Wine Girl

The Trials and Triumphs of America’s Youngest Sommelier

By: Victoria James

Narrated by: Victoria James

An affecting memoir from the country’s youngest sommelier, tracing her path through the glamorous but famously toxic restaurant world

At just twenty-one, the age when most people are starting to drink (well, legally at least), Victoria James became the country’s youngest sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Even as Victoria was selling bottles worth hundreds and thousands of dollars during the day, passing sommelier certification exams with flying colors, and receiving distinction from all kinds of press, there were still groping patrons, bosses who abused their role and status, and a trip to the hospital emergency room.

It would take hitting bottom at a new restaurant and restorative trips to the vineyards where she could feel closest to the wine she loved for Victoria to re-emerge, clear-eyed and passionate, and a proud leader of her own Michelin-starred restaurant.

Exhilarating and inspiring, Wine Girl is the memoir of a young woman breaking free from an abusive and traumatic childhood on her own terms; an ethnography of the glittering, high-octane, but notoriously corrosive restaurant industry; and above all, a love letter to the restorative and life-changing effects of good wine and good hospitality.

Brave Honest Storytelling

What a brave and honest young woman. I hope your story has helped young women everywhere in the hospitality industry. Cheers

Wanted to like more

I really wanted to like this story but felt that Victoria held back. As a veteran in the restaurant and wine industry, I love when Somms (female) rise to the top and lift up others (especially women). It just felt stale. Sorry.

Enlightening

Thank you for telling your courageous, heartfelt story. I was living in wine country & driving to So CA so I thought I would listen to the book while driving. I was mesmerized by the account of Victoria's life. What a wonderful example of going through & pressing forward in such difficult obstacles. Tears were flowing while I was trying to drive!

From one Lady Somm to another

Wowza. Unlike Victoria, I didn’t catalogue every horrible thing that was done and said to me, first as a young female chef (the youngest in many cases) and then as a young female sommelier. I somehow built an armor that was like taking those many, many, many physical and verbal abuses and treating them like water off a ducks back. But I’m sure I just internalized most of it subconsciously. Her book is raw and true and brave and beautiful. She’s a badass and a survivor, and I hope every young woman in the wine industry reads it and learns from it, and I hope every man in the industry reads it and makes this industry better by doing better, and preventing further abuse.
True fan girl (ahem, fan woman) here.

Wonderful Wine Woman

Great listen from the voice of the author, Victoria James. She tells a vulnerable life story with brutal honesty. Shining a light into the back end of the realities in the hospitality industry. By standing up and speaking out, hopefully we can reshape the industry to be a safe place of community, love, and true hospitality. Thank you for leading the way Victoria.