Oenophiles rejoice! Guild Hall has announced the return of Visionaries, a series of intimate gatherings that introduce innovators and their personal stories of success. The next installment will feature Vanessa Price, rising star of the wine industry and author of the best-selling book “Big Macs & Burgundy: Wine Pairings for the Real World.” The event will take place at Almond Restaurant in Bridgehampton on Friday, May 21, from 3 to 5 PM, and will be moderated by Mary Ferrara of The American Hotel.
This beloved program follows the journeys of creative visionaries as they realize their dreams, break boundaries, and create businesses and organizations that reflect their values and histories. Conversations are moderated by someone close to the featured speaker and reveal extraordinary narratives about starting something new. Past Visionarieshave included Zoë Buckman, Jayma Cardoso, Christina Isaly Liceaga, Sunny Khalsa, Shantell Martin, Marcela Sapone, Magda Sayeg, Madison Utendahl, Joey Wölffer, and Marguerite Zabar Mariscal.
“Visionaries is an essential program at Guild Hall because it champions creativity, originality and resourcefulness and introduces new ways of thinking about business and the arts. Participants engage with next generation leaders and learn how they are igniting change in their respective fields,” said Andrea Grover, Guild Hall’s Executive Director.
Price will share her deep passion for wine and her remarkable journey to the top of the industry. Attendees will be taken through her extensive knowledge with a special food and wine pairing experience featured in her best-selling book, while being treated to locally sourced appetizers from Almond’s Executive Chef Jason Weiner.
Born and raised in Kentucky, Vanessa Price first caught the wine bug working in a small winery down south. She followed her passion for wine and moved to New York City in 2007, starting as a sommelier on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. From there she moved on to wine education, PR and events for wine-focused client services, consulting for private wine collectors and wine lists in NYC restaurants, and as a distributor and importer, working with some of the most renowned restaurants and wineries in the world today. Through this years-long diverse education of the wine world, Vanessa decided to dedicate herself to being both a student and teacher of wine.
Today she is the Creative Director and Founder of The Vinum Collective, creating visual content for winery and hospitality entities. She is a wine writer for New York magazine, a certified Level 4 Diploma of Wine and Spirits carrier and an instructor for The Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Her book “Big Macs & Burgundy,” a spin-off of her column, was released with Abrams and Penguin Random House October 2020. Vanessa is currently the managing partner in developing a high-end restaurant concept set to open in Montauk, Spring 2022. Her mission is to help translate the complexities of wine to wine lovers the world over. She also teaches a (very popular) wine class at Columbia University. Most of all she has a passion for grape juice and all the people who make it, sell it, and live it.
Vanessa Price shared “I am honored to be counted amongst such an incredibly talented group of individuals, and I want to thank Guild Hall for the recognition as a visionary. I am looking forward to a fun and delicious afternoon at Almond.”
Space is extremely limited and advance registration is required. Tickets are $300 for a table for two, ($250 for Visionaries-level members), and if you are unable to attend you can purchase a $40 virtual ticket to watch the program via livestream.
In-person admission includes all wines and food pairings. Those attending virtually will receive a list of wines and pairings to purchase ahead of time, and if located on the East End, wines will be available to purchase from event sponsor, Amagansett Wine & Spirits. Tickets are available for purchase now on Guild Hall’s website.