Libby Brodie, Wine Columnist, Director of Bacchus & Brodie Wine Consultancy, Co-Creator & Presenter of "Boozy & The Beast - How to Drink Better" (London, England)

Years in the Industry:
One year. A theatre producer of 15 years, when lockdown closed theatre down in 2020 I immersed myself in wine (professionally speaking). I studied the WSET, passing with Level 3 Distinction, and started advising friends informally on wine. Soon after, a friend and colleague at Corney & Barrow wine merchant pointed out that I was working like a wine consultant. I secured my Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme (AWRS) license and launched my consultancy, Bacchus & Brodie, with a handful of private clients in January 2021. It has been non-stop from there.

My Three Top Challenges to Wellness:
Being a “yes” person. I have always been someone who throws themselves into things full throttle without always thinking it through. What I have learned (and am still in the process of learning) is the value of boundaries and saying no. There is a real danger of burn out, especially when you factor in the limits of time and energy that balancing work with a family brings and the natural constraints of aging. To ensure I provide the quality of work I want to I must choose the projects I accept and the people I spend my time with more carefully.

Like many in wine, I enjoy consuming with gusto. Overindulgence is an issue within the industry, and it is certainly one I struggle with, with both food and drink. Once a bottle of good wine is opened, moderation is often tricky, so I ensure a minimum of three alcohol-free days a week to give my body a fighting chance. With a personality like mine, abstinence is easier than temperance.

The eternal Hydra of my emails and to-do list. I think our society has schooled us that being busy is being Alpha. That to be considered “successful” you need to be non-stop. This really hit me when I was in a mindfulness coaching group at the start of lockdown. The Coach asked us for different examples of success. She asked me when I was last “successfully relaxed” and I could not link the two in my mind, they seemed an oxymoron.

How I Keep It Together to Stay Well:
Aside from ensuring alcohol free days, I always keep rehydrated. I drink a lot of water every day and constantly have glasses around me at home. People know when I’m visiting as collections of water glasses appear everywhere.
If I am feeling stressed or upset, then going for a walk is always a good idea. I’m not very good at sitting still but when I was travelling, I was taught walking meditation by monks in Asia and that kind of pace and rhythm is one of the only ways I can clear my mind – though sometimes I put on an audiobook or podcast and listen to that too.

There is a reason why sleep deprivation is a form of torture, it is totally debilitating. If I wake in the early, hours I generally won’t get back to sleep as my brain is buzzing. I also have a handy toddler ‘alarm clock’ who means lie-ins past 6am are a thing of the past so I try to get an early night whenever I am at home. Most nights I am already tucked up in bed with the eye mask on by 9pm. If it is a really good evening, I am there by 8pm.

What Inspires Me:
Over lockdown, Instagram did - and the people I met there. I have watched incredible interviews via IGTV, done cook-alongs with brilliant chefs, taken part in panel tastings and Q&As, been able to interact with people across the globe and at all levels of the industry in a way I would not have had access to before. The ability to do that is incredibly exciting. If you don’t like someone’s content, you can unfollow them (if only it was as easy as that in real life!) and personally, I have found it a very supportive platform. The friends I have made on IG have encouraged me to put more of myself onto the platform, to study more, taste more, experience and learn more in a very positive way.

Quotes I Love:
The one I use the most is “The Show Must Go On”. No matter the trials, downfalls and difficulties, we find a way to carry on and make it work. I have also always liked “Hand me the wine and dice. I want my carnival now,” from Aspects of Love.

You can connect with Libby on Instagram at Libby Brodie and BoozyBeastTV, and through her website.