My favorite color is wine...

You might say that I was a bit of a late bloomer, meaning I [nor my husband, Shawn] didn't consume alcohol [and I mean at all… but that’s a whole other story] until I was in my mid 30's after graduating nursing school, and starting my first hospital job. Shawn, the love of my life and wine adventure sidekick, still doesn't touch the stuff!!

Maybe it was the newfound stress that comes along with starting a new career or trying to make friends by going out after work, or maybe even a way to destress and blow off steam with my coworkers while we talked about our day.

Regardless, I still distinctly remember my first taste. A few of my coworkers and I ordered a bottle [or maybe two] of Asti Spumante at our local Olive Garden to share over supper and let me tell you, it was sweet, crisp, bubbly, and delicious!! I may have been hooked right then and there…

Being from the First State, in the small town of [slower lower] Seaford, Delaware you can imagine [or maybe you can’t] the lack of wineries and vineyards. I didn’t even know wine tastings existed, or that there were vineyards you could visit to do the same. [Side note: I believe this has changed over the years that I have been gone and I totally love seeing my friends from back home posting about wine places they are visiting there!! I may one day have to head back that way to check things out!!]

So here I am, a little over 10 years after starting my first travel assignment as a circulating RN in the Operating Room, self-titled the luckiest girl in the world, tasting new wines all over [mostly the western part] our beautiful country and living my best life… it’s totally grape!! [HA] I love that even after all these years I am still learning so much about wine and the way it tastes!!

I have always thought of Facebook as my own personal blog, photos and thoughts about places we visited, things we’ve done, and wine I’ve tasted. I've had multiple friends tell me I should start an actual blog about it, and I recently began giving it some serious thought. I mean how fun to chronicle my wine escapades in one place and share not only with my friends but with others who may love wine and trying new places as much as I do!?

I saw this sign not too long ago [actually during a wine tasting… HA] that read...

"Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire."

Here was my sign [so to speak] and if all things wine give you that riding with the top down, blaring your favorite music and singing along at the top of your lungs… “Hey [hey] you [you], get into my [proverbial] car!!” Join me in my happy place to explore the vineyards, wineries, wine estates, wine festivals and events, tasting rooms, and wine bars, I’ve been so very fortunate to visit!! I may add a few [of the many] paint and wine events I've attended, hiking spots with my wine picnic backpack, a wine or cheese making class, and maybe even a little about my wine “Cause Entrepreneur” experience!!

Check in next Wednesday for Wine with Wixy and go with me for my first visit to a real live vineyard tour and tasting in North Carolina!!

Cheers to you my wine loving friends and TTFN!!

Sharon Wix