Lydia Richards, Founder, Vino Concierge & Co-Founder, Hispanics in Wine (New York, USA)

Years In Industry:
I have been working in the wine industry for five years and have lived in New York for about ten (time flies!). I am originally from Panama and since early on, I remember having an interesting appreciation for wine thanks to my mom and my aunts, and how it brought them together around the table. The real OG wine lovers in my book, they would chat for hours on end, their interactions always revolving around a bottle of wine.

My true passion for wine began after graduating from university in London and living in Paris for a few months to learn the language. Living with one of my closest friends, who was French and a real wine connoisseur, really opened my eyes to the different French wine regions, styles and the culture behind it, from then on I was hooked. After moving to New York, I worked in Marketing and PR in the fashion industry, but always kept coming back to wine. I took wine and food pairing classes after work, and slowly but surely, it started taking over my life. In 2015, I decided to fully commit, take sommelier and WSET lessons and make the official career change. I created my private wine education and events company, Vino Concierge, in 2017; I am also a Senior Account Executive at Colangelo & Partners, working with their Spanish and South American accounts.

In September 2020, I launched an exciting passion project alongside my wine colleagues Maria Calvert and Ivonne Nill called Hispanics in Wine, a social space dedicated to showcasing Hispanic/Latinx roots in the beverage and hospitality industries. Whether it's a producer, sommelier, retail store, restaurant, or farmer, we are committed to empowering, amplifying and supporting the great work and business ventures our community is doing within the industry!

My Biggest Challenge To Wellness:

My biggest challenge to wellness has really been, well, myself! As with most of us, this year certainly took a toll. Being away from my family in Panama and living in isolation, dealing and confronting personal issues relating to BLM and the overall social justice conversation (that still continues), and of course, balancing the demanding work of being a PR professional and my own personal projects with Vino Concierge, took me to a dark headspace. After a few nervous breakdown close calls and honestly, drinking a bit too much wine as a coping mechanism, I decided enough was enough and I made the conscious decision to start taking care of myself, my health and my wellbeing.  

How I Keep It Together To Stay Well:

It's been a journey, but I started exercising regularly. In the past, I had never been good at keeping up a regular exercise routine, but now, it is an essential part of my day. Even if I have a crazy one ahead (happens often!), I try to at least do 15-30 minutes of cardio or yoga, and it truly has done wonders for my well being. Additionally, I have also adopted a more balanced and healthy diet, lowered my alcohol intake and incorporated daily green smoothies with superfoods like acai, spirulina, turmeric, moringa, etc. While I definitely see the physical changes (my skin has improved, weight, and more), the most important thing has been my mental health - I feel more productive, sharp and with energy to take on the day. It is a constant work in progress and while I do not limit myself extensively (I still love my wine and my yummy, fatty foods), I've realized it's all about balance!

You can connect with Lydia on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, her website for Vino Concierge and its Instagram.