Wine & Chisme

Wine: Fathia Wines, 2019 Rosé BIO: Maria Alquicira was born and raised in Mexico where her curiosity for art started. She then studied Arts and Culture in Rome and is currently living in Dallas. Passionate about art and businesses she has developed professionally in the arts and culture sphere through her art practice and in business through her job at one of the biggest movie theater companies in the world. This project is all about a determination to set her life purpose to make art part of our daily lives. Website Instagram

Wine: Cramoisi Vineyards, Pinot Noir 2018 BIO: Christine Vega-Perez was born in Pennsylvania and is of Mexican and Guatemalan decent. She is an RN and Life Coach who has worked in the healthcare setting since 2007 and holds a Master’s of Science in Nursing in Healthcare Systems Management. Being in the healthcare industry for nearly 15 years, she has gained a lot of experience in quality improvement, which is an integrated part of nursing and healthcare - an industry that is always striving to improve because they deal with people’s lives. That got her thinking – why not apply the strategies she's learned to the most important industry of them all – our personal lives? She found herself utilizing these tools more and more because let’s face it, being an adult requires taking risks. We have to make decisions. Important decisions. Stressful decisions. Difficult decisions. And then we can only hope that our choices bring us happiness – however that may look for you. Christine recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida with her Dominican husband and her two boys that keep her on her toes!

Wine: Lagunilla Optimus Rioja, Spain, 2016 BIO: Bianca Alba is a proud first-generation Latina from Cochabamba, Bolivia. She currently resides in San Juan, Puerto Rico and works as a Public Health Analyst for HRSA (the Health Resources and Service Administration Branch). #TeamPublicHealth She is the voice and creator behind the podcast titled, “This Latina Travels!” A travel podcast through the eyes of a First Gen Latina sharing all her travel experiences first hand! As a little girl, living in a single family home, trips/vacations were just a dream so this podcast is more than Bianca just telling you about her experiences, but it’s dreams becoming a reality! Her goal with this podcast is to break barriers so more women who look like Bianca will travel the world too!

Wine: Jose Wine Caves 2015 Mourvedre BIO: Brandi is the Founder of the Operation Growth Institute, a Global Transformational Learning Center where people can accept, heal, grow, and transform into the next iteration of their personal and professional best. For over twenty years, Brandi has honed her skill as a strategist, wellness expert, and coach. She helps clients identify their own solutions and specializes in coaching clients through her signature 12 steps to realize transformational growth. She examines how the barriers of generational baggage, fatherlessness, sexual trauma, single mother/fatherhood, racial identity and bias, and failure keep her clients from living their best life and helps her clients determine the next step. Brandi is a natural coach who has mentored and guided young leaders, honing her skills by providing personal and professional strategic support while leading young professional teams. She is also a certified Holistic Health Counselor by the International Board of African Thinkers, Priest and Healers, a certified Fatherless Daughters Advocate, and a student of the MMS coaching method. Brandi has studied with the Aspen Institute, Kellogg Foundation, Zuckerberg Institute, Iyanla Vanzant and the God Squad, Queen Afua, and Dr. Llaila Afrika. She studied for the International Coaching Federation accreditation with Dr. Cherie Carter-Scott. Website: https://brandirichardthompson.com/ Instagram Facebook LinkedIn

AD: This Episode is Sponsored by Promised Land on ABC. This sexy, sun-drenched, Sonoma-set drama tells the story of two intertwined but warring Latine families vying for land, power and control over the ultra-competitive California wine business. It's the perfect blend of passion, seduction and ambition. Wine: Fathia Wines 2019 Rose of Pinot Noir BIO: Pedro Rodriguez is the Owner and Winemaker of Fathia Wines. He was born and raised in Michoacan, Mexico and immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of six. His dad worked nearly 30 years in the vineyards of Napa Valley and he, along with his three older brothers continue to be part of the wine industry in both Napa and Sonoma. After starting in the wine industry while he attended college, he decided to pursue other interests from 2008-2014 but returned to the industry with curiosity and wanted to better appreciate the industry that had allowed his and his family to thrive. In 2019, Pedro became fascinated with the idea of crafting his own wine and producing under his own label. When the opportunity came to acquire Fathia Wines, Pedro along with his wife, Jenny jumped at the opportunity and continue to carry the torch for first-generation Mexican-American winemakers. Website Instagram

Wine: RG|NY 2018 White Merlot BIO: Alejandra Rojas, is Finance professional, and Money Coach helping modern millenials to be confident with money and create a strong financial foundation with ease. After reaching bottom, when a money burnout re-activated an old sickness threatening her life again, Alejandra designed a method to manage personal finances from within that protects the person’s essence and helps them create wealth. She has since been dedicated to helping others see money in a whole different way, so it’s no longer a barrier to thrive and reach happiness through her coaching, podcast and various public speaking events. Instagram Website

