Hudson Valley Wine Goddess

Debbie Gioquindo, CSW, WLS is a marketing professional by day following her passion for wine.  Her extensive background in PR and Marketing began in radio and moved on to emerging media today.   Through following her passion for wine she began a wine blog "Hudson Valley Wine Goddess" with the intent to educate people about wine, that soon led to focus part of her blog on educating people about the Hudson Valley Wine Region, her home.

She became involved with the local wine industry in 2006 marketing consultant for the Shawangunk Wine Trail.  That later led to becoming involved with the branding of Hudson Valley Wine Country.  Wanting more in 2010 she sat for the Certified Specialist of Wine exam administered by the Society of Wine Educators and in 2012 a Wine Location Specialist in Port & Champagne.

After being downsized from her day job (because you need a day job, to provide for your wine passion) February 2011, she answered a tweet from  @TheHappyBitch about creating a wine label. Three tweets and 6 months later Debbie along with Keryl Pesce launched Happy Bitch Wines.

Today Debbie consults with wineries and small business on marketing and public relations with an emphasis on emerging media as well as conducts wine education and tasting seminars.  Debbie is also the chairperson of the Hudson Valley Wine & Spirits Competition that is held every year at the Hudson Valley Wine Festival the weekend after Labor Day.