How and where do I even begin to reflect on this challenging year? It would be easy to dwell on a negative narrative, but I will not do that. Instead, I choose to focus on all the positive outcomes that even 2020 had to offer.

Overall, this past year has pushed me to no end. I continued to educate myself on various subjects: Black Lives Matter, business development, wine, and how to home-school my 4th grader (who knew 4th grade math was so hard?!). Remaining open-minded was a game-changer. By signing up for countless marketing webinars (thank you, Taboola!), I learned how to adapt and shift my wine consulting business, Aroma Wine Co., to the full-time, yet still growing, wine-brand strategy and communications agency it is today. I look forward to the many exciting projects and opportunities that lie ahead in 2021 and beyond.

I founded the National Croatian Wine Day in the U.S. and I look forward to commemorating its inaugural celebration on June 25, 2021, with events (virtual and, hopefully, live). I have made it my mission to promote and educate about Croatian wines. I am excited to support a country that is near and dear to my heart. To read more about my mission, click HERE.

The wine industry is all about gatherings, so when we ended up on lockdown in March, I was lost. What do you do when most of your work consists of meetings, tastings, dinners with winemakers? Well, I had to adapt quickly, which resulted in countless Instagram Live interviews and Zoom webinars with winemakers, and inspiring industry colleagues and friends. My industry was never more connected. Despite the lockdown and other restrictions, I was able to meet so many new inspiring individuals and befriend many of them, thanks to technology.

Was this year stressful and exhausting? No doubt! However, it also has shown us (and the world) how compassionate and strong the wine/restaurant industry and its members are. The restaurant industry has been in trouble since the beginning of lockdown but has come together to start non-profit organizations to help our fellow restaurant and hospitality workers who have been unemployed since March. Please see below list of organizations I support:

Independent Restaurant Coalition provides economic assistance to independently owned restaurants that did not qualify for government assistance. Did you know that over 11 million people nationwide are employed by independent restaurants and another 5 million workers in the food supply chain depend on the industry? 16 million workers is not too small of a number to ignore. Donations are welcome HERE.

The United Sommeliers Foundation is a charitable organization providing information and financial assistance to Sommeliers experiencing furlough or employment termination due to circumstances beyond their control. The world of wine does not exist without Sommeliers. Whether you work for a wine importer, a restaurant group, a marketing agency, our worlds are intertwined. Help a Sommelier by donating HERE.

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who entrusted and inspired me this past year. I look forward to raising a glass of vino with you, hopefully, real soon...

A BIG SHOUT OUT to my family and friends for believing in me and uplifting me whenever I may have been a little down.

I wish all of you a happy and healthy New Year!

Anna