10 Amazing Wine Influencers To Follow On Instagram 2023
If you’re a wine lover, you probably know that Instagram is a great place to discover new wines, learn about the latest trends, and connect with other wine enthusiasts. But with so many wine influencers on the platform, it can be hard to know who to follow. @wineroutes has been on the platform since our inception back in 2017 and since then has gotten to interact and meet some amazing fellow wine lovers. For that reason, we wanted to share some of our very favorite accounts with you. As you will see we have an eclectic group of friends. Some accounts are humorous, some are educational and others are pure opulent.
The content creators we’ve chosen have amassed a devoted following and an authentic connection with their audience, making them valuable partners for brands looking to reach new demographics and boost sales.
What do we look for in a wine influencer? For one, they must be a master at breaking down the complex world of wine into fun, accessible content that can help the average consumer make informed decisions. Whether it’s sharing affordable bottles or offering tips on pairing wine with food, influencers need to present their content in a way that spreads love for wine and the culture that surrounds it. Stephanie Gallo said it best when asked “what is the goal of Gallo over the next 5-10 years”? her answer – Democratize wine and expand category occasion.
And speaking of platforms, Instagram and TikTok are where it’s at for wine influencers. With millions of users and the ability to make purchases directly through the app, these platforms offer a prime opportunity for brands to partner with influencers and get their products in front of new audiences.
So if you’re a wine brand looking to leverage the power of influencers, what should you do? Partnering with influencers who already have a genuine connection with their audience is key – as the VinePair poll showed, friends are the most trusted source for wine recommendations. And with the right influencer, even a simple mention of your brand could send consumers flocking to the wine aisle.
In short, wine influencers are a force to be reckoned with in the digital landscape. By partnering with these creators, brands can tap into their authentic connection with their audience and reach demographics they might not have been able to reach otherwise. And for wine lovers everywhere, influencers are making the world of wine more accessible, more fun, and more exciting than ever before. You could even say, democratizing wine one sip at a time.
TOP Wine Influencers
Fabrizio Di Rienzo – Wine Communicator & Wine Trainer
Fabrizio has infectious charisma an italian accent and high energy that literally sucks you into his content.
Born in Torino, Italy, Fabrizio started his career in the beverage industry by attending the Hospitality School of Turin. Since then he worked as a beverage specialist in several Italian venues including awarded restaurants. After taking a break from being an airline pilot, he came back to the beverage industry in the early 2000s. In 2013 he moved to the USA where he started several companies related to wine and spirits. Today Fabrizio owns a Wine Distribution company, a Marketing Company specializing in alcoholic beverages, a Consulting Beverage Company and he works as a beverage director for restaurant groups.
Since 2016 Fabrizio has worked as a consultant for celebrities and personalities guiding the launch of signature beverages.
Lauren Cain – Your Favorite Wino
Lauren began her career in the hospitality industry, which sparked her fascination with wine. From hospitality, she forged a career in Marketing and has since struck out on her own to follow her bliss in the wine industry.
In 2020, she began pursuing in-depth wine education and achieved my WSET Level II with Distinction. She is currently studying for Level III and plans to take her exam in Spring 2023.
Her focus is marketing and consulting for wineries, private and corporate tastings for consumers, and sharing her wine and travel adventures. You can find out more about Lauren AKA ‘Your Favorite Wino” via her website.
Tom Zarillo
“Wine just keeps bringing people together.”
For Tom Wine is a passport to the world, filled with stories, friendships, culture, and education. While he has had a passion for wine for quite some time, it was when his friends opened an Italian restaurant in the East Village in NYC that he knew he had to know more.
His friend who is from Italy would open bottles of the most interesting and fascinating Italian wines which expanded his palate and curiosity to learn and want more. Tom has worked in education in NYC for many years, holding two master’s degrees defines himself as a lifelong learner, only now that learning is driven by a passion from grape to the table.
Fast forward, he decided to dive in deep to study and learn how wine makes the world go round. He completed WSET Level 2, and Level 3, both with Merit and because “I LOVE all things Italian,” he is now enrolled in the Italian Wine Scholar program through the Wine Scholar Guild.
Tom wanted to dive deeper into specific wine regions and familiarize himself with Italian grapes as best he can. He says “There are so many Italian grape varieties to learn about and it can be overwhelming, but it’s fun to seek out wines made from Italian grapes from regions I am studying.”
Karen Kraakevik
“Life is short. Drink the good Wine”.
Karen, AKA The Napa Cowgirl, is a 5th generation rancher from Oklahoma bringing a mix of wine & country together that offers a relaxed western vibe into wine. She truly believes wine should be enjoyable for any lifestyle.
Karen is a wine representative helping wineries in the United States with promotion. She is a wine rep for a vineyard out of Napa, called ONEHOPE, award-winning wine, that gives back to amazing causes & it’s delivered to your door. So far they have given back over $8 Million to causes around the world.
