We were lucky to catch up with Dan Rogers recently and have shared our conversation below.

Dan, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I think my story is underrepresented in the wine industry. I have no formal training/education in food or wine… everything I have and share is fueled solely by passion and a persistent desire to experience new things and to share with others. Since getting started, I took it upon myself to further my knowledge through first hand experience, individual research, and connecting with others who are far more knowledgeable! I intend to pursue more formal education to continue my growth, but I strive to not lose sight of my origin in the process.

Looking back at my beginnings, I would advance my growth by seeking mentorship from others in the industry. Reading and personal research provided a solid foundation for what I know now, but direct engagement with others, especially those more knowledgeable than I, is far more rewarding and provides a more efficient transfer of knowledge and experience than reading alone.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Wine and food are my passion, but not my profession. It’s my creative outlet after a stressful day of work. It fosters meaningful social engagement with friends and family, and it satisfies my constant desire to eat! How did this all get started… I love to eat… probably more than I should! My passion was initially fueled by this insatiable need to eat, and therefore a need to learn how to cook. Adding wine and spirits into the mix was a natural progression. I love enjoying the classic pairing of food and wine, but I also find joy in breaking some of the rules and creating unconventional pairings.

While starting this journey, I found myself talking my wife’s ear off about what we were having for dinner, what wine we were pairing, and why! After a couple weeks of this, she encouraged me to find a platform where I could share my excitement with others… and so the journey began.

We’ve been at it for 3yrs now and have tried countless meals and opened seemingly endless bottles of wine. Through this journey, I’ve found that i find particular joy in sharing ideas with others and recommending wines to pair with different meals. I have a pretty extensive memory of wines and tasting notes and am able to draw on my first hand experiences to recommend wine (and meal pairings) to others. I strive to learn something personal about the people I engage with to help me create a personal taste profile that I can draw on when sharing ideas.

Can you share your view on NFTs? (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice)

I think this is an interesting, and polarizing, question in the wine community. There are a few ventures looking to bridge the gap between the wine/spirits and Web3 communities, but there is a long road ahead before reaching mainstream adoption.

Wine is an industry steeped in tradition and history… and an industry that does not readily adapt to change and modern thinking. That said, there is a distinct difference between the way our parents enjoyed wine and the way our generation does…

At the core, wine is social and is best enjoyed with others… but in an increasingly online marketplace, it’s difficult to directly share with others. NFTs provide a unique opportunity to maintain the traditional aspects of wine making while leveraging new thinking to engage and connect producers and consumers.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My journey is driven by my curiosity and insatiable appetite to learn and grow. While personally motivated, I love being able to share with others and grow a community of likeminded individuals. At the core, I strive to fuel my passion, but the benefit of building community and sparking similar passion in others cannot be understated. I hope that through my curiosity and exploration, I can excite and encourage someone who might not otherwise have tried paring food and wine… and I hope their experience of a perfect pair is as captivating and memorable as it is for me!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/winenot519/
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1951223
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/winenot519