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October / November 2015

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{ SOMMjournal.com }  97 Deciding which bottles are on the shelves is Alvarez-Peters's job, but she didn't come to it from a wine background, or even a scholastic one—she came as a buyer from Costco's electronics department. Entering the alcohol beverage category, she was, at first, "intrigued by wine and then overwhelmed," she says. "Oh my goodness, there was so much to learn! There was a day I thought I could never figure out Bordeaux and Burgundy, let alone pro- nounce anything." To get her bearing, she studied with the Certified Wine Instructor (CWE) program and gradually worked through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) for her diploma, calling in suppliers to teach her about wine categories and regions. Most recently, she considered trying for her Master of Wine (MW), but as a busy executive for one of the nation's top wine outlets, Alvarez-Peters can't spare the time. "I'm not a college graduate, which is part of why I wanted the accreditation," she says. "Getting my MW was too much," she says. "[Studying for it is] a full-time job on its own. Traveling and working as much as I do, I couldn't see friends or family." She adds that her girlfriends commented that she'd been studying as long as they'd known her and worried that her tombstone would read Annette was great fun, but we never got to see her because she was studying. "I realized I can't do everything. There's a quote that says, 'You can do it all, you just can't do it all at once.' I had to decide what I wanted to give up, and it was the program." A member of the Women of the Vine Alliance advisory board, Alvarez-Peters chalks much of her rise to the executive level to Costco's openness to those seeking opportunity. "Half of our buying staff in Alcohol Beverage is female," she says. "If you're a woman, or of color, or gay, or what have you, we look at everyone as an individual. There are so many departments and categories that it becomes [a question of] 'What do you want to do as an individual at Costco?' Whatever that is, we just ask that you be committed and enjoy it." Alvarez-Peters cites Costco's VP/GMM Electronics, Linda Perkins, as a role model. "The electronics department was a very male-dominated field. Linda was smart and never afraid to stand up for what she believed was right for the department and/ or best for the company." She also claims Costco's founder, Jim Sinegal, as a personal hero. "His humility, wisdom and outstanding leadership skills have been very inspirational. He is a retail genius and taught me to strive for excellence." One of those leadership skills Alvarez-Peters has had to culti- vate is the ability to listen. "I think a lot of times, especially when you're young, you're not mature and you babble. I was a babbler!" she laughs. "But as you move up the ladder, you need to listen even more to understand the issues and challenges of a situa- tion. If you don't listen, you don't understand, and if you don't understand, you can't resolve. "Also, I learned to say no. I don't overbook my schedule anymore. I used to—every second was something, but I need down time. I need to rest, especially when I travel internationally. It's tempting, when I'm in someone's part of the world, to visit everyone there, but my schedule can't take everyone. I tell them there's always next time." On a practical level, Alvarez-Peters always honors her need for exercise and water when she's on the road. "I always pack my tennis shoes—sometimes I pack them for a ride, but the intent is always there!—and I hydrate constantly." As for relationships, Alvarez-Peters has been with "a fine gentle- man who takes care of me" for over 22 years, married for 11, and she lays claim to "a ton of nieces and nephews." When asked how she strikes a balance between her responsibilities at home and at work, she says, "Both are extremely important. There never seem to be enough hours in a day to do everything. I have learned that I cannot say yes to every request. I plan my schedule by making an effort to balance all events in my life, both personal and professional." Annette Alvarez-Peters at the Picnic and Barrel Auction of Wines Washington Wine Picnic at Chateau Ste. Michelle in Woodinville, WA. ABOUT WOMEN OF THE VINE ® Women of the Vine is a membership-based alliance that empowers and equips women worldwide to advance their careers in the alcohol beverage industry, fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. The Women of the Vine Global Symposium is scheduled for April 4–7, 2016 in Napa, CA. For more information, visit www.WomenoftheVine.com.

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