Wine: Seis Soles Sol Tierra 2019 Red Blend BIO: Jasmine Star is a photographer and business strategist from Newport Beach, California. She dropped out of law school and became an internationally recognized creative entrepreneur, later to become the founder of Social Curator, a social media marketing membership for business owners. Harnessing her chutzpah and hustle, Jasmine empowers entrepreneurs to build a brand, market it on social media, and create a life they love. Some days you'll find her featured in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and INC magazine, other days you'll find her going Live on Instagram, hosting Ask Me Anything sessions on Facebook, and empowering business owners to build a life they love on her podcast, The Jasmine Star Show. Website: jasminestar.com Social Curator Website Instagram Facebook TikTok

Wine: Solorio Family Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, 2016

Wine: Javier San Pedro Rioja, Tempranillo 2019 BIO: Francesca is a Mexican- American Fashion and lifestyle blogger born and raised in California. She’s been blogging for over ten years now and works full time sharing her styling and photography tips with her community. She also a huge lover of interior decor and recently started a home decor company with her husband called Casa Brixe which they started during the Pandemic. She has always wanted to find a way to highlight Mexico and show a part of it that a lot of people may not be familiar with. They were able to get in contact with a female run collective in Oaxaca that makes handmade wool rugs and started importing them to sell in the US. She now works full time running both her blogging business and her rug company. Her dream is to eventually grow into a larger home decor company that not only sells rugs, but also showcases other pieces from artisans all over Mexico. Website Casa Brixe Instagram Frank Vinyl Instagram

Wine: Aldina Vineyards, Chardonnay BIO: Cadena is the Spanish word for chain. It is their belief that women are not bound by societal chains or expectations of the roles they should play in the modern age. When women unite like chains, they are stronger, powerful and more resilient. Cadena also happens to be the street name of the home in Mexico, in which owners, Mabel and Alejandra took their first steps and the home they left at the age of six and eight years old, when their mother immigrated to the United States. Their name is a symbol of how life has changed and how moving from Calle Cadena to the United States has given them a world of opportunities. They want to share that opportunity with women who may feel bound by the expectations their family, friends or society has placed on them. Working with women artisans and sharing their talents is a revolution of love, empowerment and the journey towards self-realization. Website: https://www.cadenacollective.com Instagram TikTok

Wine: 2018 Cramoisi Vineyards Pinot Noir BIO: Pedro Chavez is an immigration attorney who grew up in Brownsville, TX and now lives in Tijuana, MX. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Fear of Return, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that helps find refugees attorneys. They are dedicated to finding novel solutions to the refugee crisis through universal representation of asylum seekers. Fear of Return is currently developing a scalable refugee/asylee database that can grow with the needs of asylum seekers and immigration service nonprofits, pro-bono and paid attorneys. The goal of which is the reduction of overall refugee/asylee representation rates. Additionally, Fear of Return creates original and individualized fundraising campaigns to raise funds for individual asylum seekers, where funds are allocated via hashtag performance monitoring. Feel free to reach out for more information - [email protected]. Website: www.fearofreturn.org Instagram

Wine: Aldina Vineyards 2019 Chardonnay BIO:Marissa López is Professor of English and Chicana/o Studies at UCLA, researching Chicanx literature from the 19th century to the present with an emphasis on 19th century Mexican California. She has written two books: Chicano Nations (NYU 2011) is about nationalism and Chicanx literature from the early-1800s to post-9/11; Racial Immanence (NYU 2019) explores uses of the body and affect in Chicanx cultural production. She recently completed a year-long residency at the Los Angeles Public Library as a Scholars & Society fellow with the ACLS where she worked to collaboratively develop a mobile app, “Picturing Mexican America,” that uses geodata to display images of Mexican California relevant to a user’s location. Professor López is past Vice President of the Latina/o Studies Association and the past chair of the Modern Language Association’s prize committee for the best book in Chicana/o and Latina/o Literary and Cultural Studies. She is also past chair of both the MLA’s Executive Committee on Chicana/o Literature and its Committee on the Literature of People of Color of the US and Canada, and a past Director of UCLA’s Chicano Studies Research Center as well as past chair of UCLA’s Committee on Diversity and Equal Opportunity. Website: https://www.picturingmexicanamerica.com/ Instagram Marissa's Instagram

