Q&A with Shelby Hearn, Director of Sales & Marketing
On Sunday in April and May we are hosting interactive Instagram experiences from the @SuhruWines Instagram account. Tune in each Sunday at 3pm to see what we have happening! Below is a transcript of the Live Instagram Q&A we hosted Sunday, April 19th with Shelby Hearn, Director of Sales & Marketing at Suhru Wines! Checkout what she had to say in response to your burning questions!
Shelby Hearn, Director of Sales & Marketing
Growing up a winemaker's daughter, Shelby took an interest in the wine industry at a young age. Shelby got her start in the industry in 2005 and has since worked in tasting rooms, planted vineyards, hand-harvested grapes, bottled, worked in the cellar, and has sampled her fair share along the way! Shelby has continued her personal wine education by touring the wine regions of Australia and Hungary, as well as many in the US. Before moving to the North Fork and joining Suhru Wines full-time Shelby, lived in Brooklyn where she was a marketing professional at Penguin Random House and later running marketing efforts at Brooklyn Winery.
Q: Is there any downside to drinking wine from a can?
A: In my opinion no, the taste is the same and the wine stays super fresh, particularly for white wines.
Q: How did you come up with the name Suhru?
A: Suhru is a combination of my parents names “SUsan” and “RUssell” as well as our last name “Hearn”
Q: Do you allow dogs in the tasting room?
A: We do! Well behaved dogs on a leash are always welcome and dogs love our backyard in the warmer months!
Q: What is a bordeaux blend?
A: Bordeaux blends are red blends made from a combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec & rarely Carmenere. Our Ember is a Bordeaux blend!
Q: Favorite comfort food or dessert with wine?
A: I have a bit of a sweet tooth so red wine & dark chocolate is always my go to pairing! Our Merlot-infused Dark chocolate is a personal favorite!
Q: Can you distribute to Michigan?
A: Not yet, but we’re hoping soon! Currently we ship to NY, MA & FL but coming in the next week or so we will be adding many more states so stay tuned!
Q: What’s the most underrated Suhru wine?
A: Dry Riesling—Rieslings are often thought of as being sweet however a DRY Riesling like ours is one of the most fun wines to pair with foods! Pair it with something with a little spice to really make the flavors shine! Pairing Suggestions: Thai & Indian cuisine, curries, sushi & dry rub BBQ are some of my favorites!
Q: How do you decide between the Ember and the Shiraz or the T’Jara Merlot for a big beef roast?
A: Good question! They are all great choices, but my general rule of thumb with our reds is the bigger the flavors in the meal, the bigger the red you want! For a beef roast, I would go with Ember, it’s big, it’s bold, it has a more robust flavor and nice tannins so it will pair nicely with heavier, richer meat flavors.
Q: What’s your favorite wine?
A: My favorite wine always changes by season, but I always LOVE our Shiraz! It’s a little fruity, a little spicy, and a whole lot delicious! I also love our Brut! You really can’t go wrong with bubbly and this one is crisp, light, dry, and oh so refreshing!
Q: If you were on a desert island and could only pack one kind of Suhru wine, what would it be?
A: I’d bring our new cans! They’re super convenient, lightweight, and 1 can hold the equivalent of 2 glasses (or half a bottle of wine) so it would make packing super easy!
Q: Where do you grow your grapes?
A: We source our fruit, which means we work with a number of excellent growers on the North Fork (and one in the Finger Lakes where we grow our Riesling). By sourcing our fruit we are not limited to the grapes grown in a single vineyard but instead have the freedom to pick and choose the varietals we love and work with the vineyards that grow those best!
Q: What are some of your favorite pairings?
A: Sauvignon Blanc & Scallops are a personal favorite!
Q: How long can you drink wine for once it’s open?
A: To drink it at its peak I would recommend 2-3 days for a full opened bottle. However my pro tip is, if you know you’re not going to finish the bottle, pour the wine into a smaller bottle or jar and make sure there is no air space. You can keep the wine this way for weeks!
Q: What other North Fork wines do you recommend?
A: I’ve got so many great LI wines in my personal collection, but a few of my favorites are: Leo Family Cellars, Lieb Cellars, Paumanok Vineyards, Saltbird Cellars, Bridge Lane Wine, Sparkling Pointe, One Woman Winery & Macari Wines just to name a few.
Q: What’s your favorite board/card game to play while drinking some wine?
A: Wine Wars—it's such a fun wine trivia game and a great way to learn some new wine facts to impress your friends and family!
Q: What are your favorite spots on the North Fork?
A: I love walking out at Orient Point--it’s a nice, quiet walk by the water and in the winter months you can often spot a seal or two!
Q: How do you recommend building a wine collection?
A: Start with what you like and build from there! Whenever I find a wine I really like I buy at least two bottles, one to drink now and one to save. The first bottle goes into the “drink now” rack and the second into my collection. Before you know it and after a few trips to wine country you’ll need another wine rack!
Q: Who in the LI wine industry have you been influenced by?
A: My dad--our winemaker Russell Hearn--has been a huge influence for me, He introduced me to wine, this industry, and the incredible process of winemaking! I have always been fascinated with wine, ever since I was a kid, My love of wine and this industry is all thanks to him! I am also very lucky to have made so many wonderful friends in this industry like the incredible Alie Shaper and Robin Epperson McCarthy of Chronicle wines!
Q: How do I tell which wines I should age and which ones I should drink right away?
A: That’s a harder one to answer without knowing the specifics, it’s always a good idea to check with the winery to see what they recommend. But as a general rule, rosés and stainless steel white wines should be enjoyed within a year whereas barrel aged white and red wines can be aged for 10+ years from their vintage date (in most cases).
Q: What is your favorite snack when you drink wine?
A: Freshly shucked local oysters!
Q: What is it like working for a family business?
A: It's challenging, like any job, but it’s also the most fun I’ve ever had at work! We work hard, we play hard, and I know no matter what my family always has my back! It’s also very rewarding! I love going to work with my mom and the rest of my family everyday, it has given me so many new and exciting opportunities to learn and grow!
Q: What is your favorite season on the North Fork?
A: Late summer/early fall when the days are warm but the nights are cool and you can cozy up by the fire with a glass of red!
Join us next week, Sunday, April 26th at 3pm for a Q&A with our winemaker Russell Hearn, hosted in our Instagram Stories!
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