PORTLAND WINE WEEK 2024 FEATURE: SOMMELIER SUSANNAH GLEASON OF ViA VECCHiA
Sponsored by Buoy Local.
Introducing the Portland Wine Week Sommelier Showcase, brought to you by Buoy Local. Portland, Maine, may be a small city, but it has an outsized reputation for wine and food thanks to the talented culinary stars behind its mouth-watering menus. When it comes to wine, Portland is dominated by women wine professionals who work hard to bring you the best bottles from across the globe. This series spotlights 10 women Sommeliers pouring phenomenal wine all Portland Wine Week-long!
VIA VECCHIA’S Portland Wine Week Events:
Meet Susannah Gleason, creative oenophile and Wine Director at ViA VECCHiA, a wildly popular, Italian-inspired hot spot in the Old Port of Portland, Maine.
Hailing from Massachusetts, Susannah has explored many realms in the hospitality and wine industry, from restaurants to wine retail. After becoming wine-curious in her early twenties, Susannah discovered a deep love and passion for the Sommelier craft — something she thrills in sharing with others: “Perhaps my favorite aspect of my job here at ViA VECCHiA is the wine education that I do with the staff,” she says. This includes hosting monthly wine tasting sessions, complete with an educational tasting grid, aimed to inspire and inform her colleagues about the Italian wine list she curates. “Any staff member who wants to can attend. I'm really really proud of how far a lot of them have come in the last year from really not understanding about the list or wine in general to being able to have a really elevated, educated conversation.” With an advanced certification in wine from WSET, Susannah is adept at helping ViA VECCHiA’s guests navigate the occasionally complex world of Italian wine and make the perfect pairing choice to accompany Chef Mitch Ryan’s exquisite array of small plates, pasta, and pizzette. “My favorite moments are helping guests find wines they love, and having meaningful conversations that enrich their experience in the restaurant.”
See Susannah in action during Portland Wine Week, June 10 -16, when she will star as one of our 10 Featured Sommeliers at the Grand Opening Women In Wine Dinner: Who Paired It Better? (6/10) Sponsored By Bangor Savings. “Sharing the stage while working together and showcasing each other’s skills and talents is such a fun way to support and build each other up,” she says. “I really enjoy the accessibility of Portland Wine Week. At times, wine-focused events can feel stuffy and clinical, but Portland Wine Week has fun and educational events that can appeal to not just the wine nerds, but the casual wine drinkers that just want to have fun and try something different.”
ViA VECHHiA hosts two wildly popular Special Events throughout the week, combining floral art and fresh wine pours in two unique and delightful ways. Floral Arrangement And Sips (6/15), and Wearable Floral Arrangement And Sips (6/16). Guests will gather in the iconic ivy-covered restaurant for an afternoon of creativity and indulgence. “Morgan Wagner-Holtz of Elder Farm and Forage will provide flowers and guide everyone through creating a beautiful floral arrangement,” she continues. She sees the art of winemaking and botany as intrinsically linked. “Meanwhile, I’ll pour four wines for the guests to enjoy while I describe their profiles and give everybody a little bit of education about them. The two elements create a really fun and lighthearted environment. It’s a great way to taste some delicious wines while making pretty floral arrangements with your friends.” Is there a better way to while away an afternoon in Portland, Maine? We can’t think of one, and neither can many others: Floral Arrangement And Sips sold out in just one hour! Explore our event schedule for other great events, and book a table for dinner at ViA VECCHiA during Portland Wine Week, where you can experience a curated selection of wines that Sommelier Susannah describes as “Italian. Classic. Conscientious. Expansive. Eclectic.”
Don’t be shy about asking her for a recommendation, either. Right now, she’s digging the Dell’Angelo Greco di Tufo Riserva. “It’s such a fun wine. It’s full-bodied and opulent but with a flinty struck match thing from the steep volcanic slopes the grapes are grown on, and some really playful yellow and tropical fruit notes. All of this is balanced with super bright acidity making it capable of aging for a while in-bottle.” Save us a glass!
