Wine & Chisme

Wines We're Drinking: Jessica: Concho Orange Wine (Georgia the country) — light, stone fruit, hints of tart apricot Analia: Argentine mate — a traditional herbal tea drunk throughout the day in Argentina What does it actually take to make a bold move? Whether you're thinking about leaving the country, pivoting your career, or just trying to figure out what the heck comes next, Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal is the person you want in your corner. As a Latina podcast, we love telling first-gen professional stories, and Analia's is one for the books. Born in Buenos Aires to a working-class family of Spanish immigrants, Analia grew up with education as her ticket forward — and she ran with it. We're talking a BA in economics, a journalism minor, two master's degrees, a PhD in government and politics from the University of Maryland, certifications in professional coaching, and six languages. Six. And she almost got kicked out of college for failing Calculus 3 three times. That's the kind of real we love here. Today she's the founder and CEO of AGV Services LLC and the host of the Lucky To Be Here podcast, where she helps people — especially international students, immigrants, and early-to-mid-career professionals — stop tweaking their resumes and start actually understanding their story. In a world where everything we knew is crumbling (her words, and honestly, same), Analia's work is about finding your anchor from the inside out. This is a Latiné wine, Chicana stories kind of episode that hits different right now. Come for the chisme, stay for the career therapy. In This Episode We Cover: [00:00] Intro and welcome to Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal [00:35] What AGV Services is all about — bold moves built from within [03:04] What's in our glasses: Concho Orange Wine from Georgia (the country!) and Argentine mate [09:34] Growing up in Buenos Aires — a working-class immigrant community from Galicia, Spain [12:00] The eldest daughter experience: conformity, rebellion, and finding pockets of freedom [13:00] Writing, poetry, and using education as a path to freedom [18:36] The famous "bye mom, pick me up later" story from age 3 (and its airport reprise) [23:18] Learning six languages starting at age 12 — Spanish, English, German, French, Portuguese, and Mandarin [27:04] The bilingual experience in the U.S. and the harm in "othering" people for their accents [30:05] From economics degree to journalism minor — the chip on her shoulder about math [33:15] Participating in Accounting Olympics and Economics Olympics (yes, really) [36:00] Nearly getting kicked out of college — passing Calculus 3 on the third try with everything on the line [39:54] Getting approached to write as a freelance journalist for a Buenos Aires newspaper before graduation [42:00] The multi-year process of applying to PhD programs in the U.S. as an international student [49:00] That first night in College Park — sitting in her apartment and crying, wondering if she made the right move [53:00] What brought her to create AGV Services LLC and the Lucky To Be Here podcast [56:40] Why the resume is becoming a safety blanket — and what to focus on instead in the AI era [01:00:15] What AGV Lab is: a membership community for career clarity ($99/quarter) [01:04:00] How the current political, economic, and AI climate is showing up in her clients' lives [01:10:30] Who she works with: mostly millennials, ages 22-40, at pivotal career crossroads [01:12:30] Why your job can't fulfill everything — and how to build a full life beyond your title [01:19:13] Analia's closing message: a permission slip to wonder what else is possible Connect with Dr. Analia Gomez-Vidal: Website: agvservicesllc.com Instagram & Threads: @AGVServicesLLC Podcast: Lucky To Be Here Patreon: patreon.com/luckytobhere Connect with Wine & Chisme: Website: thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram: @thewineandchisme TikTok: @thewineandchisme YouTube: Wine & Chisme Podcast Newsletter: Spill the Chisme via Flodesk We not only work the land, we own the brands.

WINES WE'RE DRINKING Aleksandrouli by Koncho & Co Red Dry Wine | 85% Aleksandrouli, 15% Mudjuretuli In this episode, Jessica sits down with Karen Zaragoza, a San Diego-born event marketing strategist, community builder, and creative entrepreneur who has built not one, but three interconnected platforms rooted in a single belief: community is the catalyst for everything. Karen shares the story behind Social Creatives, the community-first foundation that came before anything else, and how it gave birth to two focused branches: The Lead Lab, a growth and strategy resource for small businesses, and Plant Bae's, a plant-based wellness community creating space for conscious connection, love, and personal evolution. But this conversation goes beyond the business. Karen opens up about one of the most transformative chapters of her life: becoming a mother as a teenager. She reflects on how having a daughter reshaped her sense of purpose, her priorities, and ultimately the woman and leader she became. She also gets vulnerable about the turmoil she navigated growing up in her family, the lessons she carried into adulthood, and how those experiences quietly shaped her philosophy of building spaces where people feel supported, seen, and connected. From producing community markets and large-scale activations with organizations like the SD Food Bank, Petco Park, and the U.S. Navy, to designing speed dating events and transformational workshops through Plant Bae's, Karen is proof that when your work is rooted in lived experience, it creates real impact. This one hits close to home, and you're going to love her.

