INTERVIEW WITH MIRYAM FOSSATI

I currently live in Delray Beach in the beautiful neighborhood of Pineapple Grove.

I have been living in South Florida for over 16 year now. I’m originally from Bolivia, and I moved to the United Stated for College. I did my bachelors in Marketing and International business at Texas A&M University. I come from a multigenerational family of Aggies and I still have family (including my brothers) in Texas, but after college I decided to move to Florida to be closer to my parents in Bolivia. I also wanted a multicultural, multinational and tropical place to call home.

I started my carrier in the Product Development and International Import business which gave me the opportunity to travel around Asia and Europe for 13 years where my passion for wine, food and experiencing different cultures intensified. About 3 years ago I decided to have a carrier change and immerse myself in the world of wine. While still consulting for some international firms I started to work at The Wine Wave here in Delray Beach, which is the best store in Palm Beach county when it comes to wine. Part of this immersion was to learn more about wine, and once the wine bug bites you there is no turning back. In these 3 years I got my Sommelier Certification from the Court of Master Sommeliers, the French Wine Scholar Certification and also, I passed the Level 3 of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust and soon will start the Diploma program, and who knows maybe one day I might go for the Masters of Wine.

Wine can be very simple and also very complicated, depending how you see it. I try to take away the complicated part and make it an enjoyable experience for everybody. For me food and wine go hand in hand and is all about the experience. The way that I see it is that food brings people to the table and wine keeps them there. You know that once you open a bottle of wine during a meal, you are making a commitment of time with those you are sharing it with. Enjoy it.

I like to believe is to make people happy, either by helping them find that special bottle that brings them a memory taking them to that special place or helping curate a wine cellar that has become overwhelming. I also do many private tastings for people that want to learn more about wine.

The beauty of my job is that I get to work with all sorts of people: from a person who wants some easy to drink wines to take to the beach or boat, to collectors who are looking to fill, manage and organize their cellars as their palate evolves. 

For me is the opportunity to travel to new places, learn about other cultures, and experience new flavors all through a bottle of wine. After all, behind and inside each bottle of wine, there is a person, a region, a history, culture and a story. It’s the opportunity to be constantly learning something new.

Delray Beach has still been able to keep that quaint Florida charm of a small town, I can walk to some of my favorite restaurants like The Grove, Brule or Rosa’s Daughter and bump into neighbors and people I know. If you are a local most likely the people that work there will know you by name – it’s the little things that makes it feel like home.

I like to see myself as a citizen of the world, so my style is very eclectic. One day you will see me all dressed up and in heels while others in a summer dress and sandals. It all depend on the occasion, what I’m doing and what I am in the mood for. I think confidence, and trust in your self are the best guides when it comes to your personal style.