Meet Autumn Gilliam

We recently connected with Autumn Gilliam and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Autumn with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

My parents. My parents instilled in me that if you work hard you will be rewarded. They also set an example for me early in life. I can never remember a time when my parents did not put maximum effort into their jobs. I have taken that mentality and it has helped me push through boundaries in my professional life. I have certainly had people at one time or another say, “you aren’t ready for the next step”. Those types of comments make me push harder to achieve the next goal in life or business. The only way to accomplish that is by working hard and being passionate about what you do.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a licensed Wine Educator and Golf Professional located in Rochester, MN. I have been teaching golf for over 25 years all over the country. My career started in the Chicago area working at a number of golf courses and eventually becoming Director of Golf which included helping in the food and beverage department and catering. That is where my wine exposure first started. I then continued my golf career in Connecticut and in Albuquerque, NM before relocating with my husband to Rochester, MN. I have been teaching golf in Rochester, MN for 5 years and in the last 3 years realized that I wanted to tap more into my love of wine. I had been to many wine tastings and wineries throughout the world and felt like there was a huge gap in information that needed to be filled. I started doing wine tastings with my friends and realized that there is a true hunger for learning more about wine and being a better informed consumer. This took me on a journey of getting my wine certifications through WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). I felt like this was a must if I wanted to start my own wine education business. I am currently WSET Level 3 Wine Certified and working on the WSET Diploma Certification which is a 3 years highly advanced certification. I am also WSET Level 1 Sprits Certified and am now incorporating spirit education into my business. The wine classes I teach are very informative in a relaxed environment. I will never make anyone feel bad for asking a question or how they hold a wine glass. The goal is to remove any pretension and make wine fun. Many times we try to guess which wine is the most expensive out of the tasting and it is so fun to watch everyone pay attention to the “clues” I give during a class so that they can make the best determination. Currently I have a Pinot Noir Class and a Cabernet Sauvignon Class coming up in August as well as some other private events. In September I will have 2 Wine classes and 1 Whisky class at Buzzin’ Blooms MN. From September through the end of the year there will be monthly wine classes, each with a different topic, at 125 Live in Rochester, MN.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I think proper communication, asking questions, and finding a mentor or a group of people to talk to are so important. Without all of these I would not be where I am today. It is so easy to NOT ask questions. Usually asking a question will spark a conversation about a topic or items you didn’t initially think about and take you down a path that can be extremely beneficial

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

So many people have helped me through this journey. Firstly, my family and friend have supported me through starting my wine business and continuing to teach golf. Without their support none of my success would have been possible. Next, the fabulous people at Collider in Rochester, MN have helped empower me to do all of the things necessary to get my Wine Education business up and going. There were road blocks in getting started and without their guidance I would not be in business today so I am extremely grateful for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.theadventuroussip.com
• Instagram: @mnwinechick