Wines We're Drinking Jessica: Cramosi Vineyards Pinot Noir, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills, Oregon (Latina-owned) Perla: Juggernaut Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2024 (New Zealand) Perla Lozano didn't grow up as a sports kid. She didn't start soccer until high school, she couldn't afford club leagues, and no one in her family was pushing her onto a field. But a coach noticed something in her that she hadn't noticed in herself yet, and that moment changed everything. Now a marketing executive by day and a volunteer leader for Orange AYSO by night and weekends, Perla is on a mission to get more girls off the sidelines and into the game. She runs one of the few youth soccer leagues in Southern California that guarantees every kid at least 75% play time, and she's seen firsthand how sports rewires girls' confidence, identity, and sense of what's possible. This episode hits close to home- Jessica played softball and cheered from third grade through college, and the two of them go deep on everything from the pressure of club leagues to the real reason girls quit sports (hint: it's usually not because they stopped loving the game). In this episode: [00:03] Introductions and weather chaos in SoCal (RIP the cilantro) [05:45] Wine chat: Juggernaut Sauv Blanc vs. Cremosi Vineyards Pinot Noir [09:45] Shoutout: Sei Solis Wine & Wax tasting room in downtown Orange — Chris Rivera, the OG Latino wine brand on the podcast [11:43] Perla's origin story: born and raised in "Little Latin America" in downtown Santa Ana [14:30] What happened when she left her community bubble and went to college... in Anchorage, Alaska [20:56] Her high and low from that year — and what embracing her Latinidad looked like from 3,000 miles away [25:06] Her introduction to soccer: why she started late, what it cost, and who first saw her potential [30:40] What soccer gave her OFF the field — confidence, editor-in-chief energy, and walking taller [37:30] The Dove Super Bowl ad, Sephora tweens, and why girls are quitting sports at alarming rates [43:45] The stats that stopped Perla in her tracks: 94% of women in executive leadership played sports [49:40] How she's running Orange AYSO — and why there are so many more boys than girls in her league [56:15] The rise of women's pro soccer and Angel City FC's impact on girls signing up (they're up 25%) [01:00:00] The sideline problem: how Perla handles wild sports parents and why volunteers deserve your respect [01:09:40] Participation trophies, rec leagues vs. club leagues, and the real cost breakdown families don't see coming [01:31:50] Perla's final message to parents: just let them play Connect with Perla: Instagram: @b.serve.grow Orange AYSO: AYSO1335.org Instagram: @orange.ayso Mentioned in this episode: Sei Solis Wines — Wine & Wax tasting room, downtown Orange | Owner: Chris Rivera Cremosi Vineyards — Latina-owned winery, Willamette Valley, Oregon | Owner: Sophia

Wines We're Drinking 2021 Ortega Family Wines Carneros Pinot Blanc, Napa Valley. 100% Pinot Blanc sourced from the Carneros appellation. Tasting notes: stone fruit, lemongrass, and a bright tart lime finish. A food-friendly white with great acidity that shines on a hot day, especially alongside spicy food or cheese. Available at OrtegaWines.com. Listener discount available through April 30th. Mention Wine and Chisme when you order. Episode Description: Six years in the making, mi gente, and this one was worth every single second of the wait. Jessica sits down with Jesus Ortega Jr., owner and winemaker of Ortega Family Wines, for a conversation that is equal parts history, heart, and honesty. Born and raised in the vineyards of Yountville, Napa Valley, Jesus is the son of immigrants who came to California through the Bracero program in 1964. His family has worked the land for three generations. Now, Jesus is doing something none of them did before him: he owns the brand. In this episode, Jessica sips on the 2021 Carneros Pinot Blanc while Jesus shares the full journey, from a kid who didn't want to pick up pruned canes in the rain, to a self-taught winemaker who runs his own label out of the very vineyards where he grew up. He talks about the winemaker who took a chance on him, the harvest party that changed everything, surviving COVID as a brand-new label, and why his philosophy is simply: farmer first, winemaker second. They also get into the current state of wine consumption among younger generations, what makes small producers different from mass producers, the comeback of Merlot (gracias a Dios), California Malbec vs. Argentinian Malbec, and a little wine magic trick involving your dominant nostril that you will absolutely use at your next dinner party. And yes, there is a discount situation. You have to listen for it. In This Episode: 0:00 Intro + Opening Toast: 2021 Carneros Pinot Blanc 3:30 Reading Jesus's Bio + The Bracero Program 6:00 Growing Up in the Vineyards of Yountville 9:30 The Barbecue That Started It All (and the oaky Sauvignon Blanc) 12:00 Getting Sent Home for Chewing Gum 14:30 From Tasting Room to Vineyard Manager 17:00 Jessica's Origin Story: Strawberry Hill at a Quinceanera 20:00 "We Not Only Work the Land, We Own the Brand" 22:00 Wine as a Story in a Bottle 25:00 Launching the Latiné Wine Brand Directory 30:00 Deciding to Start Ortega Family Wines in 2020 33:00 Getting COVID as a Brand-New Winemaker 38:00 How His Sense of Smell Came Back Stronger 41:00 Farmer First, Winemaker Second 44:00 The Accidental Syrah-Malbec Blend 46:00 From Harvest to Bottle: The Winemaking Process Explained 50:00 Current Lineup: Pinot Blanc, Cabs, Malbec, and More 53:00 Starting Wine: Pinot Noir and Why Merlot Is Making a Comeback 58:00 The Sideways Effect on Merlot 1:00:00 The Younger Generation and Wine Consumption 1:03:00 Why Small Producers Are Different 1:06:00 The Dominant Nostril Wine Trick 1:10:00 What's Coming Next from Ortega Family Wines (a 2022 Malbec!) 1:14:00 Listener Discount + How to Order Connect with Ortega Family Wines: Website: OrtegaWines.com Instagram: @ortega_family_wines Wine Club, Private Tastings, and Winemaker Dinners available via the website Connect with Wine and Chisme: Latiné Wine Brand Directory: thewineandchismepodcast.com Instagram | TikTok | Threads | YouTube: @wineandchisme

