Welcome to Episode 2142, in which Jessica Dupuy interviews Alisha Blackwell-Calvert live from TEXSOM 2024! Alisha Blackwell-Calvert is Beverage Director of Madrina in St. Louis, an Advanced Sommelier and certified Specialist of Wine.   Join us as Texas-based wine journalist Jessica Dupuy interviews top writers, journalists, sommeliers, and wine professionals at this important wine expo. In this special series, Jessica will delve into the experiences and insights of key attendees, exploring career paths, challenges, and the latest trends in the wine industry.   More about today’s guest:   Alisha Blackwell-Calvert is an Advanced Sommelier and Beverage Director of Madrina Restaurant. Formerly of Cinder House at the Four Seasons Hotel STL, awards include Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 2021 “Sommelier of the Year”, Wine Star Award nominee, a 2018 “40 Under 40 Tastemaker”, and the 2023 Iconoclast Wine Honoree at the James Beard House. Blackwell-Calvert has served as a mentor in the Bâtonnage Forum program and member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International. Her hobbies include mead consulting and working with draft horses.    Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exquisitevines/?hl=en Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alisha-blackwell-calvert-csw-52471893/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/exquisitevines/ Twitter: https://x.com/exquisitevines   More about today’s host:   Jessica Dupuy covers wine, spirits, and travel from Austin, Texas. She holds a Diploma with the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust, is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a Certified Specialist of Wine and Spirits through the Society of Wine Educators. Dupuy’s work has appeared in Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Imbibe, Texas Monthly, Forbes, SevenFifty Daily, GuildSomm, VinePair, and Southern Living. She recently published, The Wines of Southwest USA in addition to six regional cookbooks. She also co-hosts podcast, Another Bottle Down.   Connect:   Website: www.jessicadupuy.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/jessicandupuy Twitter: www.twitter.com/jessicandupuy   _______________________________   Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels:   Instagram www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast    If you feel like helping us, donate here: www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/    Until next time, Cin Cin!