Laura McLean
Easygoing, hardworking, and completed dedicated to the business, I am an an enthusiastic and downright geeky wine aficionado. I've worked in multiple aspects of the industry, from working harvests in Napa to managing retail and wine bar establishments here in San Diego.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
San Francisco Wine School. San Diego, CA (online). CWAS, California Wine Appellation Specialist
Society of Wine Educators . Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)
Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits
Society of Wine Educators . Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)
Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits
EXPERIENCE
Weygandt-Metzler Importing. San Diego, CA. Sales Representative
WineSellar & Brasserie. San Diego, CA. Project Coordinator/Wine Club Manager
Opus One. Oakville, CA. Guest Relations Coordinator
Hotel del Coronado. Coronado, CA. Wine Steward
Wine Steals. San Diego, CA. Assistant General Manager
WineSellar & Brasserie. San Diego, CA. Project Coordinator/Wine Club Manager
Opus One. Oakville, CA. Guest Relations Coordinator
Hotel del Coronado. Coronado, CA. Wine Steward
Wine Steals. San Diego, CA. Assistant General Manager
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Regional Expertise: California
Regional Expertise: France
Wine List Creation
Wine Writer
Wine Educator
Wine Club/Direct to Consumer
Tasting Room
Regional Expertise: France
Wine List Creation
Wine Writer
Wine Educator
Wine Club/Direct to Consumer
Tasting Room
Wine Retail
Wine Service- Bar or Wine Bar
Inventory Management
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine and Food Pairing
Collectibles and Rare Wine
Wine Service- Bar or Wine Bar
Inventory Management
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine and Food Pairing
Collectibles and Rare Wine
Easygoing, hardworking, and completed dedicated to the business, I am an an enthusiastic and downright geeky wine aficionado. I've worked in multiple aspects of the industry, from working harvests in Napa to managing retail and wine bar establishments here in San Diego.
MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
Throughout my life, I've never been able to answer the age-old questions of what I want to be when I grow up. I'm interested in just about everything on earth and the wine industry is the only I've found that encompasses art and science so completely. I got serious about studying wine nearly a decade ago and have dedicated my professional life to it ever since, even moving to Napa for a few years to experience working at a world-class winery. Share
My wine career began when I was just 22 years old. I had a crush on a boy who was taking a Wines of the World class at a local community college. Halfway through the semester, I discovered that I was much more interested in the subject matter than in the boy. I quit my unsatisfying waitress job to work at one of San Diego's premiere wine bars, eventually graduating to the Hotel del Coronado before packing up my things and moving to Napa. In wine country, I had the distinct honor of working for nearly two years at Opus One, hosting wine tours and tastings for celebrities and visiting dignitaries. I was selected as a member of the winery winemaking team and spent time in the field, the lab, and the cellar learning how to make one of California's most iconic wines. I also continued my studies at Napa Valley College, receiving extensive training in viticulture and enology, as well as wine sales and marketing. I moved back to San Diego in June of 2014 and have been working as Project Coordinator and Wine Club Manager at the WineSellar & Brasserie ever since.