Detroit Writing Room Speakers Series ft. Women in Wine

Madeline Triffon

Master Sommelier at Plum Market

Madeline Triffon joined Plum Market in 2011 as the in-house Master Sommelier. Plum Market is a full-service grocery retailer with stores in Southeastern Michigan and Metro Chicago. Madeline directs wine tasting events, hand selects wines for in-store and online retail sales, and serves as a corporate wine educator. Madeline is one of 172 professionals who have earned the title Master Sommelier as part of the American chapter; of these 28 are women. There are 269 people worldwide who have passed the exam since its inception. Madeline was the second woman in the world to pass the M.S. exam. She is a Chairman Emeritus of the AmericanChapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers and has also served as Scholarship Chair. 

For over 30 years, Madeline has directed wine programs & events in the Metro Detroit area.  She has mentored dozens of service professionals and enjoys nothing more than watching them grow and excel. Santé Magazine named Madeline Triffon Wine and Spirits Professional of the Year for 1999. Restaurant Hospitality awarded her their Vanguard Award in 2002 for industry leadership and vision. In 2008, WCR (Women Chefs and Restaurateurs) awarded her their Golden Goblet Award for “Women Who Inspire.” Cheers Magazine gave Madeline their Award for Beverage Excellence in 2011. In 2012, Champagne Krug awarded her a Lifetime Achievement Award for exceptional achievement in wine service, education and hospitality.

UPDATE: This event will now be virtual only!

Michigan's wine industry has taken off, and many women are at the forefront. Detroit, especially, has forged the way for women in wine. 

Join us on Friday, June 5, 2020 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. to hear how five women sommeliers, winemakers and business owners are contributing to Michigan's wine industry growth. The Royce owner Ping Ho, sommelier Shelley Bynum of House of Pure Vin, Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon of Plum Market and Shady Lane Cellars winemaker Kasey Wierzba will share their wine journeys.

Guests will enjoy a lively panel talk moderated by Jaclyn Misch of Tasting Grapes. There will also be a Q&A, so come get your wine questions answered!

Guests who live in Metro Detroit will receive a wine package on their doorstep the day of the event.

Schedule:

5:30-6: p.m. - Guest introductions

6-6:15 p.m. - Panelist introductions

6:15-7 p.m. - Panel talk

7-7:30 p.m. - Q&A

Tickets are $35 and nonrefundable. Attendees will be sent a Zoom link in advance. Registration closes on June 3 at 11:50 p.m.

See all upcoming Speakers Series events at detroitwritingroom.com/speakers-series.

Meet the Moderator

Shelley Bynum

Sommelier at House of Pure Vine

Shelley Bynum fell in love with wine while pursuing a degree in Mass Communications at the University of West Georgia. There, she quickly discovered the pairing that would ultimately become her passion: the intricate and beguiling beauty of wine with the lure of a wonderful story. While working as a public relations and marketing professional in performing arts, Shelley began coordinating wine tastings, paired dinners and education events with the Wine Brats in the '90s. After moving to Ontario, Bynum formalized her wine education first with certification through the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and then with the Court of Master Sommeliers where she is currently working toward an Advanced Certification. Shelley has curated wine lists, consulted, taught and worked in Ontario, Georgia and Michigan. Most recently she was the Sommelier for the internationally recognized and award-winning winery and restaurant North 42 Degrees / Bistro 42, she was the vice president of the largest chapter of the Ontario Wine Society (OWS) and sits on the OWS corporate board, and is currently the full-time Sommelier at House of Pure Vin in downtown Detroit.

Kasey Wierzba

Winemaker at Shady Lane Cellars

Kasey Wierzba began her journey at Shady Lane Cellars as Assistant Winemaker in 2013 and rose to Winemaker in 2016. Her focus lies on the full gamut of winemaking, which includes checking on growing grapes, wine laboratory analysis, filtering, bottling, harvesting and managing fermentation. Wierzba is working hard to grow Shady Lane Cellars’ Reserve Red portfolio of wines, following the success of the 2016 Reserve Blaufrankishlast year. Her thoughtful approach to winemaking was recognized in 2018 when Wierzba was invited as host winemaker and speaker for the Wine Weekend at Mackinac Island’s Grand Hotel. 

Prior to her work on Leelanau Peninsula, Wierzba spent seven years in Napa Valley. She worked as a viticulturist for Niente Winery and Nickel & Nickel Winery in Oakville, California; served as enologist at Rudd Oakville Estate and vineyard manager at Frog’s Leap Winery. Wierzba earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Horticulture from Michigan State University. Wierzba and her family live in South Leelanau County, where they spend time mountain biking, downhill skiing and playing piano together. When she’s not at the winery, she enjoys traveling to Spanish-speaking countries with her kids and volunteers at their elementary school. She is also the proud owner of a 13-year-old dog, Brady, who think he’s still a puppy.

Ping Ho

Owner of The Royce

Ping Ho is an entrepreneur, restaurateur and wine director. She owns The Royce, a wine bar and shop, and Marrow, a butcher shop and restaurant, both located in Detroit. The Royce opened in August 2016 and has achieved considerable success, including being recognized as one of the top 10 wine shops in the country by Vinepair. Marrow launched in October 2018 and was named one of Eater's best new restaurants 2019, as well as a 2019 semi-finalist in the James Beard Awards for Best New Restaurant. Ping is also a partner in a joint venture located in Corktown that operates Folk (named in Food & Wine's first-ever list of best restaurants to work for) and Mink, a raw bar that launched in December 2019. Prior to joining the food and wine business, Ping was Vice President of Digital Strategy and Business Development at Warner Music Group in New York City, with a focus on innovation and startups. Ping graduated Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Brown University and holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School.

Jaclyn Misch

Founder of Tasting Grapes

Jaclyn Misch studied wine in Napa Valley where she earned her Master’s of Wine Management degree from the Culinary Institute of America. A former Miss Michigan USA, she now lives in Canton with her wine-loving husband and two yellow labs (Koda and YogiBear). After placing 1st runner-up on CBS’s "Survivor" Season 29, Jaclyn took a leap of faith and switched careers from the advertising industry to the wine industry, which is what led her to study her passion in Napa Valley.

She is currently pursuing her Diploma Level certification from the Global Wine and Spirits Education Trust. She manages her own blog and YouTube channel where she works directly with wine brands from all over the world and shares wine recommendations and food pairings. Since she knows firsthand that wine can often be intimidating, Jaclyn founded Tasting Grapes in an effort to make learning about wine more approachable, fun and comfortable.

Meet the Panelists

About The Detroit Writing Room

The Detroit Writing Room is an event and co-working space to work and write. Whether you’re working on the next Great American novel or a business plan, the DWR has over 25 professional writing coaches to help with all your writing needs. We also host book talks, writing workshops, open mic nights and private events. Visit detroitwritingroom.com to sign up for coaching, memberships, events and more.