Wine: Reserva Rosé, Valle de Raphael, Chile BIO: Originally from Cuba, Leysa Carrillo is a vibrant hair colorist and Curly hair expert based in Las Vegas, Nevada with over 12 years of experience. She is a nationally recognized industry leader for her hair color transformations on textured hair and continues to pave the way with her artistic flair and creative techniques. As the founder of Forever Curls education and the Global Humanitarian Tour, Leysa is passionate about taking education to the next level in areas such as hair care, trending styles, and the curl movement. When she's not at her salon working with clients, she appears as a respected educator and panelist around the country at some of the most influential beauty industry events and shows. With viral content featured on popular publications such as the INSIDER, Leysa has curated a strong social media presence and strives to use her platform to fuse creativity with technique and inspire others through engaging education. Leysa’s contagious smile and energetic personality has carried her through a successful career with global recognition. She was nominated for the American Influence Award in 2019 and 2017 and has been named Modern Salon’s 2017 Top 100. Additionally, Leysa is the first female to win two Behind The Chair #OneShot awards in one night. Her creative projects inspired by Lacroix and Halo Top Ice Cream led to the publication and features in Allure Magazine, inTouch National, Daily Mail, Yahoo News, Seventeen Magazine, Nylon Magazine, Delish, and Pop Sugar. Today, Leysa is a Brand Ambassador for both Redken and Mizani helping to bring her passion for textured hair to stylists across the country. Leysa Hair & Makeup Instagram Forever Curls Academy My American Vida

Wine: 2019 Aldina Vineyards Chardonnay BIO: Leticia Amaya is the first out of 9 children to attend college and earn a graduate degree. She grew up in Watts, Ca. She is a New York City educator with over 15 years of experience looking to change the world one child at a time. She specializes in teaching reading intervention and working with bilingual children. She is passionate about anything literacy and providing parents with the tools they need to support their children at home. Leticia is married with a son, and since having her son, started blogging and writing about everything education and parenting. Recently, her and her family and made the big move back to California where she is working towards launching her tutoring business and working at a local school. She is focused on the career mom and what does that look like during COVID, as well as teaching race and equity to elementary children. Instagram

Wine: Solorio Family Wines 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon BIO: Liz Hernandez is a Mexican American Emmy-nominated television personality and journalist. As a former radio host and entertainment reporter for Access Hollywood, E! News and MTV, her career is built on words, but no chapter is more meaningful than the one she is currently living with WORDAFUL, a video and live event series that focuses on the importance of how we communicate with others and ourselves. Through WORDAFUL, Liz created a new form of storytelling that she hopes will encourage and connect us to the power of words. Liz believes we can create new realities for ourselves by changing our internal and external dialogue, ones that support more meaningful relationships and lives. “Our thoughts and words from yesterday are what make up our lives." Website: https://wordaful.com Instagram Wordaful Instagram

Wine: Herencia Del Valle Sauvignon Blanc BIO: Yazmin Castañeda was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Tijuana, Mexico. This unique experience allowed her to enjoy a bicultural upbringing which helped shape her admiration for her culture and heritage while embracing the opportunities in America. Her unique upbringing was full of challenges that she would later learn to embrace as gifts from the universe. All of these experiences in life taught her the lesson of hope, faith, and the power of a positive mindset. Fast forward 40 years, and she is proud to say she left corporate life to return to the person she was always meant to be. Her role as founder of Origin Mexico is much more of a CEO, it’s about honoring the sacrifices made by your family so you may be part of something that is bigger than yourself. Website: https://originmexico.com Instagram

Wine: Javier San Pedro, Tempranillo Rioja 2018 BIO: Kristin Quiroz Bayona is a podcasting expert who teaches business owners the strategies and action steps for creating a highly engaged podcast in order to turn listeners into customers. She is the Executive Producer and Host of two podcasts, Explorer in You and Podcast & Amplify. As a Latina, she believes it's time for women of color to grab the mic and share their stories and she uses her platform to help them do that. Ms. Quiroz Bayona is a graduate of the University of California, Santa Cruz with a B.A. in Literature and a Minor in Art History. She has over 15 years of experience in corporate communications. Website: Instagram

Wine: 2018 Cramoisi Vineyards Pinot Noir The Wine & Chisme Podcast was created to share the stories of everyday people doing extraordinary things to serve their community. Our host, Jessica Yañez brings her love for wine and passion for storytelling together to highlight the stories that need to be told from communities of color. Chisme (Spanish for gossip) comes from the interviewees themselves as they "spill the wine" on their own terms. So grab a glass of wine and join us for the new Wednesday. #WineAndChismeWednesday Website: https://www.thewineandchismepodcast.com/ Instagram