What We're Drinking: Jessica: Rúakh Wines out of Paso Robles, specifically the "Somos Cafe de Olla" red blend (56% Syrah, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petite Verdot). Owned by Sam Esquivel, a San Diego native whose interview episode drops the first Wednesday of May. Jessica Yañez and her partner in crime Erika Sanchez are back with a full glass of wine and a whole month's worth of chisme to spill. From heartbreaking headlines hitting close to home, to Hollywood takeovers, to what happened at the Oscars, to the state of your wallet right now, the March Chisme episode covers the news, the nostalgia, and the nunca-ending commentary that lives rent-free in our heads. Erika came prepared. Jessica came with feelings. Together, they gave you everything. This one hit differently. Jessica and Erika unpack the New York Times five-year investigation revealing sexual abuse allegations against Cesar Chavez, including a statement from civil rights icon Dolores Huerta, who says she was assaulted by him and that he fathered two of her children. The conversation goes deeper into the systemic silence women are expected to maintain "for the greater good," the question of how to separate a man from a movement, and why being down for a cause should never mean putting all your faith in one person. Jessica and Erika watched it so you'd know what to expect, and they had very strong reactions. This Louis Theroux documentary on Netflix explores online influencers redefining masculinity and their influence on young men. Erika wanted to turn it off. Jessica wanted to send the link to every young man she loves. Michael B. Jordan won Best Actor for Sinners and the crowd's reaction said everything. Jessica and Erika talk about what makes him so different from the rest, including the detail work he put into playing three distinct characters, and the fact that after the ceremony he went to In-N-Out. Alone. Without an entourage. Taking pictures with fans. If you've been confused about who owns what in Hollywood right now, Jessica breaks it all the way down. From Viacom to Paramount to CBS, from Discovery tanking HBO Max to the Ellison family (Oracle money, Trump ties) acquiring Paramount through Skydance, and now going after Warner Brothers and CNN, the consolidation of media power is moving fast. The implications for diverse voices, independent journalism, and your streaming bill are real. They also talk about the Murdoch family documentary, why Succession was more literal than anyone realized, and how the media we consume is being shaped by a handful of very wealthy, very politically connected people. Week three of the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is blocked, cargo ships can't move gas, and Jessica paid $65.50 to fill her tank at Costco. Erika called her mom crying. They talk about how presidents don't typically drive gas prices, but intentionally starting a war and bombing oil fields is a different story. And if you think groceries are expensive now, they say: just wait. Transportation costs go up, everything goes up. The math is not mathing. A viral video of a voter admitting she's voted for Trump three times and calling herself an idiot sparked a whole conversation about what it means to not care until something affects you personally. Jessica has Trump-supporting cousins she loves, and she is absolutely worried about what happens if they get pulled over by ICE. She is not holding back on this one. Jessica has been watching it. Erika has not (yet). They talk about the Kennedy mystique, why the Camelot era still holds such power, what it must have felt like for Carolyn Bessette to go from private person to one of the most famous women in the world overnight, and how the 90s paparazzi era made that kind of life nearly impossible. Also: Ryan Murphy said something messy to Jack Schlossberg (JFK's nephew, now running for a House seat in New York), and the girls are not impressed. The good news we needed. Gap's recent ad revival started as a quiet response to the Sidney Sweeney moment and has grown into something genuinely culturally relevant. The Young Miko campaign. The 90s nostalgia. The khaki swing ad. The Madonna x Missy Elliott "All About the Jeans" era. Jessica and Erika reminisced, agreed that Gap is doing something right, and acknowledged they are no longer the target demographic, but they felt it anyway. A month of a lot. Heavy and real and also sometimes really, really funny. That's the March Chisme energy. Thank you for being here for all of it.