Hi, I'm Mak! Welcome to Mak's Wine Club

I travel. I taste. I learn. And then I bring it home for us to share.

Hi! I'm Makenzie, but you can call me Mak. I'm a wine-loving, food-obsessed, endlessly curious traveler who believes that some of life's best moments happen around a table with good wine and great company.

Welcome to Mak's Wine Club!

A Little About Me

I grew up in the mountains near Vail, Colorado, but I've always been curious about what's beyond them. I've traveled to more than 50 countries, and somewhere along the way, I realized that my favorite way to experience a new place is through its food and wine.

I'm the person who plans a trip around restaurant reservations, seeks out little wine bars tucked down side streets, and somehow always needs extra suitcase space to bring bottles home.

My husband introduced me to the wonderful (and occasionally ridiculous) world of fine dining, and together we've made a hobby of exploring what makes food and wine so special.

But the more I traveled, the more I realized I didn't just want to drink good wine. I wanted to understand it.

Down the Wine Rabbit Hole

That curiosity eventually led me to the Court of Master Sommeliers, where I completed my Introductory Sommelier certification. And I was hooked.

Suddenly, wine wasn't just about whether I liked a bottle. It was about geography, climate, history, agriculture, culture, and the people who make it.

The problem? I don't work in the wine industry.

I don't spend my days surrounded by bottles, attending trade tastings, or talking to winemakers. I have a regular job, a busy life, and a wine budget that unfortunately isn't unlimited.

And as much as I'd love to open four bottles on a random Tuesday to compare them, that's not exactly practical.

So I came up with a solution.

Wine Is Better Together

I started a wine club and roped my friends into my latest obsession.

Every gathering starts with a theme. Sometimes it's a grape, sometimes a region, and sometimes it's inspired by somewhere I've traveled.

I do a little research, choose a few bottles, put together some food pairings and aroma bowls, and invite everyone over.

We taste. We compare. We eat. We laugh. And, occasionally, we learn something. The best part? There is no right answer.

One person's favorite bottle might be someone else's least favorite. And that's exactly the point.

I'm not trying to teach everyone to become a sommelier. I want us to discover what we actually like and understand a little bit of why.

Because knowing your own palate makes wine so much more fun.

So, What's Mak's Wine Club?

It's part travel journal, part wine education, part dinner party inspiration, and part excuse to open another bottle.

Here, I'll be sharing:

• Wine adventures: The wineries, wine bars, restaurants, and little discoveries worth seeking out when traveling.

• What I'm learning: Grapes, regions, tasting tips, and wine concepts explained without all the intimidating jargon.

• Wine club at home: Themes, tasting lineups, food pairings, and ideas for gathering your own friends.

• The bottles I bring home: What I discover on my travels and how I share those experiences once I'm back in Colorado.

• My favorite finds: The books, tools, travel gear, and hosting essentials I actually use.

I'm still learning, and I don't pretend to have all the answers. In fact, that's half the fun.

Whether you're just starting to explore wine, already have a favorite region, or simply love an excuse to gather your friends around the table, there's room for you here.

So pour yourself a glass, pull up a chair, and come along for the adventure.

Cheers!

Mak 🍷

P.S. You don't need fancy bottles, expensive glasses, or a sommelier certification to enjoy wine. A little curiosity and good company will take you pretty far.