THE FOUNDATION OF A VINE AFFAIR
A Vine Affair is the brainchild of Champagne Educator, Gina Lyons, who found a way to continue hosting champagne and fine culinary experiences for wine lovers from around the world in the comfort and safety of home during the COVID pandemic.
In March 2020, Gina began hosting weekly virtual wine tastings collaborating with Michelin suppliers such as Champagne Louis Roederer, Champagne Billecart-Salmon, Champagne Frerejean Frères, and food and wine pairings with Sabatino Truffles and Haute Caviar, among others. After great success, A Vine Affair was born to curate bespoke champagne and culinary experiences for every enthusiast.
MEET GINA LYONS, A VINE AFFAIR CEO
A PASSION FOR CHAMPAGNE
Gina's experience living abroad in both Asia and Europe for over a decade developed her appreciation for great food and a special interest in wine. Gina applies her experience as client experience lead for a major luxury fashion label to A Vine Affair including hosting, clientelling, and high-end experiences.
From this corporate position, Gina quickly realized her interest in wine and champagne was growing and she wanted it to play a more prominent role in her life.
Gina left her corporate job in April 2019 to pursue wine full time. During this time, Gina studied wine in more depth and earned wine several certifications. She is a a champagne ambassador and connoisseur who has sampled a countless number of champagnes, visited Champagne numerous times, and has shared her knowledge of champagne with thousands of people in-person and online. In addition to her strong ties to Champagne, she has also developed connections with other wine regions as well, Bordeaux, Napa, and Burgundy to name a few.
Following her passion for champagne and fine wine, Gina dove deeper into caviar and earned a Caviar Sommelier Certification from the Asia Pacific Wine & Spirit Institute. Gina has also been mentored by caviar producers and houses.
In 2022, Gina was inducted into the CRPC, where she is a part of a small group of champagne enthusiasts and educators who trade from all over the world. This group gathers twice a year in Champagne to taste the Vins Clairs of Cristal, and harvest the grapes of Cristal Rosé.
Featured in the Huff Post, ABC7 Suncoast View, Booze Press, The Champagne Club, Tampa Bay Business and Wealth, Gulf Shore Life Magazine, Lakewood City and Naples City Lifestyle magazines, amongst several other publications, Gina Lyons has quickly made a mark in the world of wine as a champagne specialist and wine educator.
Certifications:
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WSET Level 3 in Wines
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Asia Pacific Wine & Spirit Institute Caviar Sommelier
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Wine Scholar's Guild Champagne Masterclass Candidate
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UC Davis Wine Tasting: Sensory Techniques for Wine Analysis
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Richard Juhlin Champagne Masterclass
MEET PRISCILLA LAVAUX, VOYAGE COORDINATOR
A PASSION FOR TRAVEL
Born and raised in France, Priscilla embarked on a career as a legal advisor, specializing in defending the rights of people injured in accidents. She had a successful career, but deep down, she was dreaming of traveling the world, meeting people and new cultures. In 2021, after 12 years in law, she decided to quit her career and take a risk, following her intuition. She bought a one-way ticket to Thailand, and this pivotal move, was the beginning of her second life.
Since the day she landed in Thailand, she never stopped traveling. She became a nomad, not only visiting ew places, but living like a local and really immersing herself in the culture and way of life. During her time in Mexico, she completely revolutionalized her perfessional life. With the skills she developed in her career, and the English language skills she aquired during her travels, she decided to offer her services internationally, and pursue a full-time career as a digital nomad.
The moment Gina and Priscilla met, they knew this was the beginning of an amazing professional partnership, and friendship. Since joining A Vine Affair, Priscilla has successfully executed the 2023 Trips, and is the personal concierge for the upcoming 2024 trips and offerings. She brings professionalism, worldly experience, the highest standards with a meticulous eye for detail, communication in English, French and Spanish, and a genuine, warm heart to each client and experience for A Vine Affair.
