New Wine Club Manager Passionate About Offering Members an Exclusive Experience
Kris Rideout is happiest at the Williamsburg Winery when she wraps up in layers and dons her leopard print hat with a head lamp and descends into the reserve cellar where she’s surrounded by aging wine. There’s no music, but “I groove down there,” says the winery’s new Wine Club Manager, an ardent student of the industry.
As much as Rideout enjoys a glass of Trianon, she’s always seeking to expand her own palate and wine knowledge so she can share it with the members of the Wine Club, many of them familiar to her from the four years she worked as an associate in the tasting room.
“My mother gave me “The Wine Bible 2022” for Christmas,” says Rideout, who added it to her shelf full of wine books. “I love reading about wine. You never get tired of it because there’s always something new to learn.”
Rideout already earned the WSET 1, a Wine and Spirit Education Trust certification, after receiving a scholarship for People of Color from Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C.
“A lot of people in my family are in the military or are doctors and nurses. I took a different path,” she says. “I’m a Black woman, and you don’t see a lot of people like me in the wine industry. I’ve found my niche.”
Rideout found a place to call home at Wessex Hundred. “It feels like family here,” she says. “For me, it’s about the experience and the customer service. I talk to people from all over the world here. This is a place for them to come and let their hair down and enjoy life.”
In her free time, Rideout enjoys yoga and visiting the different wineries around the Commonwealth. looks to grow the Wine Club and add additional events, including a vertical tasting.
“I want to offer our members an exclusive experience,” she says. “I want all of our members to look forward to having a great time while they’re here.”