Wine: Chardonnay, Raybourne Russian River Valley, 2019 BIO: Araceli Vazquez is a personal/private chef and San Diego native who is taking the city by storm with her culinary expertise. Her main focus is to bring not only delicious food to the table but also to create an extraordinary culinary experience. Website: https://www.kitchenprodigy.com Instagram

Wine: Aldina Vineyards Chardonnay, 2019 BIO: Taylor M. Tieman, Esq. is an attorney and founder of the Legalmiga® Membership, an accessible legal services membership created specifically for small business owners and entrepreneurs, She assists and advises her clients on how to legally protect their brands, services, products & content through the effective use of preventative measures and legal strategy. Taylor operates a virtual law firm based out of Los Angeles, California and specializes in trademarks, contracts, copyright, podcasts, and business formation. She takes immense pride in representing BIPOC and female-owned businesses to help them build and thrive! Taylor also is the founder of The Legalmiga Library™, a one-stop legal shop with all the legal resources an entrepreneur will need to build a successful, thriving business–– while minimizing the legal risks. Websites: www.ttiemanlaw.com www.thelegalmigalibrary.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legalmiga/ https://www.instagram.com/thelegalmigalibrary/

Wine: 2014 Jose Wine Caves Zinfandel BIO: Maria Brito is an award-winning New York-based contemporary art advisor, author, and curator. A Harvard graduate, originally from Venezuela, her first monograph “Out There” published by Pointed Leaf Press in 2013, was the recipient of the Best Book Awards in both the Art and Design Categories. In 2015 Brito was selected by Complex Magazine as one of the 20 Power Players in the Art World and in 2020 she was named by ARTNEWS as one of the visionaries who gets to shape the art world. She has written for publications such as Huffington Post, Elle, Forbes, Artnet, Cultured Magazine, Entrepreneur, Departures, and the Gulf Coast Journal of Literature and Fine Arts from the University of Houston, Texas. For several years, Maria has taught her creativity course in companies and, in 2019, she launched “Jumpstart”, an online program on creativity for entrepreneurs based on years of research and observation in both the areas of business and art. In 2019 she created and hosted "The "C" Files with Maria Brito", a TV and streaming series for PBS's new station "ALL ARTS". Maria and her projects have been featured extensively in national and international publications including The New York Times Style Section, T: The New York Times Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, The Huffington Post, W Magazine, ELLE Magazine, Harper’s Bazaar, Time Magazine, New York Magazine, The New York Observer, The Daily Beast, The Economist, Interview Magazine, VOGUE Italia, VOGUE Mexico, VOGUE Latin America, VOGUE Brazil, VOGUE China, VOGUE.com, ELLE Décor Spain, Departures, Forbes, Blouin ArtINFO, Hamptons Magazine, Condé Nast Traveler, Architectural Digest, Modern Luxury, Refinery29, goop, Billboard, Marie Claire Australia, Marie Claire Spain, Allure, The Coveteur, House Magazine, House Beautiful, Buro 24/7, Latina, Modern Magazine, and more. Website https://www.mariabrito.com/ Instagram Twitter LinkedIn Facebook

Wine: Famille Perrin, 2020 Côtes du Rhône Réserve BIO: Stephanie Moran Reed is a nationally certified Activity Director dedicated to helping seniors attain the best possible quality of life. In 2016 she started her first business, Senior Sensory, a Los Angeles-based service that provides purposeful and stimulating activities for seniors. She received her ADC (Activity Director Certified) status through the NCCAP (National Certification Council for Activity Professionals), a federally recognized organization that certifies activity professionals who work with the elderly. Stephanie earned her B.S. in Cognitive Science, Minor in Gerontology, and Specialization in Computing from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her interests in cognitive development and gerontology and the gratification she received from providing quality, person-centered care led her to a professional career working with seniors. Unfortunately, her senior business was severely impacted due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Visitor restrictions on senior communities meant that she could no longer service most of her long-time clients. The pandemic also halted the launch of her second company, Reed Musicians, a musicians-for-hire booking service. But, in true entrepreneurial spirit, she took advantage of the extra time gained during California’s stay-at-home orders and created her third company, MiJa Books! Stephanie is a proud Latina mompreneur. She currently resides in Culver City, with her husband Muammar and two-year-old daughter, Mireya Jamila. Website: https://mijabooks.com Instagram Facebook

