh of Terah Wine Co, Katy Rogers, and Tamara Bingham of Likely Story Strategies. Your turn, Heather!
Heather
I got my start in the wine industry working part-time on the weekends in the Foxen Vineyard & Winery tasting room in 2010. My ambition was to be a winemaker, so in 2012, I did my first harvest with Foxen, working as a seasonal harvest assistant (intern). In 2013, I moved up to the Willamette Valley, Oregon, to finish my Bachelor of Science in Viticulture & Enology, working in production during harvest for Spindrift Cellars and then working hospitality with Willamette Valley Vineyards. After finishing my degree, my husband and I moved back to the Central Coast of California, and I worked again for Foxen in production, shipping, and the tasting room. In 2017, I started working with Coastal Vineyard Care Associates, a local vineyard management company. While working for them, I rediscovered my love of photography and a previously untapped love for marketing. In 2019, I had the opportunity to leave my full-time job as the Compliance & Marketing Manager for CVCA to start my own wine photography and marketing business called Craft & Cluster. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working with incredible wineries like Foxen Vineyard & Winery, Bien Nacido Estate, Cambria Winery, Brewer Clifton, Brave & Maiden Estate, Roblar Winery, Jonata and The Hilt, and many more.
Why Pour Memories?
The idea for Pour Memories (as for many publications and podcasts) was conceived of at the end of a long conversation over food and drink. It taps into those unplanned, unscripted moments around the table where wine, beer, and other delicious beverages act as lubrication for connection and trying to solve the world’s problems. We aim to replicate that warmth and authenticity, bringing you into our circle of conversation no matter where you are. Pour Memories is our attempt at making wine culture more accessible by mimicking those moments that occur organically, around the table or on a couch, with friendly folks. These are the conversations we’re already having, but we are now having them with you as well.
What to Expect
Cultural Sips: How wine is mirrored in media, the fun of 'High-Brow/Low-Brow' pairings, and stories behind pivotal wine experiences…aka, the Pour Memories 😉
Unfiltered and Inclusive Conversations: From the romanticism of wine to the realities (and sometimes ugliness) of wine industry challenges, and how we can improve. All beverage drinkers are welcome to join in.
Debates and Discussions: About current events and perspectives in the wine, food, and beverage industries, how it all pertains to the bigger culture picture for these industries, and how professionals and consumers can adapt to meet the moment. Side effects may include expanding audiences and increasing profits.
Plans For The Future:
Our plans include transitioning these written dialogues into an interview and discussion-style podcast, inviting more voices to the conversation, and expanding our discussions to include live Q&A sessions and guest appearances from the awesome people behind our favorite brands. Or just people we want to share a glass of wine with (full transparency, we’re trying to manifest having our crush, Pedro Pascal, on the podcast, but you know… all in good time).