Wine with Lauren On The Lees

WSET 3

Professional Wine Educator (Napa Valley Academy) 

American Wine Expert (Napa Valley Academy)

Argentinian Wine Specialist (Napa Valley Academy) 

Winemaking (Cornell University)

Food & Wine Pairing 

Hey everyone, my name is Lauren  and I’m from Long Island, New York. Since I  was 12 years old I always knew I wanted to explore the world beyond my hometown. Beginning in my teens, I first traveled to China and eventually spent nearly 10 years living throughout Asia, working as a translator, English teacher, and model across five different countries.

I am fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and my years living abroad deeply shaped who I am today. While living in Chengdu, China, my love for hospitality, cultural connections, and shared experiences truly began to grow. It was there that the foundation of my wine journey first started to take shape. Later, while completing my MBA in Malaysia, my passion for the wine industry evolved even further into a career centered around wine education, exploration, and storytelling.

Beyond wine, languages remain one of my greatest passions. I enjoy studying different languages because I believe they have the power to connect people across cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. Wine and language share a similar beauty. Both bring people together, create conversation, preserve history and tradition, and offer a deeper understanding of the world and the people within it.

I specialize in underrated wine regions that are often overlooked, along with indigenous grape varietals  that many consumers may not yet be familiar with. I am passionate about uncovering and sharing the history, culture, and stories behind grapes and wine traditions from across the globe that are frequently forgotten, underestimated, or undiscovered by mainstream wine culture.

I’m especially drawn to skin contact wines, unconventional food pairings, and challenging traditional wine “rules.” Whether discussing American wines, global cuisine, or hidden gem producers, my goal is to make wine feel approachable, exciting, personal, and accessible to everyone.

Above all, I believe wine is about connection. Connection to people, cultures, experiences, and shared moments. I also believe there is always something new to discover.