Wine: BIO: Rachel Matos is the CEO of Blue Lotus Collective - a digital marketing agency focusing on social media and influencer marketing. She is also a co-founder and the Chief Marketing Officer of MyCajita - a subscription box service featuring artisan products. Los Angeles-based, Rachel is one of the nation's top strategists and consultants specializing in Latinx influencer marketing and strategy and served as the Director of Social Media and Influencer Relations for #WeAllGrow Latina Network for six years. Rachel played an instrumental role leading the company's approach to online engagement and social media strategy and has additionally managed major digital brand activations and influencer relations with Latinx creators for a wide range of Fortune 500 companies. A native New Yorker of Puerto Rican and Ecuadorian descent, Rachel graduated from the School of Visual Arts and previously worked in the museum field for close to 17 years as a lecturer and programs curator. The Guggenheim, The Met, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Bronx Museum of Arts, and LACMA are just a few of the arts institutions Rachel worked for before becoming a trailblazer in the Latinx digital space. Website: https://www.mycajita.com Personal IG Blue Lotus IG My Cajita IG

Wine: BIO: Sarita is an empowerment coach, passionate about inner-work, talk show host, mindset coach, and founder of Sarita Wellness. What first began as a journey of self exploration has since boomed into a full grown business. She is on a mission to redefine self-care in the BIPOC spaces. She guides women to reclaim their power and go from disconnected to deeply connected all via self-care through her new membership community Self Embrace Collective. Website: saritawellness.com Instagram

Wine: Famille Perrin, 2020 Côtes du Rhône Réserve BIO: Marissa Daniela is a content creator and marketing professional that was based in La Habana, Cuba. As a cuban American living on the island with her educational background in political philosophy, Marissa focused her content on telling the story of everyday Cubans who voices could not be heard and the diaspora in the world wanting to connect to them. Instagram TikTok YouTube

Wine: Seis Soles Red Blend, 2019 BIO: Anna Cabo is the creator of Amour360 Skincare. Diagnosed with an autoimmune disease and realizing how everything we put on our skin is absorbed buy the skin, she created a skincare line that approaches beauty from a wholistic point of view, beyond skin and the “filtered beauty” standard. Made with non harmful ingredients. Social Media: Personal Instagram Amour.360 Instagram

WIne: Vignobles Lacheteau Pouilly-Fumé 2018 BIO: Lucia Gabriela helps individuals and couples to master their life, relationships and intimacy with themselves and others. As a Relationship and Intimacy Coach, Lucia Gabriela creates a sacred and safe space for individuals and couples to build conscious relationships and meaningful intimacy in their life. As an Emotional Somatic Therapist and Tantra Facilitator, Lucia Gabriela specializes and works with individuals whose journey is to liberate themselves from emotional and sexual traumas. She helps them reclaim their creative power, body, voice, sensuality, and sexuality and welcome pleasure into their lives, creations, and relationships. Media Links Site: http://luciagabriela.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/luciagabrielacoach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LuciaGabrielaCoach Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nunaholisticretreatcenter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luciagabrielacoach Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/luciagabrielahc

Wine: 2019 Aldina Vineyards Rosé BIO: Aldina Vineyards pays homage to Al and Dina Lopez. Their label represents their life motto, to “always use the best quality materials to create the best quality product.” Our parents have instilled family values and hard work throughout our entire lives. Our goal is to reflect those values by creating Sonoma County’s premier Cabernet Sauvignon. Al himself personally planted the Aldina vineyard. In the early mornings of fall we walk the vineyards to determine the optimal maturity level by tasting the fruit for the tannin structure and flavors. It is easy to see Al's love and his passion for his vineyard. Website: https://www.aldinavineyards.com Instagram

Wine: 2018 Llamas Family Carneros Chardonnay BIO: Llamas Family Wines was founded in 2009 and is committed to making exceptional wines from the Napa Valley. They feel fortunate to be living the “American Dream”. Many family members came from Mexico to the United States in search of a better life. Originally ranchers from Jalisco, Mexico, the family migrated north to farm fields, orchards and vineyards. They worked tirelessly in all aspects of the wine industry, from tending the vines to producing wine. After over 40 years of farming the vines of Napa Valley, the family has further defined its agricultural heritage and takes great pride in sourcing grapes exclusively from vineyards farmed by the Llamas family. Website: Instagram

Wine: Herencia Del Valle, Sauvingon Blanc, Napa BIO: In 1997, Guillermo married Angelica, a Mexican-American from Napa Valley with roots in Guadalajara. Her parents were local vineyard managers, and Guillermo aspired to follow in their footsteps. In 2007, he started a farming company that gradually led to vineyard management, and in 2012, Guillermo and Angelica began using their hard-won skill set to make their own wine. “Herencia del Valle Wines is the story of Mexican migrants who prune the grapes in the icy winters and then harvest them in the blazing hot summers. The brand is a tribute to our ancestors who paved the way for us to open our own vineyards, in the vicinity of the ones where they toiled just to make ends meet. Our success belongs only to us, created solely by hard work and the resilience of those who raised us.” Instagram

