About me
Hey there, I'm AZ
Hi, I’m Anneliese—a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) and proud WSET Level 3-certified wine geek.
I started leading tours out of a deep love for teaching—and a desire to challenge myself and keep learning along the way.
I’ve spent over a decade working in the wine and spirits industry, and what’s always lit me up the most is education. Whether I’m leading a wine dinner, hosting a tasting, or training restaurant staff, I love helping people connect the dots between what’s in the glass and the culture, craft, and history behind it.
Meet Dagger
I’m Dagger—lover of Syrah, storyteller, and occasional
spritz-maker.
What I love most about wine is how it brings together history, environment, and culture in every bottle. While I haven’t studied wine formally, I’ve spent decades immersed in fine dining, tasting, learning, and sharing.
There’s nothing better than watching a bottle of wine become an experience—especially when you get to share the story behind it. When I worked in restaurants, my favorite thing was introducing people to something unexpected and delicious.
Oh—and yes, I wear all the cool hats and make spritzes for AZ, my wife and favorite drinking partner.
Dagger & AZ
One day, Dagger brought an Israeli Viognier to my Chardonnay blind tasting—and we’ve been together ever since. We got married at Tablas Creek in Paso Robles, surrounded by
vines and good wine.
These days, we live in Durango, Colorado with two dogs, and a
9-year-old math-loving kid.