Let me go farther back – I moved to the region in 1972, graduated from Roy C Ketcham High School and spent the next four years at SUNY College @ Buffalo studying Business and Marketing. After graduating I came back to the Hudson Valley and worked for Grey Advertising, a start up TV station, and local radio station,. I met my husband, we married and have two beautiful children. That is when the fun begins.
In 1990 got into the travel business and in 1995 I started my own home based travel agency. (Personal Touch Travel) That was before working at home was the norm. It is here where I combined my love of travel and wine. I began to specialize in sending people to the wine regions of the world and created Exclusive Wine Vacations and that led to my blog – Hudson Valley Wine Goddess.
Hudson Valley Wine Goddess began as a blog to educate people about wine that evolved into educating you about Hudson Valley Wine Country. Somebody asked me one day if all I drink is Hudson Valley Wine. Well – I drink all kinds of wine, red, white, semi sweet, sparkling, ice wine. I always keep an open mind and enjoy trying new wines. In December 2010 I completed and passed the Society of Wine Educators Certified Specialist of Wine course and now can proudly say I am a “Certified Specialist of Wine.” In 2012 I became a Wine Location Specialist (WLS) in Port and Champagne from the Centers of Wine Origins.
Recently there have been some turn of events in my life that made me realize there is so much more to share with you. So I am coming full circle and have changed the direction of my blog. I will focus on and highlight the Hudson Valley, but I will also share with you all the other wonderful and maybe not so wonderful wine along with the wine regions I will visit.
Behind every blog there is a day job (have to support the wine habit). Well, there was a day job until February 11, 2011. At the point in time my position at the Health Care Insurance Company I was working for was eliminated in a re-structuring. I am currently seeking full time employment in marketing and emerging media but have also launched my own consulting company Debbie Gioquindo Emerging Media & PR to help small businesses with marketing, emerging media and public relations. I have partnered with Keryl Pesce and created Happy Bitch Wines, which at this time is distributed in NY, NJ and AZ.
In January 2013 I will begin classes in the Hudson Valley to educate people about wine. Making wine less intimidating. Click here for more information.
Debbie on Google+
In January 2013 I will begin classes in the Hudson Valley to educate people about wine. Making wine less intimidating. Click here for more information.