Wine: El Potrillo Pinot Noir by Honrama Cellars, 2019 BIO: Honrama: "A Celebration of Opportunity, Labor, Resolve, and the Bond of Generations". "The journey of every wine begins in the vineyard, with the grape. The beauty of every wine is crafted from the souls and hands of those who tend the vineyards, pick the grapes, and cultivate the nectar. Just as every family is crafted from the souls and hands of those who recognize opportunity, take risks, work from dawn to dusk, and share their wisdom". Named in honor of Honorio Ramirez Mata, Honrama reflects the bond of respect and admiration between generations. From the soul of a great man whose quest for a better life for his family brought him to Napa Valley working to tend the vineyards and harvest the fruit, to the souls of his children and grandchildren who lovingly make the wine. Website: http://www.honramacellars.com/ Instagram

Wine: Esfuerzo Wines, 2019 Grenache Rosé, Santa Ynez Valley BIO: Dali Rivera is the creator of the Anti-Bullying & Diversity Academy (DABA), a series of online mini-courses and in-person workshops for parents, guardians, and educators to learn how and what to teach their kids about bullying and how to embrace others’ differences as well as their own in order to promote equality. Dali is also a U.S. Army veteran, speaker, parent to two young girls, and wife of a disabled veteran. She earned a master’s degree in Women & Gender Studies from Towson University in Towson, Maryland. Dali’s passion to stop bullying comes from her own personal experiences as a bullied child, from having become an advocate for her own daughter and for others. She has dedicated herself to research on the topic of bullying, diversity, confidence-building, and unconscious behaviors that play a role in bullying and how we treat others. Website: https://www.dalitalks.com Instagram

Wine: BIO: Norma is a former attorney, New York Times published writer, and social entrepreneur. She is the founder Fabian Flores, a Latinx-focused publisher. Website: https://www.fabianflorespublishing.com/links Instagram New York Times article

Wine: BIO: Gianfranco Fernández-Ruiz (the hyphen is silent) is a Salt Lake City-based, AfroLatinX writer/director, whose emphasis on character marks culture as integral to identity, but second to story. His work mirrors the frail and current socio-political climate with tongue-in-cheek dialogue and nuanced behavior that give characters depth and relatability, distinct but somehow common--a feat that has drawn attention from the Sundance Labs (a 2021 finalist), Nicholl’s Fellowship & Screencraft Competitions. He and Zach Johnson, lifelong friends and cinephiles, work to bridge the gap between the siloed other and the mainstream, focusing on simple slices of life and relationship dynamics. Gianfranco’s stories are a bright mix of the beats, verve, and rhythm of the tribal-and-Dominican-native tambora drum and the urban percussion of 90s boom-bap. For him, film is about discovery, catharsis and decolonization. Vimeo Instagram

Wine: Armitage Wines, 2018 Estate Pinot Noir BIO: Sandra Hinojosa Ludwig is a certified life coach from the Transformational Arts College in Toronto, Canada. Known as the Manifesting Chica, she uses her Facebook and Instagram communities, as well as her nonprofit coaching program, to help Latinas intentionally manifest a life that loves them back. Through individual and group coaching, Sandra has connected with women from all over the Americas. Visit her website to learn more: sandrahinojosaludwig.com. Instagram

Wine: Armitage Wines, 2018 Estate Pinot Noir BIO: Ghayda is the Owner and Founder of Charm Celebratons, located in the Houston, TX area. Charm Celebrations is a full service event planning company focusing on ensuring people, organization and corporations have a reliable and experienced planner to elevate their events. Since 2006, she has created unforgettable events from Maryland and Canada to Texas. She has earned a certificate by Celebrity Event Planner David Tutera. Instagram

Wine: Brown Estates House of Brown Chardonnay BIO: Branded Hottest Latina MILF in the World , adult content creator made headlines when she went international with her story about opening a OnlyFans to support her adult daughter through law school. Website: https://www.marcelasobella.com Instagram

Wine: Esfuerzo Wines, Pinot Noir BIO: Samantha Ortiz, Latina entrepreneur and named the #1 fitness trainer in NYC. From being a former owner of Triple Threat Bootcamp (fitness studio), she has now transitioned to an online fitness platform which provides live and on demand workouts, nutritional guidance and personal development tips. Samantha has also been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Shape and Women’s Health Magazine. Samantha’s energy and passion for training and empowering individuals is truly what separates her from the rest. She makes it her business to encourage and make her clients the best versions of themselves. Samantha encourages body positivity throughout her online fitness platform and authentically shows her cellulite, love handles and having “off days” as a sign of normality. Website: live.somanti.com Instagram

