Today we’d like to introduce you to Tami Wong.
Tami, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I grew up in my grandparents’ restaurant in Brookings, South Dakota, then my father’s in Colorado. We moved to California when I was a teenager. In college at Mira Costa, then SDSU I studied Spanish and Communication and put my hospitality career on the back burner, but started developing my palate while working in cigar lounges, I had a barista phase, I worked for a year at Nunu’s as a cocktail waitress before I got into wine.
The wine bug bit me when I worked at the 3rd Corner in OB and I haven’t been interested in anything else since. I passed Intro and Certified through the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2007. In 2014, I was one of Wine & Spirits magazine’s Best New Sommeliers, the second ever in San Diego. 2015 brought my Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for my list at Juniper and Ivy.
In 2017, I crossed over to sales, representing Estate Wines Ltd and Wine Wise, We feature small, artisanal, family wineries primarily from the Old World. I also represent Stehleon Vineyards and Vesper Vineyards. Both wineries make their wines from all San Diego County grown grapes in their winery in Escondido. I work in their tasting room, Sans V, a weekend or two a month, so you should come see me!
As an ambassador for the San Diego County Vintners Association and the San Diego Urban Wineries, I am helping bridge the gap between San Diego wineries and the greater San Diego community.
I am part of Nat Diego, San Diego’s fun-loving natural wine festival, We just sold out our third annual, with 50% more winemakers than last year coming to town to pour. Enthusiasts and trade visited from all over the country.
My newest project is the CampestreMag wine ‘zine, which focuses on San Diego and Baja wine. We are female-centered but inclusive of all good people doing good work. I think of us as the punk rock KPBS of local wine.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Growing up in the Midwest in a nice Christian family, I learned that selflessness is a virtue. Turn the other cheek. Unlearning those things, or balancing them, have been difficult but necessary. Putting everyone else first works to an extent in hospitality, but ultimately, I am still learning to be my own best advocate. Sometimes, you have to push back and not take sh*t you don’t deserve.
I am blessed to have found my calling, but I was in my early 30’s when I discovered wine. I have failed many times at a variety of things, but I look at those experiences as path corrections. The important thing is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep going.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into Wine in Tami Time story. Tell us more about it.
Wine in San Diego is my deal. My goal has always been to bring respect to San Diego as a wine community. During my tenure as a wine buyer and sommelier, I worked toward that goal by writing uncompromising lists full of labels considered obscure in a community where conformity is still rewarded. After I figured out that I have a great palate, I ran with it. I was successful with those wines because I spent the time to get my staff excited, or at least informed about them. I always come from the place of the joy of discovery. I was never the snotty sommelier.
Now, I sell the books that I do because I love the growers. San Diego needs someone to provide access to them and I am that girl. I could have chosen a lesser book, maybe with bigger names and made more money off the bat, but that is not my style.
I agree to do lots of things for the adventure of the experience. I am so proud and happy to be a part of Nat Diego and CampestreMag. Each project begins with a vision to provide our city with something it didn’t realize it needs. Both teams are primarily female and super fun collaborations. Nat Diego has certainly placed San Diego on the map in the middle of the natural wine universe. CampestreMag just launched our very first issue and we are on the way. We have lots of work to do, but I am excited to participate.
It would be great to hear about any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve used and would recommend to others.
I love the Quick Books for Self Employed app to keep my money straight. Social media such as Instagram and Twitter has been both a blessing and a curse. Guildsomm is my favorite wine reference as a mobile option, but I love the World Atlas of Wine and recently, Peter Liem’s book on Champagne. I subscribed to Punch online when I was focusing on spirits and still love their coverage of all things beverage.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wineintamitime.com
- Email: tamiwongtime@gmail.com
- Instagram: @wineintamitime
- Twitter: wineintamitime
Image Credit:
Nat Diego, Campestre
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
