Paige Comrie - One of My Goals Is to Shine a Light on the Amazing Women in Wine Through My Platform (Wine Blogger)

As a wine expert, I regularly analyze wines for their quality and I can tell you if something is technically an excellent wine or technically off-balance. But at the end of the day, that doesn't matter nearly as much as enjoying what's in your glass. If you like it, drink it. That's the only rule that matters.

1. Tell us about your background and journey.

I started Wine with Paige in 2018 as a way to combine my love for photography and wine. At the time, I was going through my WSET3 certification and learning about a lot of different wines. I wanted a place that I could record what I was drinking and share what I was learning.

Instagram seemed like the perfect platform for that. From there, it progressed naturally, over time, into what it is today: a community of wine lovers who share a passion for great wines with great stories and a place to make wine fun and accessible.

2. What inspired you to pursue a career in the wine industry?

I think I've been searching for my "calling" for a long time. In college, I studied business because it was what I was "supposed" to do. But I never gave up on my side projects, things I was truly passionate about. In college, I photographed weddings and portraits, shooting also for a fashion magazine on campus, SHEI Magazine.

While in my first corporate job in NY, I continued to shoot fashion editorial pieces for blogger friends on weekends. I also started taking my WSET 2 while there, just to satiate my desire to learn more about wine. At the time, I didn't really imagine a career in it... but I knew I wanted to learn more.

When a corporate job moved me out to California, I jumped at the opportunity to be closer to wine country. I pursued my WSET3, now thinking more seriously about wanting to move into the industry, although I didn't know what that would look like at the time.

Now, I'm honored to be able to work in a position that combines two things I'm immensely passionate about wine and photography. I never would've thought that something like this could exist, but I feel so gratified and honored that I have the opportunity to do what I do and help share the stories of amazing wine producers with people all over the world.

I also love that I can help make wine more fun and accessible to people who might otherwise be intimidated by it. It's a complex subject, for sure, but at the end of the day, it's a beverage meant to be enjoyed!

3. How do you think modern technology helps out in providing a better wine experience as compared to traditional methods?

Technology allows us to transport ideas and information all over the world in a matter of seconds. When you really think about that it's amazing. Winemakers in Napa have the opportunity to talk with winemakers in Australia about how to reconcile after a terrible fire season.

Or wine lovers in New York have the opportunity to chat "face to face" with winemakers in California as they drink through the wines. Or a grower in Colorado can learn directly from a grower in Washington about what's working and what isn't in the vineyard. That's amazing!

As detrimental as 2020 was to the world, I think that it's had some potentially really great side effects the increase to virtual tastings being one of them. The amount of access given to general consumers over the past year has been unprecedented.

Never before were there so many opportunities to meet with winemakers, winery CEOS, and vineyard managers in small group settings. and from the comfort of your home. Previously you had to buy a plane ticket, hop on a plane, get to the other side of the country. Now there are so many opportunities for people to hear directly from the people who make their wine, without any barriers. I hope things like that stick around, even after the world opens up.

4. How do you analyze something like a wine which is a very subjective experience?

This is an interesting question, and I think something a lot of people struggle with. Most wine out there on the market today is technically "good", technically correct. Because of the spread of information and improved winemaking techniques, most wines you buy aren't going to be faulty or straight-up bad.

5. What are some challenges faced by women and how do you help promote women empowerment in the wine industry?

I am so happy that our experiences and challenges as women are a regular topic of discussion. I think that by speaking about them and putting them out in the open, we can then challenge them and learn how to grow as a society to be better on the other side.

As a woman whose business operates very publicly on social media, I get my fair share of derogatory comments or people who want to boil my identity down to being a woman, and it can be frustrating. I've been belittled for my gender, told that I know nothing about wine, been told it's "cute" that I have my WSET 3, and, of course, had my influence undermined and questioned. At the end of the day though, I just remember: their perception of me is a reflection of themselves, not my reality.

One of my goals is to shine a light on the amazing women in wine through my platform. As of today, only 10% of California's 4000+ wineries have female winemakers, and only 4% of them are women-owned. This is despite the fact that 57% of wine drinkers are women and scientifically women have better palates. We still have A lot of work to do for equality.

I regularly feature Women in Wine interviews on my blog, as well as stories on my Instagram.

6. How do you keep yourself inspired and motivated?

The amazing stories of passionate producers inspire me. Now that I live in Napa, it's hard not to be inspired by the beautiful world I live in! There's truly nothing like sipping wine next to a vineyard on a warm sunny day. I also love to get out of my own head and regularly visit art museums or travel when I can.

And at the end of the day, it's also so powerful to think of the impact I can have. As of writing this, I have a platform where I get to share the stories of incredible producers to an audience of 25,000 people.

I don't think I will ever not be amazed by that fact. It is such an honor and a privilege to be able to share the stories of people who craft amazing wines, and I am so inspired by the people who show up every day to see what I have to say. It's amazing and humbling all at the same time.

7. What advice would you give to upcoming wine bloggers?

Don't give up! In the beginning, it can feel so hard and intimidating to put yourself out there, but it can also be such a beautiful experience to show your true self and connect to other like-minded individuals all over the world. When things get hard and I consider giving up, I always go back to my why, and remember that I have a purpose bigger than a bad day.

I am so deeply rooted in my purpose to elevate the wine industry and share incredible winemaker stories that I find a way to get through it. And if you need some extra support. I actually offer a range of resources to help! Everything from personal coaching, online courses, and downloadable templates can be found on my website.