NIKKI ERPELDING
Founder & Instructor nlerpelding@vinelabwine.com
Nikki’s enthusiasm for all aspects of the food and wine industry are contagious. Her storied career includes restaurant management, boutique wholesale, multi-state regional supplier and wine retail management. Nikki currently works as a wine & spirits consultant for Winebow Fine Wines & Spirits, a major national wine & spirits importer and distributor.
Nikki is presently studying with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) to gain her Diploma, WSET’s flagship qualification. In 2017 Nikki co-founded Vine Lab Wine & Spirits Academy — not her first endeavor into wine education, as she has fondly taught the Wine Professional Certificate program at St. Paul College since 2011.
"Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, makes weariness forget his toil"
~ Lord Byron
Some of Nikki’s wine favorites (when she is not enjoying rosé) include: Muscadet, Sancerre, Chablis, Verdicchio, Soave, Grillo, Aglianico, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, sparkling wine, and many more...
Nikki's Certifications:
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Certified Sommelier, WSET 3 in Wines & spirits, French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar
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Instructor, St. Paul College WPC,
St. Paul College Wine Professional Certificate
You can follow her on social media:
@winegirl365
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KARIN ROCKSTAD
Co-owner & Instructor
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Karin is a freelance Spanish-English translator and editor, specializing in wine.
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Her fascination with wine began with stolen sips of her parents' Riunite Lambrusco and Mogen David back in the 70s. True love struck as Rioja while a student in Spain in the 80s. The love affair has only gotten stronger over the years through extensive travel and study.
Karin is a voracious traveler and language learner, having visited 39 countries (most of them multiple times and most of them wine-producing). She has studied 6 languages and would love to study dozens more. As soon as she gets home from one trip, she's planning the next one.
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Karin is currently studying with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) to gain her Diploma, WSET’s flagship qualification.
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Karin's certifications:
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WSET 3 in Wines, Spanish Wine Scholar, French Wine Scholar, Italian Wine Scholar, Certified Advanced Cava Educator, Albariño Ambassador, Sommelier 1
You can follow her on social media:
@garbanzo.grrl
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