We were lucky to catch up with Tuanni Price recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tuanni, so good to have you with us today. We’ve got so much planned, so let’s jump right into it. We live in such a diverse world, and in many ways the world is getting better and more understanding but it’s far from perfect. There are so many times where folks find themselves in rooms or situations where they are the only ones that look like them – that might mean being the only woman of color in the room or the only person who grew up in a certain environment etc. Can you talk to us about how you’ve managed to thrive even in situations where you were the only one in the room?
First and foremost I’d like to say that bragging about being the only one in the room is so 1990’s. When I first started in the wine industry I would go to events and I would often times be the only one in the room. At first I would feel uncomfortable, especially when other attendees treated me like I worked at the venue. I overcame this uncomfortable feeling by reminding myself that I have worked for entry and nothing has been simple or given. I also remind myself that I am not alone. I always show up on behalf of and with my ancestors. Someone has struggled and even died for me to consume space and happily live. It’s an honor to those that did not have a choice to enter the same spaces I do. So when I am in the room I go back to basics: breathe, speak at a loud but comfortable tone, make eye contact, announce my name with pride and shake hands firmly.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Tuanni Price is on a mission to make the complicated world of wine simple. That is the motto of her wine lifestyle business, Zuri Wine Tasting. The international Wine Educator curates’ wine-filled lifestyles in Southern California and in Cape Town, South Africa. In addition to managing the day-to-day operations and wine experience planning on behalf of Zuri Wine Tasting, Tuanni volunteers for Pinotage Youth Development Academy (PYDA), Blacc Cellar Club (BLACC) as the Director of Education, and she is a member of Cultivate Collective. Tuanni is known for being passionate about South African wine culture and has been coined South Africa’s very own wine brand ambassador”
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?
The three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have been most impactful in my journey are public speaking, ability to adapt quickly to change and hospitality/event planning. My advice to folks who are early in their journey is to be flexible and have boundaries at the same time. And also to invest in yourself, Study your craft both formally and informally.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I’d love to collaborate more with people in the wine space focused on owning a stake in the value change. For example instead of owning a wine label I’d love to partner with the type of people who want to invest in a cellar/production facility. Or someone who owns an event space to host wine conferences.
Contact Info:
- Website: zuriwine.com
- Instagram: ZuriWineTasting
- Facebook: ZuriWineTasting
- Linkedin: Tuanni Price
- Twitter: @zuriwinelife
- Youtube: WineWithTuanni
- Yelp: Zur Wine Tasting
Image Credits
Isithandile Matshoba
