The Tasting Panel magazine

September 2010

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Susannah Gold Owner, Vigneto Communications Italy, she was in the peculiar position of having too much of a good thing. A for- mer financial reporter at Dow Jones and public relations executive, Gold speaks four languages. She holds not only the WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits, but also certifications from the Society of Wine Educators and the Wine Academy of Spain and is one of only a handful of non-Italians in the Associazione Italiana Sommeliers. W Parlaying her expertise and love for wine, Gold looked at all aspects of the business—from public relations to selling wine on the street. “My initial thought was because of my language skills and contacts, I could be a resource for companies going back and forth between the U.S. and Europe,” she says. But Gold’s idea was too high-concept for most companies. So, in 2007 she created Vigneto Communications, a boutique firm focusing on wine-centric businesses. It’s a hybrid public-relations agency and consultancy that counts among its capabilities traditional and social media strategy, as well as educa- tion, writing and event planning. “I see myself as a holistic person in this industry,” says Gold, 43. Shaping her business as such was not only a personal philosophy but part of a bigger business plan. “I see the need for more innovative concepts. It’s not enough to have a walk-around tasting; you have to have education, a social context and a contest. It’s a challenge because every wine region and every olive oil wants to be in America. The competition is tough, and it’s not just Europe—it’s the whole new world.” While wine business is her base, she’s expanded to promote other epicurean endeavors, including localwineevents. com, Accademia di Vino wine bars, ‘Cesca and Stellekaya, a woman-owned winery in South Africa. “The rewards are getting to work on a lot of interesting projects and meeting people all over the world who love food and wine.” hen New York native Susannah Gold came home in 2005 after 15 years of living in Susannah Gold. It’s not enough to have a walk-around tasting; you have to have education, a social context and a contest.” september 2010 / the tasting panel / 105

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