Down the rabbit hole of wine 🍷 Nadine Brown, Sommelier

12/06/22 • 36 min

“If you're a curator in a museum, you're thinking about the thousands or millions of people that are coming through your space, not just your own personal taste. That's [also] important when doing a list. I have things that I love that I drink, but if I'm putting a list together, it's really important to think about all the people that are coming through the door.” — Nadine Brown, Sommelier and Wine Writer

The world of wine can be overwhelming. There is so much choice! Thank goodness for sommeliers, who matchmake our taste buds and meals to the perfect bottle. That pairing of food and wine, when done right, is a kind of alchemy itself.

Being a sommelier means delivering the right bottle to the right person at the right time. It requires immense knowledge, a knack for really listening to what people want, and then delivering something that creates an experience that is bigger than the sum of its parts.

That’s just some of what can be learned from Nadine Brown, a sommelier and wine writer and judge who was also the wine director for the Charlie Palmer Steak House in Washington, DC, where she managed a 4,000-bottle list and more than a few fancy customers.

Nadine says she thrives in the chaos of restaurants and takes great joy in providing top-notch recommendations and hospitality. It was a pleasure uncovering more about the business of curating wine for individuals and as part of an institution.

Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:

What is unique about curating wine
How to think about creating a wine list from scratch
How to pick the right bottle for the right person
How any of us can improve our wine knowledge
What most people don’t understand about wines
Which wine pairs best with tacos

👋 Say "hi" to Nadine.
🔎 Browse the companion Storyboard to get the episode, plus Nadine’s own curated picks.
➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more.

Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:

What is unique about curating wine
How to think about creating a wine list from scratch
How to pick the right bottle for the right person
How any of us can improve our wine knowledge
What most people don’t understand about wines
Which wine pairs best with tacos

Previous Episode

Where disability meets art curation ♿️ Ezra Benus, Brothers Sick

“‘Disability aesthetics’ is this term that is really loose but points to where we can find disability as the space that informs an artistic practice. When I say ‘disability arts’ or ‘disabled artistry,’ it’s [referring to] artists who have an experience of disability or illness and use that as a space that is generative and that is not hidden from the practice.” — Ezra Benus, artist, educator, and curator

The pandemic helped some people understand what it’s like to fear for one’s health daily. But for people living with a disability or chronic illness, the feeling is nothing new.

Just think about the arts. Imagine being physically disabled and going to a crowded art show with nowhere to sit, or trying to create large-scale art when your movement is limited. These are things non-disabled people might take for granted but artist/curator Ezra Benus does not.

Ezra is half of Brothers Sick, a sibling collaborative with his brother, Noah, who is also a disabled artist. (They currently have their largest commission for an exhibition, Kingdom of the Ill, at Museion in Bolzano, Italy.) Ezra is also an artist in residence at BRIC and works at United States Artists, where he helped to build and still manages the Disability Futures Fellowship, the first and largest unrestricted award to support disabled creatives in the country.

Ezra brings a unique perspective to the podcast as he considers disability and illness as part of a curatorial philosophy and practice.

Highlights, inspiration and key learnings:

Focusing on disabled art, artists and narratives
The definition of “disability aesthetics”
How the art world could be more accessible
What other curators can take away from disabled ones
Disabled artists more people should know

👋 Say "hi" to Ezra.
🔎 Browse the companion Storyboard to get the episode, plus Ezra’s own curated artist picks.
➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the popular social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more.

Next Episode

Curating images and ideas 📸 Andy Adams, FlakPhoto Projects

“In the history of human culture, we've never had a time that’s been better for learning about photography. There are images everywhere, and hopefully somebody like me can help you see some of the good stuff.” — Andy Adams, FlakPhoto Projects

In an era flooded with so much photography, usually without context, it’s a relief to have Andy Adams as a guide. Based in Madison, WI, Andy is the founder, curator and director of FlakPhoto Projects, a hub focused on conversations about photography and visual culture. Andy’s built a formidable community of people who revel in his curation of images and ideas.

In this episode, you’ll learn about the art of curating imagery in 2023 and how the art of seeing can be a form of meditation.

Other highlights, inspiration and key learnings:

What he looks for as a photography curator
Andy’s curatorial “tech stack”
How he builds community as a curator
The impact of AI on photography curation
How each of us can become more observant
Andy’s favorite photography books and podcasts

👋 Say "hi" to Andy.
🔎 Browse the companion Storyboard to get the episode, plus Andy's own favorite newsletters and his curated picks.
➕ This podcast was created by Flipboard, the world's first social magazine, where enthusiasts are curating stories they recommend across thousands of interests. Learn more