Reggie Daigneault of Reggie Wine
Photos Courtesy of Reggie Wine
Reggie Daigneault can’t remember a time when wine was not part of her life. Even as a child, she and her siblings had wine with dinner at home. Those dinners were always Italian or Lebanse dishes, as those were the food cultures of her parents. The family owned a bread and rolls bakery in Philadelphia, and lived above the business. Reggie’s father also dabbled in winemaking, getting Zinfandel and Barbera grapes by train from CA. Reggie helped with the winemaking, and also worked in the bakery seven days a week. She eventually went to FL International University to pursue a degree in Hospitality, but never finished the program. She was too busy learning on the job in restaurants, often managing their beverage programs. In 1985, Reggie moved to Los Angeles where she continued to manage restaurants and beverage programs, acquiring wine knowledge from books and certifications.
Reggie has lived in Seattle since 1990 and has had many roles in the wine industry, including sommelier, wine director, educator, judge, journalist, travel advisor, and more. From 2005 to 2017 she managed the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College, which has graduated many of today’s winemakers in WA and beyond. When she left the college in 2017, she started her business Reggie Wine to provide wine education through classes and travel. A large part of her life now is offering WSET certification classes through level 4. She also will offer customized classes and tours to fit people’s needs and interests. Reggie is fundamentally a learner and an educator whose passion for wine is infectious. She doesn’t just teach about wine, she lives it, as you will see in this interview.
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