Isn’t it hard at 18 years old to decide which degree course to take? Does anyone know exactly the career path that they wish to embark on?
I’m Laura and I am the founder of Lingo Vino, where languages meet wine. I am going to tell you how my degree in Modern European Languages has led to a career in the wine industry and opened up so many opportunities for me, and hopefully, I will inspire others along the way!
I used to really envy my peers who knew they wanted to be a Dentist or a Doctor. I knew two things, I loved languages and I wanted to live abroad. Languages have always been my passion until I discovered the world of wine education. After successfully passing my WSET 2 & 3 (yes, there are exams in wine!), I had two passions, which I have now merged into one business: Lingo Vino! I set up Lingo Vino during the first lockdown last year. My goal was to share my knowledge and passion on both subjects with others. I wanted to teach people the skills that I have acquired and that have helped me get to where I am today. I have always believed in sharing what you learn.
Imagine, sitting in a beach club in Provence asking for the wine list and ordering a bottle of Whispering Angel in French! Or checking in to a boutique hotel in Mallorca in Spanish. Maybe you want to impress your clients over dinner and show them your classy wines skills? At Lingo Vino, we teach you the skills to embrace every opportunity.
Furthermore, I host wine tasting events virtually, in houses and in other event spaces. I provide English translations of wine tasting notes for Spanish vineyards, and something I particularly enjoy is presenting to my followers on Social Media, wines that I get sent from vineyards around the world. After analysing them, by swirling, smelling, and sipping, I then get to sit back and enjoy them with a dish that usually pairs perfectly.
Moreover, I have just launched a new masterclass that focuses on building people’s confidence when they are choosing from a wine list in a bar or restaurant. Wine, like languages, can be daunting to many, so at Lingo Vino, I help people to overcome their fears of wine, introduce them to more than just their go-to Sauvignon Blanc, and teach them a few tasting techniques along the way. I also share a few food and wine pairing tips too! Something I get asked a lot is ‘find the perfect wine for me!’ I enjoy this so much, being a ‘personal wine planner’, especially if they are having an event such as a birthday, a wedding or just a family BBQ.
Also blogging about wine is so much fun and what I really want to achieve is to promote wine education, as opposed to just drinking to get drunk! There are so many incredible wines out there waiting to be discovered and have their stories told! Having the knowledge of three languages has enabled me to share these stories and introduce people to some stylish rosés and other delicious styles of sparkling wines, for a great value too.
So, what is my next goal? Well, I am currently enrolled on a Champagne course from the Comité Champagne. After that, I will be continuing to grow my wine tastings at Lingo Vino, and hopefully doing as much ‘enotourism’ (wine tourism) as possible.
As well as the wine, I also teach English and Spanish online. I became a qualified teacher of English as a foreign language during my time living in Madrid. Wow! What a place to live, especially in your 20s. Such a fantastic city, great people, culture, and let’s not forget the shops! Everyone should visit Madrid, at least once in their life. Languages have opened the door to so many opportunities, they have enabled me to work in and travel to different countries. They have also helped me build lifelong relationships in different industries across the globe.
So, my advice for any language student out there would be don’t stop at one, once you have acquired the knowledge of one language, choose another! Or at least keep practising the one you know. There is nothing more frustrating than being out of practice in a language you used to know well! My next one will be Italian, then maybe Arabic. It’s all about the little things like watching films and series in Spanish, or listening to music in French, feeling safe and confident when travelling alone abroad…The list is endless. Careers in a huge range of industries and improves your memory.
To end, if lockdown has taught me anything, it’s that you never know what is around the corner. Most industries have suffered a lot due to the pandemic, therefore acquiring a skill such as a language, means that you can work in many different sectors. My motto, never stop learning, keep all options open and celebrate every success with a nice glass of bubbly chosen by Lingo Vino!
To find out more, take a look at Laura’s Instagram accounts!
This is Laura’s personal Instagram account.
This is the Lingo Vino Instagram account.