Hi, I’m Arielle.

I’m a Tucson based WSET Sommelier and Director of the wine programs at Tap & Bottle, Tap & Bottle North, and Westbound. Born and raised in New York, wine was never a topic of conversation, usually a choice between red and white. While living in the Rhône Valley, France in my early twenties, I realized that wine was wholly ingrained in their culture, and meant more than just an everyday glass of table red. I was hooked. I earned my WSET3 Sommelier Certificate in 2012 from the International Wine Center in Manhattan, New York, and since 2015, have worked full-time in the wine business. Most recently, from 2018-2021, I lived in the Czech Republic with my husband and it was there that I launched Civil Wines, a forum where anyone could learn about the wines being produced in the country. In creating English-speaking videos and writing articles covering Czech wine, I introduced my own American spin on wine education in a foreign country. The transition from in-person tastings to virtual tastings expanded my reach, enabling me to host tastings around the world. The experience was unforgettable, a catalyst in my own personal wine journey. Whether you’re just getting started in wine or you want to learn more, I strive to be the answer to your wine questions, a friendly bridge between you and the enormous wine world.