Wine: Armitage Wines, Santa Cruz Mountains, Pinot Noir 2018 BIO: Pabel Martinez Global Account Director at TikTok Pabel's superpower is uncovering the story behind the numbers; translating data to stories. He's been able to flex this skill at various technology companies such as Facebook (previous employer) and TikTok (current employer). Although he's been successful, he has met challenges along the way. Like many POC, he's experienced imposter's syndrome, microaggressions, and racism. He would often REPRESS parts of his identity inside & outside of work work in an effort to feel more included and less judged. Pabel's mission in life became redefining professionalism for Latinx communities by empowering authenticity. In 2020, he launched Plurawl to bring this mission to life.

Wine: Honrama Cellars, Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa 2017 BIO: Lidia Ferrufino is the owner of The Salted Hippie Boutique in League City, Texas. Before purchasing The Salted Hippie in November 2019, Lidia was the creative behind the blog, Live With Lidia. She also hosted a YouTube show where she connected and interviewed creative women like herself. Lidia used her platform to step into the retail world and create an online accessories shop, but she quickly realized that she wanted more. Lidia wanted to own a brick-and-mortar and to be able to provide women with more than just accessories. Her background in fashion styling and personal shopping gave her the foundation she needed to curate pieces for the everyday trendy woman. The Salted Hippie welcomes women of all sizes and provides unique fashion finds. Lidia and her team help when you need to put looks together, need a little retail therapy, want to step out of your comfort zone, or just want to accessorize your life–no matter the occasion. Lidia thrives in helping other women shine. She is a natural networker and goes out of her way to help others make connections as well. When she took over The Salted Hippie, she made it her mission to showcase, feature, and stock the boutique with products from women-owned businesses. Lidia has a passion for giving back and her community. She is always finding ways to incorporate philanthropic initiatives with her work at The Salted Hippie. Lidia has been married for 20 years and lives with her husband and their son in the Houston area. Website: https://thesaltedhippie.com Instagram

Wine: 2017 Vidiano Théros, Greece, Crete BIO: Ana is a highly educated Latina who's purpose in life is to bring science-based sex education to marginilized communities and get Latinas talking about sex. This CSU East Bay alum is currently pursuing a masters of social work and a masters of education in human sexualitiies from Widener University. As a Certified Sex Coach and owner of Sex in Spanglish she empowers Latinx women, and those who have been socialized as women, with science-based sex education as well as coaching through sexual issues and frustrations. Ana's goal for her clients is to help them embrace both their culture and their sexuality. She is dedicated to lead Latinas to a life free of expectations so they can become the dominant dama they were born to be. Through her podcast, Sex in Spanglish, she empowers mujeres to get in touch with their bodies so they can own their pleasure and discuss their deseos con confianaza. Website: https://www.sexinspanglish.com/ Instagram

Wine: Paula's Rose by Honrama Cellars, 2019 BIO: Jenny is a First-Gen Guatemalan-American Marketing Associate by day, and a content creator by night! She was was born in Long Beach, California to Guatemalan immigrant parents. She has become a TikTok and Instagram sensation with many celebrities sharing her videos! Jenny loves her Latinidad because she truly believe it's where she gets her strong moral values from. Instagram TikTok

Wine: Seis Soles Vine, SolTierra Red Blend, Lodi BIO: Talia from Always Advocating helps online coaches scale their dream business with alignment and excitement. She focuses on two things: the whole marketing and sales strategy to scale a profitable business and stepping into the person you want to become by up-leveling your mindset. She believes that mindset, strategy, the right coach, and inspired action are the keys to creating a profitable business. Website: alwaysadvocating.com Instagram

Wine: Honrama Cellars. Napa Valley, Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 BIO: As Founder and CEO of the Latina Podcasters Network, Bautista connects aspiring and established Mujeres Latinas and the Latinx community. She has been called a bold innovative thinker and cultural connector by her peers. She’s responsible for hosting the first Latina Podcasters meetup at any podcast convention. Her passion and love for the podcasting industry came in 2019 when she launched her first podcast, Empowerment & All That. This podcast was dedicated soley to empowering women by delivering motivational interviews and episodes. Her desire to keep growing in the podcast community and find cultural relevancy was the driving force to develop Latina Podcasters Network. Latina Podcasters is the first and only global podcast network commited soley to amplifying the voices of Latinas and Latinx mujeres. Bautista is a graduate of the University of New Orleans and has over a decade of experience serving on civic and non-profit boards representing Latinx voices in education, governement, business and sports. Latina Podcasters Instagram Latina Podcasters Facebook Rita's Instagram

