About

James Sligh is a Brooklyn-based writer, educator, and wine person.

He’s worked for some of New York City’s deepest cellars, including sommelier stints at Compagnie des Vins Surnaturels, Rouge Tomate, and Pearl & Ash.

That’s the fancy part, but there were other important experiences too: Cupping coffee and having to come up with tasting notes when he was a cook in D.C. (Shout-out to Big Bear Cafe!) Selling wine to the neighborhood at his local store. (Shout-out to Vine Wine!) Teaching English as a foreign language in Spain and Poland (because wine is a foreign language). Reading a ton of the kind of fantasy novels with maps inside the front cover as a kid growing up.

A few years ago, he started hand-drawing maps of his own to help explain wine regions to people. How, if you just looked at where the ground changed and the water flowed, and where the money was, you could see how those regions made sense.

Maybe you’re one of those people, or would like to be.

If so, this site is a place where you can: access a growing library of wine writing and educational content; register for classes, whether they’re kits shipped nationwide or in-person tastings; order prints that map the wide world of wine; or get in touch for info on private events, consulting, and commissions.

Want to go deeper? Join the community at our Patreon, and support more free content, unlock patron-exclusive perks, and gain access to things I only share over there.