Today we’d like to introduce you to Federico Di Catarina.
Hi Federico, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
WineVoyage’s roots go back to 2015, when Nicolas Singer — Co-Founder & Wine Director and a Buenos Aires-born vintner, wine educator, and industry voice — launched Sommeliers Informales, a wine blog with a bold mission: democratize wine for everyone. At a time when the wine world felt exclusive and intimidating, Nicolas created an inclusive space that blended wine education, winery reviews, and sharp cultural commentary — think wine paired with memes and political figures. It broke down gatekeeping, dissolved industry jargon, and welcomed anyone, regardless of how much or how little they knew about wine. The blog grew to over 25,000 followers and gave rise to two wine labels, proving that people were hungry for a more approachable wine culture.
In 2020, longtime friend Federico Di Catarina — Co-Founder & Head of Operations, a Miami native with a background in meteorology, sail charters, wine production operations, and market & brand development — joined Nicolas to co-found Wine Club Imports, a private label wine company headquartered in Miami. Today, Wine Club Imports carries nine private label wines sold across the Americas and Europe, including Plumaje, Jinete, and their flagship, Voyant Malbec.
With deep wine expertise and a shared love of sailing, Nicolas and Federico saw an opportunity Miami was missing: a truly intimate, elegant wine experience on the water. In the summer of 2024, WineVoyage was born — a sister brand to Wine Club Imports — setting sail across the coastal waters of Key Biscayne.
Since then, WineVoyage has been hosting at least one outing per week, welcoming Miami residents, tourists, corporate groups, and guests celebrating everything from anniversaries and birthdays to marriage proposals. Guests sail aboard 40-foot-plus vessels — Jeanneau, Beneteau, and Lagoon Catamarans — chosen for their motorless, gliding elegance. Quiet, intimate, and unhurried, each 2-to-3-hour experience accommodates private and shared groups of up to 10 guests. A licensed sommelier curates a selection of top wines from around the world, paired with artisan cheese and charcuterie boards.
The spirit of Sommeliers Informales lives on in every outing — WineVoyage is a place where any level of wine knowledge is not just welcome, but celebrated. It’s about relaxing, exploring, and discovering new wines from around the world, all while sailing the beautiful waters of Miami.
WineVoyage has been featured on several television programs, including Chicas Guapas and Channel 7, and is currently expanding to West Palm Beach and Naples — initially as an on-demand service aboard partner vessels, with plans for dedicated WineVoyage boats in those waters in the future.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Smooth? Not entirely — but every challenge has been worth it.
At the beginning, the biggest resistance came from within the industry itself — winemakers, sommeliers, and teams from established wineries who didn’t quite understand that our purpose was the same as theirs: to make people curious about wine and help it reach more people. The difference was the language. We were speaking to a new generation in a casual, irreverent way while the traditional industry was still attached to formality and technical vocabulary. Over time that changed, and many of those same people became collaborators and partners — a relationship that continues through our businesses today.
Transitioning from an online wine brand to a full-scale private label company with international relationships required the right partner. Bringing Federico on board was a natural decision. While his background was in meteorology rather than winemaking, he brought exactly what was needed: sales, operations, U.S. market strategy, team leadership, and sailing experience — a combination that proved invaluable as Wine Club Imports grew and later as WineVoyage came to life.
Launching WineVoyage brought its own set of hurdles. Miami’s marina and boat charter costs are significant, and navigating the legal landscape of alcohol permits in the U.S. is a challenge that requires patience and careful planning.
Building the right team was another journey. Miami is a growing wine market — with a notable cultural shift away from hard spirits toward wine and specialty drinks — but it doesn’t have the deep sommelier community you’d find in a city like New York. Finding the right sommelier takes time. Finding one who is also comfortable aboard a sailing vessel on open water? That narrows the field considerably. But with patience and persistence, we found our people.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about WineVoyage?
WineVoyage is Miami’s most unique wine experience — and arguably its most intimate. We sail guests across the stunning waters of Biscayne Bay aboard 40-foot-plus luxury sailboats and catamarans — Jeanneau, Beneteau, and Lagoon vessels — chosen specifically because they are motorless. No engine noise, no crowds, no rush. Just the sound of the water, the ocean breeze, and a glass of exceptional wine in your hand.
Each 2-to-3-hour experience is guided by a licensed sommelier who curates a flight of top international wines, paired with a gourmet cheese and charcuterie board. But this isn’t a stuffy tasting — it’s a conversation. Guests are encouraged to ask questions, share what they taste, and simply enjoy the ride. True to the spirit that started with Sommeliers Informales a decade ago, any level of wine knowledge is welcome here.
We specialize in small, intimate groups of up to 10 guests, which means every outing feels personal and thoughtfully curated rather than a mass tourism experience. Whether you’re celebrating an anniversary, planning a marriage proposal, hosting a corporate event, or simply looking for something truly different to do in Miami — WineVoyage delivers a multi-sensory experience that guests consistently call one of the highlights of their trip.
What sets us apart is the combination of genuine wine expertise, sailing heritage, and an inclusive philosophy that has been at the heart of our brand since day one. Our founders aren’t just hosts — Nicolas Singer is a Buenos Aires-born vintner and wine educator with over a decade in the industry, and Federico Di Catarina brings years of sailing charter experience on these very waters. When you sail with WineVoyage, you’re in expert hands on both fronts.
We are proudest of the community we’ve built — guests who come back, guests who bring their families, and guests who tell us it changed how they think about wine. That’s exactly what we set out to do in 2015, and it’s what we continue to do every time we set sail.
WineVoyage departs from Dinner Key Marina in Coconut Grove and is available for both shared and private bookings year-round. We are currently expanding to West Palm Beach and Naples, bringing this one-of-a-kind experience to more of Florida’s beautiful coastline.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’m a high energy individual, always curious, for example, I was always asking “why?” after everyone anyone said (everyone was annoyed). I wanted to be scientist from day 1, but I’ve always had strong interest in other areas such as macro economy, investing, wine, and of course meteorology. I feel like i’m always needing to do a something productive, even on my off time (such as listening to podcast) but that had it’s negatives.
Pricing:
- 1800 for private sailing experiences
- 300 per person for shared sailing experiences
- Private label wines, consult for pricing
- Voyant Malbec 2022 25 usd per bottle
Contact Info:
- Website: https://wine-voyage.com
- Instagram: @winevoyage_
- Soundcloud: wineclubimports.com
