Featured User: Lisa Barranger aka "Beachin Wino"

Lisa Barranger aka “Beachin’ Wino” has lived 54 of her 56 years in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Lisa grew up near Chesapeake Beach (known by the locals as “Chicks Beach”/think blue crabs) which is on the Chesapeake Bay. Lisa’s best childhood memories are of swimming, fishing, and crabbing during the summer. Lisa recently retired after working for 34 years as a registered nurse specializing in pediatrics and maternal child health. Lisa also has a passion for gardening and cooking. In 2001 she completed training to be a Master Gardener. Lisa and her husband Fred (who is also retired) enjoy traveling to beach and wine destinations. They also enjoy great food and wine in the towns they explore. Lisa documents their travels on her Instagram account. Look for @Beachin_Wino on Instagram. The next planned wine trip is in September to explore Virginia wines/wineries in and around Charlottesville, Virginia. After that, back to Napa Valley possibly Europe. Lisa’s wine journey has been self-guided so far but she often considers more formal wine education. Virginia Beach is the home town of Master Sommelier Geoff Kruth of GuildSomm. Advanced Master Sommelier Candidate Marc Sauter of Zoes Steak and Seafood participates in the education of local sommeliers. He also offers regular sensory analysis classes and wine tastings in his upscale restaurant in Virginia Beach. Lisa shouts out to Marc for his restaurant making the Top 100 by Wine Enthusiast. Delectable: What sparked your passion for wine? Lisa Barranger: I grew up in a family of beer and bourbon drinkers so it was definitely not my family. I became interested in wine during my senior year of high school (1981). *Back then the legal drinking age was 18 years old.* There were a few of my friends working in the restaurant business and they introduced me to German Riesling and French Chenin Blanc . It was the early 80’s, so I have to own drinking my share of white zinfandel . As I embarked on my nursing career and starting a family, I had only the occasional beer or margarita until the late 1990’s when someone gave us a lovely Beringer Red Hills Lake County Red Zinfandel . We enjoyed that with some grilled filets and it reignited my passion and interest in wine. I love how wine helps one to slow down, relax, and connect. I have never met a wine lover that I didn’t like! D: What wine region are you wild about right now? LB: In an effort to get out of my comfort zone ( California and Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon mostly), I am trying more wines from Spain and Portugal . I have also discovered a fondness for rosé from Cotes de Provence . D: What is the most unusual wine you’ve ever tried? LB: I am an equal opportunist when it comes to trying new wines. What comes to mind at this moment is Mencia (think pomegranate, blackberry, licorice, and pepper) from Spain and Portugal in addition to Godello also from Spain (think grapefruit, lemon zest, quince, crushed gravel, and saline). Depending on the oak influence, Godello can drink like a lot Chardonnay (think structure) and Albarino (think minerality). I find Godello to be quite refreshing! D: What is your golden rule for wine? LB: Investing in decent stemware and aerating your wine can significantly enhance your wine experience. Whenever feasible we take our own stemware and aerator on vacation. D: Say you’re not allowed to have wine, what is your second option? LB: This happens often as not all restaurants offer wine or the ones they do offer may have been opened for too long. I will send back a wine if it is flawed, but it is always an awkward experience. My safe bets are obviously beer (craft or domestic) and gin and tonic with lime. A popular local drink is an orange crush, and if made with freshly squeezed oranges, I will have one of those. A well-crafted margarita (fresh/no sour mix) can also hit the spot! D: Choose a movie, book, quote, or song and pair it with a wine LB: My favorite wine movie is “A Good Year” starring Russell Crowe, Albert Finney, and Marion Cotillard. If it is summer, I would pair it with a Chateau D’Esclans rosé . If it is winter I would have to have a Domaine De Trevallon Vin de Pays Des Bouches Du Rhone . D: If you were a wine, what wine would you be? LB: Hands down Cabernet Sauvignon not only because it is my go-to wine, but because it is full bodied (like me, lol) and because of its thick skin. I am also hoping I will age as just as gracefully as Cabernet.