Wine: Josh Cabernet Sauvignon BIO: From Vista, California, Lizzy Rivas was born to teen parents (15 / 18 years old). During their divorce Lizzy found soccer which allowed her to take her mind off her home life and concentrate on her skills on the field. Lizzy likes to emphasize that "soccer saved my life." Throughout her career, she has coached soccer and worked on the business side. She currently works for the Men’s Soccer team in San Diego as the Team Admin and hopes to build a non profit to empower young kids through Sports. Instagram

Wine: LIBERTÉ, Cabernet Sauvignon Paso Robles 2017 BIO: Mozo Cruz is an Afro Dominicano, born and raised in Brooklyn NYC. He is a father, husband and person who wants to make the world a better place. He is on a mission to turn toxic masculinity into healing masculinity one conversation at a time. Podcast: Watch Your Mouth with Mozo (Available on Apple Podcasts & Spotify) Instagram

Wine: Seis Soles Red Blend BIO: As a young Latina woman, I have many times experienced first hand the daily difficulties that woman face and the struggles they go through when climbing the corporate ladder. My name is Diana, I am from Medellín Colombia and that used to be my reality, just like it probably is for many of you around the world. Only recently I understood the importance of inner strength, self-esteem, answering the call to help others and most importantly female empowerment. We can only nourish the world with our gifts when we have found them within us, and we can only find them when we believe that they exist. Now that I have discovered them I realized that my true vocation is to serve as the vehicle and channel to give that same confidence to as many women as possible. Website Instagram

Wine: Seis Soles Rose BIO: Yvonne Hernández is the Founder and Host of the Decide Balance Podcast, a 5 - minute bilingual meditation podcast. She is also a Reiki Level 2 Certified Practitioner who sought and implemented holistic healing after being diagnosed with vitiligo, a condition in which skin loses its pigmentation. Decide Balance was founded in her journey to provide tools to manage stress, anxiety and emotions for her kids' classrooms. She is able offer it, for at no cost, as a means for parents and children to find relief, peace and comfort in their busy lives without any disruption to their day because the goal is to relieve stress, not add to it! The name “Decide Balance” encompasses what it means to have a busy life and access to holistic techniques to balance your daily life for yourself, your family and those around you without interfering with your daily obligations. As a Reiki Level 2 Certified Practitioner she helps others push away pain, anxiety and negative emotions so they are able to heal themselves and connect to the universal energy. Yvonne stays busy as Chief Operations Officer of Casa Hernández consisting of her husband and three future world changers. She is also a Girl Scout Troop leader and student of the Chopra Meditation Teaching Certification Program. She is an avid dancer who encourages her kids to move to their own beat. Instagram Website

Wine: El Potrillo Pinot Noir, 2017 by Honrama Cellars BIO: Joshua Santiago is a barber from North Philadelphia that provides free haircuts for the homeless. He grew up in a family that either sold drugs, did drugs, or both. He has been able to turn his life around after spending much of his youth in and out of incarceration. His grew up in a home where both of his parents were addicts and his mother has been homeless his life thus far due to drug addition. When he found the opportunity, he ran with it and founded Empowerment Cuts, a nonprofit which allows Josh to go into area of extreme homelessness and cut hair for free. Josh believes that being able to provide a free service to someone that couldn't afford it should mean more then actually receiving money for it. They are working on converting a 32 foot mobile home into a mobile barber with the help of GoFundMe and those who contributed to raise over $50,000. Instagram

Wine: Herencia Del Valle 2014 Zinfandel - Napa Valley BIO: Latina. Fierce. Fighter. A San Diego native with a laugh as big as her hair. These are just a few things we would use to describe our Founder and Host of The Wine & Chisme Podcast, Jessica Yañez. But that’s just the beginning. Jessica grew up in the suburbs of San Diego and has always had a curiosity for other people and their stories. As far back as she can remember, she would be the first to approach a new student at school, introduce herself, and want to know all about them. Not much has changed as her curiosity has lent itself well to learning more about the world around her. She specifically created the podcast to amplify the voices of those from the BIPOC community to share their stories on career, love, life and more. All while sipping on a glass of wine. She has had the opportunity to live across the Southwestern United States and has worked for organizations as large as the North Texas Super Bowl Host Committee to start up nonprofits. But ultimately there is no place like home for this San Diego girl and she has found her happy place where it all began. Instagram Facebook