Karen’s family is all about hard work, helping the neighbor & taking care of business, that’s how she was raised. She loves helping people & watching them succeed. She truly believes if we help each other out, then we become better together.
Lorena Woods – Wine & Food Concierge
“The time will pass anyway, you can either spend it creating the life you want or spend it living the life you don’t want. The choice is yours”.
Lorena Woods is the founder of the popular blog and social media account, Lorena Wine Diary. She’s a wine, food, music, and travel enthusiast who has an insatiable curiosity for all things related to culture.
Wine is her first love and it’s inevitable that this spills over into my other passions as well – there’s something to be learned in every bottle of wine from history, the people or the geography of its region. This led her to get a Wine Certificate (WSET II) so she could learn more about the process of making wine – how grape varieties are grown on different soils; what happens when you age them, etc. Understanding these processes better helps her pick the right wine for you and enjoy wines even more!
Wine, Food, and Music bring joy into her life, so it’s no surprise that you’ll find her cooking at home while playing one of her many music records.
Hannah
Hannah is a British Wine Consultant & Educator living in the French Riviera. Her journey began in the buzzing London wine trade, an epicentre of learning, selling and buying. But like a bottle of fine wine, all good things must come to an end. Or must they? Eager to dive in deeper, she swapped the Big Smoke for la Belle Vie and headed to Provence!
Hannah is happiest with a new wine in her glass and at her best when I teaching others. As a certified WSET Educator & French Wine expert she adores passing on her knowledge and passion to others. From curating her own bespoke classes to planning and hosting wine events, she loves nothing more than unravelling the wine world for others to enjoy.
From sales to purchasing to consultancy to education (with plenty of events thrown in there!) Hannah has been fortunate enough to work with a wide variety of clientele.
Shakera Jones
Podcaster/Host/Media Personality, SommTV, Los Angeles; Founder/CEO, BlackGirlsDineToo, New York City
Shakera Jones is the driving force behind BlackGirlsDineToo, a lifestyle brand, blog, and social media platform that offers a guide to the world of high-end food and wine. She is known for her welcoming teaching style and warm personality, which allow people with any level of knowledge or experience to learn about wine and cuisine. Shakera hosts bi-weekly virtual tastings where she explores different varietals and production regions, expanding the palates of her followers and breaking down the intimidating barriers that often come with the world of fine wines.
Shakera’s goal is to promote and support diversity and inclusion efforts for women and other underrepresented groups in the culinary and fine wine industries. This need arose from her own experiences exploring her passion for food, wine, and culture in this space. Despite being a tech professional by day, Shakera is currently studying to obtain certification through the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine Scholar Guild, specifically the Spanish Wine Scholar program.
Shakera is also a media personality on the SOMM TV streaming network and part of the cast of the soon-to-be-released film, SOMM 4. She is a wine writer with articles featured in Food & Wine and SevenFifty Daily, and was recently recognized by Wine & Spirits magazine. Shakera recently launched her new podcast, A Glass for Every Palate.
The Vintner Project
Know your winemaker, know your wine.
The Vintner Project is a collaborative effort to explore the vast and diverse world of wine in an approachable way, focusing on the stories of wineries and the people behind them.
The Vintner Project contributors reflect a diverse voice of wine consumers from around the world. Together, we are committed to providing a platform for ALL wine regions and winemakers.
Thier goal is to not only feature awesome wine but also share interesting stories and foster conversation and connections across our community.
Andrea Zigrossi
To make you drop everything and move to Capri, his Instagram is enough. His work is going to make you sigh with envy. Andrea Zigrossi is an Italian sommelier who makes many of our daydreams come true. For the fortunate patrons of L’Olivio, he picks wine—a 2 Michelin star restaurant on the ridiculously gorgeous island of Capri.
Andrea has experienced a quick trajectory in the wine biz, showy and confident, a little by nature and a little for fun. Growing up and attending school in Rome, his first move was a stint in London in the world of catering. He moved back to Rome a year later and began working for some of the city’s finest restaurants, including the prestigious 3 Michelin star La Pergola.
Ashley Lewis
Our glass is always half full
The Social Grapes is a blog dedicated to wine reviews, winery highlights, regional insight, and all things wine education. We’ve worked with wineries and local restaurants to promote experiences. I’m excited to share that this year, we also launched a wine tasting service. Our tastings are fun! We aim to keep wine approachable and modern – one example is pairing wines with gourmet macrons (shout-out to Night Owls Baking Co)!
Wine Routes – National Winery Trip Planner
Discover and Share your favoirte Wineries
While you’re at it, check out the Wine Routes on Instagram. What makes it unique is the focus on helping wine lover’s find wineries based on region, varietals served, amenities and price points. We think it’s awesome, but admittedly, we’re completely biased. You can sign up for Wine Routes here.
Of course, the list above only just scratches the surface of cool accounts to follow in the wine world! Naturally, we’re always on the hunt for people and accounts producing original content about wine. So, if you’re following someone (or something) awesome that you think we should know about, definitely post it in the comments below!
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