Welcome to Lavern's Fine Wine

A love letter to wine, and food and the people behind it

First things first—I'm not Lavern. That's my grandmother, who doesn't drink wine but loves a Smirnoff Ice and a frozen, fruit-spiked margarita. The name's a tribute to the woman who taught me that good taste is about authenticity, not pretense.

As a wine pro in LA, I spend my days schlepping bottles, sharing stories, and connecting people with wines they'll love. Some days, that means introducing a restaurant to their new by-the-glass favorite. Other days, it's helping a small producer get their wines into the right hands. Every day, it's about building community through wine.

I'm tempted to just post bottle shots with 👍 or 👎 emojis, but you deserve so much more. Before we dive into this exploration of wine, winemakers, and whatever else catches my interest, here's something you should know: my palate isn't perfect. I might not give you every single tasting note in the book, and I might miss that hint of underripe boysenberry that everyone's talking about—and that's okay. Because taste is deeply personal, tied to our memories and experiences.

Here's what you'll find at Lavern's Fine Wine:

• Stories about the incredible women and BIPOC folks shaping today's wine world

• Talk about great wines and the people who make them

• Travel dreaming and planning (budget permitting...)

• Real talk about working in wine and food

Why "Fine Wine"? Because every wine is fine if you're drinking it with the right people. So grab a glass of whatever makes you happy, and let's talk wine.