I’m Kirsten — DipWSET, former wine professional, and now a full-time traveler with a camera and a lot of opinions. I spent years writing about wine. Then I retired, got on a bunch of planes, and discovered that the best stories aren’t in the glass. They’re in the underground communist toilet. Or in the woman named Snow White serving you plum brandy in Croatia. And possibly in a war-scarred city where memory is still part of the infrastructure.

This is where I write those stories.

Most weeks, I also send a short newsletter called The Weekly Twist — a link to the most recent post plus an exclusive section that never appears on the blog. A drink worth finding. A sharp observation from the road. A peek at what’s coming next. If I’m doing my job right, it’s the best thing in your inbox that week.

Here are a handful of my favorite posts to get you started:

🇩🇪 Understanding German Schnaps: It’s More Than a Drink. It’s Tradition.

Ken’s Oma swore schnaps was “good for digestion”. And honestly, I think there is something to that. But she also believed it could cure everything from toothache to tuberculosis. The first time Ken and I ever had German schnaps, it was served to us by an 70 year old woman (Opa’s neighbor), who arrived carrying a tray with tiny glasses on it – that were filled with clear liquid – that was on fire. 🔥 

🍷🇪🇪 What to Drink in Tallinn: A Sip-by-Sip Guide to Estonian Drinks Culture

I would not classify myself as a vodka drinker, but one of our guides suggested we order a dry rye vodka martini at our hotel bar. Alright, I’m game. Holy mother of good drinks. Absolutely transformative. I shouldn’t have, but I had two. And I tracked down a bottle of Estonian rye vodka to take home with me.

✈️ Travel in Our Rearview Mirror: 2025

Travel has a way of humbling us (there’s nothing like mustering the courage to try out a phrase in a foreign language only to be answered in English), reshaping how we think, and sending us home seeing the world – and ourselves – with fresh eyes.

Cheers,

Kirsten

DipWSET · Certified Sommelier · Photographer · Based in the DC area
Currently: Exploring the world one drink at a time.