Simone FM Spinner is passionate about writing, wine, food & travel.
Spinner’s first book was published on August 27, 2018. Denver Food: A Culinary Evolution chronicles the Denver food scene from early nomadic Native Americans to the James Beard award-winning chefs of 2018. Spinner is writing two books about her life with wine and food; one of which is titled Lessons From the Lisbon Coast, detailing her recent year in Portugal. Her third book will be called Chasing Grapes about her life in the international wine industry. She is a former contributor to Denver’s 303 Magazine Food & Wine section; her column was also called Chasing Grapes. Simone has written about The Art of Wine for Wine Country International Magazine and continues to write about her travel, wine & dining experiences for various publications. She is the senior editor for her blog: Lessons From the Lisbon Coast and Twitter feed: French Wine Girl Travels. Spinner is a skilled ghostwriter and accomplished author coach capable of managing highly complex projects. In 2020, Simone joined Carpe Travel as a guest contributing writer discussing all things wine and travel.
In 2017/2018, Simone FM Spinner completed the first year of her doctorate: From Grapes to Wrath, Wine in the Age of Climate Change, a research project that explores the aesthetics of wine along with the effects of climate change on global wine culture while with the Lisbon Consortium at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa in a network with the University of Copenhagen and the University of Giessen. She continues to conduct fieldwork, research, and work on her dissertation and has applied for a new program to begin in 2020. She sits on the Colorado Association for Viticulture & Enology board as an education and legislation committee member and teaches a university course about wine, culture, and climate change for the University of Colorado, Denver.
Spinner wrote her master’s thesis at UC Denver in which she developed the concept of aesthetics as it relates to wine using an interdisciplinary lens. In her original thesis, The Culture & Aesthetics of Wine © she explores aesthetics, flavor chemistry, neuroscience, art fundamentals, and cultural studies to contemplate the aesthetics and art-worthiness of wine as an object and as an experience. She also has a BA in Wine—more specifically the Study and Enterprise of Wine. She created the degree while studying at Metropolitan State University of Denver. Ms. Spinner also holds a dozen wine credentials including Certified Wine Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator, Spanish Wine Specialist, Sherry Specialist, and is pursuing the Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma.
Spinner’s dedication to education proves beneficial for other students as well. Her achievements at MSUD helped to develop the Beverage Certificate offered through MSUD’s Hospitality program. In addition to designing programs for the University, Spinner is a former Affiliate Professor for Metropolitan State, teaching courses for the Beverage Certificate, such as Wine Fundamentals and Wine Business.
Simone teaches The Only Thing You Need to Know About Wine is What You Like Master Class Series at UC Denver and the Get into the Glass educational wine series to the public through her company, Wine Rocks & Chasing Grapes, LLC. Spinner skillfully demystifies wine, making it fun through an interactive approach. Although she doesn’t offer ongoing public classes, she often appears as a guest lecturer at corporate events, conferences, team-building seminars, dinner parties, book clubs, or other gatherings. For more serious wine lovers she conducts private acquisitions and cellar appraisals. Spinner is developing a unique adventure and wine tourism program called Chasing Grapes, LLC., exploring the world of wine and taking curious oenophiles along with her, which will launch in 2020 with tours exploring Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany.
Ms. Spinner graduated from the International Guide Academy gaining her Certified International Tour Director credential. She was the International Regional Manager for Canada as well as the Denver city manager and tour director for Secret Food Tours for a year, which took her to Rome, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, and Asheville researching and developing delectable gastronomy and enology tours.
While Spinner has made wine the center of her academic life and her livelihood, she says she has never lost sight of the fact that “Wine should be fun. It’s grape juice, fermented, that’s it. It’s something that should bring joy. Always.”
Early in her career, Spinner was a professional, trained, classical ballet dancer and Pilates instructor. She also worked as a lighting designer and production manager in the music business for many years and still misses “painting with light to music.” She lives in the Foothills west of Denver with her prised Shiba Inu dogs, Oscar Wilde and Zen Zen: the unabashed loves of her life.
https://clas.ucdenver.edu/communication/simone-fm-spinner-mh-cws-citd
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