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How We Started

The Wine Sisters are Born
It was summer of 2001, and after 18 months of raising my baby full time I craved a new hobby. We were putting in a wine cellar at the time, and my husband suggested I "learn a little something" about it so I spoke with the sommelier at an exceptional local Boston restaurant. I was strongly advised to taste, taste, and taste some more. Three books were recommended to me, I invited a neighbor to join me, and our adventure began. Our first tasting was August 29, 2001, so no sooner had we started then came 9-11. My tasting partner, Barbara, and I pressed on through our tears, and it became evident that tasting wine was a terrific way for people to connect. We met nearly weekly through the fall, winter and following spring. At a time in our world history when everything seemed so fragile delving into the beautiful layers of this natural gift provided a 'grape escape', and we looked forward to our study time immensely. And so, the "Wine Sisters" were born.

The Leap from 2 to Dozens
Shortly post 9-11 I began to see broader applications for our neighborly tasting 'classes'. Barbara and I loved being together. We felt safe. We grew closer. I saw this had the power to unite. Wasn't this what America needed? It was at this point some close to me thought I'd lost it. "Kindra has too much time on her hands" they thought as I shared my ideas about uniting our country through wine tasting. I dubbed the new organization "Wine Sisters USA" as a tribute to the time in history I conceived it. It was never intended to be 'my' club. That was the whole point.

Our 2002-2003 'Test' Sisterhood
At the same time Barbara and I were knee-deep in our own self study I was consulting wine and food pro's in Boston and outlining a course of study for a 'test group' of women I would recruit that spring for the purpose of trying my classes out on the following year. I needed objective feedback and was determined to get it.

From Sept 2002 - March 2003 the 9 Test Sisters came to my home weekly, every Wednesday from Noon to 2:30. The lower level of our home originally intended for play space for Junior had instead been finished off as a learning space, the working headquarters of "WS USA". It included a spacious classroom with full kitchen and 80-glass wine rack, wine cellar, instructional media area and bedroom suite/bath to house visiting Chefs & Sommeliers whom I'd conjoled into teaching.

With the help of a local cheesemonger and many Boston chefs I provided pairing cheese and cuisine at each class. Numerous Sommeliers and Chefs came to offer their own perspectives on food & wine.

I'm often asked how I convinced award winning chefs to show up to my house for class. (They literally shucked oysters for our Champagne class and plated up their creations personally.) I just asked them. They all thought I had an innovative, well planned teaching approach, and tasting wine without food made no sense to them either. They wanted to help me out.

For atmosphere at each class I introduced music and interpretive table settings for the purpose of reinforcing the lesson. Example: place settings for my class on Sauvignon Blanc displayed bear grass secured into napkins, and students entered to "Summer Breeze" by Seals & Crofts.

This was 2002. To the best of my knowledge no wine educator had ever used music and themed table tops in the classroom to help educate.

While the Test Sisters were in my classroom during the day I was attending night school in Boston, enrolled in the British WSET Advanced Wine & Spirits course at B.U.

The Test Sisters Graduate
By April it was obvious the women had grown to appreciate and celebrate one another's uniqueness despite their apparent differences on the surface. I saw this clubhouse feeling that had evolved as a metaphor for Wine Sisterhood. Yes, this is what I wanted WS USA to be about.

But how did this happen? How could 9 very different women aged 30 to 60 walk into my Clubhouse in September--- and leave months later a very united group?

The power of 'wine sisterhood' could no longer be disputed, not in my mind anyway. The same dynamic had happened between me with my tasting partner, Barbara, back in 2001... and it had now happened again with 9 strangers in 2002. I knew I was onto something here... something much greater than the usual education.

I wondered whether this same dynamic would happen for others over time--- inside their own Wine Sisterhoods--- from within their own homes--- without me. I thought it would. And I didn't have to wait long for the answer.

This site launched in June of 2003. By year's end many women had reported feeling enriched and enlightened by the experience in a way that seemed separate from the educational component. I felt validated. I pushed on.

I continue to push on because I believe that wine, when focused on in an atmosphere of friendship, has transformative powers [insert Twilight Zone music].

Wine is Ancient, Maybe This is Why
Could this be why wine has played such an important role within so many cultures' histories dating back to Biblical times? What is it about wine? It's provocative. It endears us to nature and inspires further seeking. It shows us how nature can be both simple and mysterious. It inspires creativity and love.

Unlike some wine teachers I believe we can never truly know wine. Not with certainty. It is ever evolving and unpredictable. It's living in a way. And like an elusive lover who can never be truly known or understood... it beckons us.

Why? I'm a Virgo. I analyze everything to a fault. So I ask, WHY? Perhaps wine is inherently mysterious because its role in our lives is to act as a catalyst for self-knowledge. And on the heels of self-awareness often comes spiritual enlightenment.


We'll get you in the NEWS if you feel like sharing
When interviewed I provide writers with your bio's and photos (with your permission.) For a writer to understand why Wine Sisterhood works and why our classes are so effective they must look to you for the answers.

I just came up with a unique method for conveying information--- something routine for teachers. That's because in the back of our minds we fear if we don't find ways to excite our students they'll fall asleep in our classes. For a good teacher there's nothing worse.

So I offer you this journey to embrace. I believe you'll fall in love with wine and with yourself in the process, and that your life will be better because of it.