Today we’d like to introduce you to Miryam Fossati.
Hi Miryam, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After college, I started working at an international company doing product development and design. It was fascinating and very creative, it also allowed me to travel the world and see the product cycle from ideation to how it gets to the final consumer at the store level. After over a decade of working in this company, I had the opportunity to start consulting and that is when I experienced the freedom of making my own schedule and working for myself, and never looked back. I probably work more hours per day than when I had an office, but it is all worth it.
After a couple of years of consulting in the same industry, I started to think what next? My dad who has always given me great advice, told me to make a list of the things I like to do when I am not working, then grab the top 3 and figure a job that encompasses all those three, so it will never feel like work. So, I had to figure out how to make money from traveling, eating great food and drinking delicious wine.
I reach out to a good friend in the wine import business. I figured I know a lot about importing, selling and manufacturing all sorts of product so wine shouldn’t be any different. Oh, I was wrong, very kindly he pointed out that even thought my resume looked great, nothing in there said anything about wine, and saying I like drinking it, did not qualify as knowing about it. He suggested I signed up for some certifications as a great way of learning, so I did. I loved it!
The more I learned the more I wanted to know more. I like to think that if you go deep into the wine world or like some people in the industry say, “down the rabbit hole”, that experience makes you humble when it comes to wine. It is because once you think you know something… well, you realized you don’t know anything….you just discovered the tip of that iceberg.
That is when I created my personal IG page @journeythruflavors so I could put information about the bottles I was drinking, the places I was going and what I was pairing them with. It helped me visualized when getting ready for exams. While still doing some consulting, I started working in a wine boutique, which was a great learning experience and a great way to immerse myself in the industry and the different areas it covers.
I think at one point, I had three different jobs while studying for different certifications. I was working at the wine boutique, still consulting for my clients in the import business, also started curating private cellars, doing private events for clients and loving every minute of it. I think all this helped me stay focus, it also allowed me to have access to so many incredible bottles of wines, which many where in the study material in the different certifications I was going after. In about two years a became a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Level 3 with the Wine Spirit Education Trust and a French Wine Specialist by the Wine Scholar Guild. Talk about a crash course in wine.
Last year on September 2021, I had the opportunity to go spend over a month in France, it was an amazing experience as I went to the motherland of wine. It made me love and appreciate wine and the food that goes with it even more. It also solidified the idea of what I wanted to do personally and in my new professional career.
Once I returned home, I had people asking about where they could find the wines I was drinking and how they could experience something similar. Opportunities opened up servicing private owners, chefs and crew from Yachts here in Fort Lauderdale. That is where the idea of creating Premier Cellars started.
After many months of navigating laws and regulations related to alcohol, developing new clients, building partnerships while creating a new business I am happy to say that we are launching Premier Cellars to the public in September 2022 right in time for the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show.
So what is Premier Cellars? Keep reading this article to find out how you can be part of our community and benefit of the amazing services we provide.
All hands go deck.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Like on any journey, any bumps on the road are great opportunities to learn and grow from them. When I decided to leave corporate America and start my own business Premier Cellars. I knew the road was not going to be easy, but that is what it made it exciting. Deciding to switch careers and transition to the world of wine, gourmet food and traveling sounded glamourous and a great lifestyle….and it is…but it also comes with hard work, hours of learning, researching and plenty of hustling. Like in any new business, I had to learn to navigate all the city, county and state regulations to be fully operational, build a business strategy, a niche market, and overall learn about wine. I am a Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Level 3 with the Wine Spirit Education Trust and a French Wine Specialist by the Wine Scholar Guild….yes I know that is a mouth full, and it took many great people to help me along the way and also great bottles of wines to keep me focus.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Premier Cellars is a curator of fine wines and gourmet foods with domestic and global partners. Its dedicated and passionate team of wine experts act as personal consultants in the procurement and sourcing of specialty wines providing their expertise in both wine and food pairing selections to private individuals, yacht owners, yacht provision companies, and anybody looking for customized service for their wine needs.
You don’t have to own a yacht to enjoy the lifestyle, we provide tasting experiences to transport you to different regions of the wine world from the comfort of your home. If traveling is your thing, we have partnered up with OCEANS EXP to take you on expeditions around the world where after a day of adventures, you will enjoy a full course dinner with their proper wine pairing. Starting in 2023 we will also be taking some of our clients to exclusive visits to different wine regions. Join our Newsletter or follow us on social media @premiercellarsfll to be the first to know.
For those that don’t want to wait for the next trip to experience the perfect food and wine pairing. You can join our local community of Bons Vivants and receive a delivery of wine with its perfect pairing of gourmet food. We have different packages, contact us for more information or check out our website.
Some of our services:
PERSONALIZED WINE TASTINGS
– Variety of wine tasting themes combining education and entertainment.
– Group tasting on-board and on-shore for owners and guests.
– Wine education and training.
WINE & BEVERAGE SUPPLY
– From every day to Fine, Rare & Exclusive Wines sourcing.
– Delivery within 24 – 72 hours to most vessels in South Florida.
– Covering South Florida, The Caribbean and Europe.
BESPOKE ADVICE FROM A SOMMELIER
– Onshore and Onboard wine specialist providing personalized service.
– Wine recommendations with tasting notes.
– Yacht Wine List Build-Up with a tasting experience.
CELLAR CURATION & MANAGEMENT
– Cellar planning and inventory management strategies.
– Collection management & curation.
– Selling, Sourcing, Buying and more.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
It is impossible to start a new business on your own, without the help of family, friends and other small business owners to give you advice and connected you to others, I would still be sitting trying to figure out what to do. From lawyer friends helping me read regulations to realtor friends helping me understand contracts, to friends in the wine business and other sommeliers helping me get ready for my exams, the list would be endless.
My advice to anyone starting a new business, rely on your network of friends and other businesses. You might be asking for advice and help today, and that is ok because tomorrow you will be in the position to help others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.premier-cellars.com/
- Instagram: @PremierCellarsFll
- Facebook: @PremierCellarsFll
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSbPNV30O92PwfcmD3xfaAA
