As a wine expert and foreign correspondent, I lived all over the globe, immersing myself in the tumult of wars and political upheavals. From the bustling streets of Seoul, South Korea, where I chronicled the Apple vs. Samsung tech war in Samsung Rising, to the oppressive surveillance dystopia of China, detailed in The Perfect Police State, my life was a whirlwind of deadlines and dispatches.
But eventually, I yearned for a different rhythm.
I found myself craving moments of stillness, a chance to reconnect with the simple pleasures of life. It was during a rare evening of respite, savoring a glass of Pinot Noir, that inspiration struck. Could the world of wine offer the solace I was seeking?
I enrolled at the Wine School of Philadelphia, the highest-rated wine school in the country, reputed for churning out top sommeliers and winemakers. In place of the constant drum of the battlefield, I went deep into the history of winemaking in Europe and the Middle East, learning the place of winemaking in their thousand-year histories. Each glass became a narrative.
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My journalistic instincts didn’t go dormant. The meticulous research skills honed over years of reporting were now channeled into understanding viticulture. Tasting notes replaced news leads. The camaraderie of fellow sommeliers reminded me of the bonds of colleagues in distant newsrooms, sharing stories after a long day in the field.
I discovered that storytelling transcends mediums. Whether through running through the day’s events on TV or giving a presentation to a panel of judges on a Bordeaux wine pairing with steak au poivre, the essence lies in connecting, evoking emotions, and sharing experiences.
Wine is more than a drink. It’s part of a conversation, a bridge to new cultures and experiences. The greatest task for the sommelier? The ability to translate complex ideas in winemaking and wine pairing into relatable stories.
Whether you’re a sommelier, a chef, a CEO, or a founder with a pitch for venture capitalists, I’ve learned that storytelling is at the core of all our craft. Next time you crack open a good bottle of wine, remember that there’s a narrative behind it.
That’s the story behind how I arrived here. Keep a look out as we, at Alembic Partners, dive into the work of becoming a thought leader in the coming months.
If you’d like to explore working together, please write to us with a summary of your project at [email protected]. If we might be a good fit, we’ll write back within 48 hours.
Geoffrey Cain, longtime war correspondent, is an advanced sommelier at the National Wine School. He is managing partner at Alembic Partners, the premier thought leadership agency.
