about
About Laura
“Wine carries within it the essence of a region, the story of the grower and winemaker, and all of the possibilities that go into its eventual savoring. Perhaps most essentially, the win in your glass bears witness to your present moment, wherever you are, just this simple pleasure of being here and being human, enjoying a peaceful pause on a quiet evening or in the company of friends, appreciating a beverage that people have delighted in for millennia.”
– Laura Martin, M.A.
Wine Educator &
Founder of Tango Wine Club
Laura first fell in love with the Mediterranean region at age 16, on a two-week trip to Italy, France, and Monaco organized by her high school Latin teacher for a small group of students. Like most people, she was entranced by these sun-drenched, magical shores and their inland landscapes, hillside towns dotted with terra cotta tile roofs, and miles of vineyards. Like few people, she felt so captivated that she knew she would someday actually build her life around this enchanted place, greatly appreciating its history, culture, and value placed on living well (dolce vita in Italian; joie de vivre in French).
She had already taken French and Latin language classes, and her love of these languages and literatures led her to continue her studies during a B.A. in Linguistics and English (including a semester abroad studying literature at the University of Central Lancashire, England) and a second B.A. in Classical Languages and Literature (Latin), both from the University of Kentucky.
She completed post-bac coursework in French at Centre College, and eventually, an M.A. in French at the University of Notre Dame, with Concentrations in Classics (Latin) and Art History.
Along her way, she returned to France and Italy multiple times, including two study- abroad periods at the Université Aix-Marseille in the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence, France: once for an intensive French summer program, then returning a few years later for an academic year.
She also received a National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) Summer Scholar Award, which for three weeks allowed her to study Pompeii, one of her favorite places in the world, along with a cohort of other scholars and professors, hosted by Gustavus College in St. Peter, MN.
Across her studies and travels, Laura has spent around 16 months of her life in Europe, which greatly expanded her world view. Most of this time was spent in Mediterranean regions, where the cultural values resonated with her own and became further integrated into her life. She has intentionally carved out spaces for peace and presence, as much as possible in the chaos of a busy life, realizing that less is almost always more, yet also understanding what a great challenge this can be in practice. The cultural values of slowing down, savoring, and simple pleasures continue to guide her.
During her studies of and time in the Mediterranean area, Laura also became interested in the fascinating history of wine in these regions, whose presence has been an integral part of culture and regional identity for over 2000 years. Inspired by visits to vineyards in many countries, and after a fascinating wine workshop in the city center of Bordeaux in early 2017, she set out to learn more:
Wine Certifications & Trainings:
2019: Participant in a four-part, live webinar series, “Vigne et Vin,” covering a wide variety of topics related to wine and viticulture (Université de Tours, France)
2020: Earned Level I Certificate in Wine from the esteemed Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)
2024: Earned Level II Certificate in Wine, again from the WSET
2024: Viticulture Intern (2024 Harvest season) at Etude, an outstanding and highly-regarded winery in Napa Valley, California (Carneros AVA), July – October
Laura’s love of languages has been the focus of her teaching across the years: Linguistics (University of Kentucky); Latin (Centre College), and French, Latin, & English through her own small business (Learn with Laura, LLC) since 2014. A career in Wine Education naturally followed from her many experiences teaching, and she is delighted to share her knowledge and passion for wine with others.
