Laurie Forster
After a successful career in software sales, Laurie decided she was ready for a life change. Through working with a life coach, Laurie began to realize that her biggest passions—wine and people—could be parlayed into a new career. As The Wine Coach® she blends her training as a professional sommelier with her experience as a life coach to help people connect with wine and each other.
She began her wine career in Manhattan where she studied with the American Sommelier Association and earned a certificate in Viticulture and Vinification. While in Manhattan she gained invaluable experience on the floor of Astor Wines & Spirits as a Sales Associate. Concurrently, she trained as a life coach with Coach U, the leading global provider of coach training programs and is presently a member of the International Coaching Federation. Last year she took her first test towards achieving the Master Sommelier title in New York and passed at the top of her class.
Laurie’s specialty is creating unique corporate keynotes, team building events and group tasting seminars. Witty and entertaining, Laurie has been described as a sparkling presenter, highly skilled at engaging every wine lover—from beginners to wine enthusiasts. Laurie is a regular contributor to several magazines such as What’s Up Annapolis and Baltimore Style; a sought after guest expert on radio stations across the country and has her own weekly radio show entitled Something to Wine About®. Her newly released book, The Sipping Point: A Crash Course in Wine, reflects her fresh perspective on wine education and has already received rave reviews.