Today we’d like to introduce you to Erica Aros.
Hi Erica , thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’ve always been intrigued by the complexity, art and science of wine. In my 20s I bought my first book about wine and studied the heck out of it! I remember being in grad school in Champaign-Urbana, IL hosting my first wine tasting with friends and being amazed by how I was able to retain what I learned and that I was able to explain it to my friends in a way that was easy to understand. Many years later in California while working at UC Riverside, I picked up a weekend job at a French-inspired winery in Temecula, CA as a private tour and tastings host and was trained to teach how wine is made and how to taste the complexities in wine. Fast forward more than a decade and I am back in my hometown of San Diego working as an educator at SDSU. In January 2025, I decided to start a neighborhood wine club and facilitated seated tastings as I did back at the winery. I’m in my element when I do them–combining my love of wine and teaching! In July 2025, I launched Erica Aros Wine Education and it brings me so much joy and allows me to connect with so many people in the community!
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I didn’t realize I would struggle so much with pricing. Providing affordable and accessible wine experiences is important to me and I also want to make sure I charge what my time, experience, and skills are worth. Leading up to someone’s wine experience, I spend hours preparing (researching the wines and learning the technicalities of each bottle, customizing, printing, folding, and cutting tasting notes, calling and messaging the host about guest and event details, etc.). When I arrive to the event, not only do I set up and make the space feel special, but I also mingle and socialize with the guests before, during, and after the experience. While I love doing it all, it does take a substantial amount of energy and time, so I want my prices to reflect the effort I put into each client’s event. Another struggle I’ve had to work through is feeling disappointed when someone books an experience on my website and then is unresponsive when I reach out to discuss details. They ultimately tell me they’ve changed their mind, which is totally understandable! I just get really excited when a potential client signs up, but I know that people changing their minds is a normal part of doing business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Erica Aros Wine Education is a mobile business that brings approachable, engaging wine education directly to people’s homes, events, and workplaces. My focus is on teaching people how to taste wine with confidence. I guide guests through the 5 S’s of wine tasting, help them understand their own palate, and provide practical tips on how to order wine at restaurants and buy wine at grocery stores. My goal is to create a fun, relaxed atmosphere with a lot of laughter and connection between guests.
I’m known for blending my background in higher education and extroverted love of hosting into my tastings. I have a Ph.D. in Education, a Level 1 Sommelier certificate, I teach leadership courses to undergraduate students, and lead professional development workshops to educators for a living. More than just pouring wine, I teach in a way that’s easy to follow, interactive, and tailored to the group. People often tell me that they have been to wine tastings before, but didn’t learn as as they did with me!
Brand-wise, I’m proud to be “Your Friendly Wine Mentor.” This title, which also serves as my tagline, captures the heart of what I do: guide others to learn about wine, invest my time an energy into the group before, during, and after the wine experience, and make wine approachable, accessible, and enjoyable.
My wine experiences are fully mobile and customizable. I have three types of experiences that cover all types of guests and events: my signature wine experience called “Swirl & Savor” is for groups who want the full educational experience and is also great for team bonding and community building. My Pop & Pour experience is for parties where guests are free to roam and can come up to my wine bar when they’re ready to learn about the next taste–very similar to a winery tasting room experience. My “Magical Mystery Pour” experience is for wine lovers who want to test their wine tasting skills in a fun game format where you’re likely to see competitive spirits come out!
No matter which experience you choose, there will be laughter, learning and memories made!
What makes you happy?
Connecting with people makes me happy. I’m that person who will go into a room of strangers and leave having 10 more friends in my network. I find purpose and fulfillment in having a well-rounded life: I’m a wife, mom of 2 kids, a member of a huge Filipino family that likes to hang out on a regular basis, a full-time director and lecturer, a private consultant/coach, a loyal and active friend to many, and a person with many hobbies (wine, food, gardening, Peloton-ing, etc.). If I can impact someone’s life in a positive way, I will put in max effort to help and invest my time in them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ericaaros.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourfriendlywinementor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ericaaroswineeducation
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-aros/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/erica-aros-wine-education-chula-vista
Image Credits
https://www.moniquefamisan.com/
