Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? —Mary Oliver
Wine expert Chiara Shannon’s choice of Mary Oliver’s question speaks volumes about her outlook on life and work. Pouring her passion for wine into creating a meaningful career in which she can share her knowledge to inspire and educate others, Chiara discovered her inner oenophile more than 20 years ago.
“Shortly after college, I was introduced to wine,” says Chiara, noting her interest in the geography, history, and culture of wine, as well as its taste. “I followed my curiosity and took a deep dive,” landing a job at Schramsberg Vineyards in Napa, launching her decades-long career.
During her roles as sommelier, wine buyer, retail store manager, educator, and consultant, Chiara also began to practice yoga, earning her teacher certification.
“Yoga is a great way to stay grounded and healthy,” says Chiara, noting the overlapping themes between yoga, mindfulness, and wine. “The more I learned about soil health and biodynamic farming, I realized it is very much aligned with mindfulness and thinking of everything as one whole ecosystem, much like with yoga and how we think about people as not just individuals, but as part of the whole,” she shares.
Blending her love of wine with mindfulness practices, Chiara created Mindful Wine: Taste With Intention™ programs to promote sustainable stewardship. Her work, featured in FORBES, The Wall Street Journal, and Tasting Panel Magazine, aligns with her intention to share her knowledge and educate others about the importance of biodynamic agriculture.
Noting the practical application of her philosophical views, Chiara feels a responsibility to educate others about the importance of regenerative agriculture.
Their recent acquisition of an 80-acre vineyard estate in Santa Barbara’s Sta. Rita Hills allows Chiara and her husband Joseph Brent to do just that. The property includes a 25-acre vineyard, the nation’s first to achieve certifications for organic, biodynamic, and sustainable farming. Named after the Santa Ynez groundstar, a rare, local flower that was believed to be extinct and recently rediscovered in western Lompoc, Groundstar Vineyard continues the legacy of stewardship established by former owners, Peter and Rebecca Work of Ampelos Cellars.
“We are honored to take on this new role and look forward to upholding the ideals that Peter and Rebecca have instilled here," says Brent, a founding partner of California-based law firm Brent & Fiol LLP.
“We get to be the new stewards of this property,” says Chiara. “Our plan is to take Groundstar to the next level, moving toward regenerative agriculture and becoming Regenerative Organic Certified®. We need to heal our soils, and we need to do it now,” she emphasizes, adding that their vision includes hosting educational events and supporting the community.
“We’re all connected. We want to promote other businesses and nonprofits. How can we be of service?” Chiara asks.
Learn more at mindfulwine.co and groundstarvineyard.com