Thomas Zarilllo
WIA Ambassador
USA
For Tom Wine is a passport to the world, filled with stories, friendships, culture, and education. While he has had a passion for wine for quite some time, it was when his friends opened an Italian restaurant in the East Village in NYC that he knew he had to know more.
His friend who is from Italy, would open bottles of the most interesting and fascinating Italian wines which expanded his palate and curiosity to learn and want more. Tom has worked in education in NYC for many years, holding two masters degrees defines himself as a life-long learner, only now that learning is driven by a passion from grape to table.
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Fast forward, he decided to dive in deep to study and learn how wine makes the world go round. He completed WSET Level 2, and Level 3, both with Merit and because “I LOVE all things Italian,” he is now enrolled in the Italian Wine Scholar program through the Wine Scholar Guild.
Tom wanted to dive deeper into specific wine regions and familiarize himself with Italian grapes as best he can. He says “There are so many Italian grape varieties to learn about and it can be overwhelming, but it’s fun to seek out wines made from Italian grapes from regions I am studying.”
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Tom’s background is Italian, his grandparents came from Italy, and he has visited Italy nearly 40 times! WSET opened a lot for him, and to explore wine regions through the glass is a fantastic sip-trip that he certainly enjoys taking.
His vacations have become wine focused and he has been fortunate to visit vineyards in France, Italy, Germany, and most recently England where sparkling wines prevail. Montalcino and Rome have won his heart, through their food, the people, and of course the wine. Tom has created many memories and that’s one of the wonderful things about wine, you associate good times with each sip and bottle.
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Tom’s Instagram @winebarchronicles first came about mainly because he loves wine bars and dining out at restaurants, cafes, and bistros and has done so in all his travels. Friends constantly message him for recommendations whether it be NYC, San Francisco, Charleston, Savannah, London, Paris, Zurich, Rome, wherever, and it made him realize he should share his stories, “after all the world is my wine bar”, and so he did.
Sharing wines that he enjoys and the many places he has enjoyed them is a passion he will never tire of. Instagram has also offered him the opportunity to work with producers as well as marketing companies who like to have wines from their clients featured and he is always grateful when he is approached to work with them.
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Wine Influencer: @winebarchronicles
Tom has also collaborated with wine bars and restaurants, putting together pairing menus coupled with some education and tips for tasting and just how to have fun with wine. One of the most important things that has come out of his wine studies, and influencer projects is that he has made some very special friends who support him, sip with him, and laugh with him.
“Wine just keeps bringing people together.”
Although Tom is not officially in the wine industry yet, it is his goal to take his studies to another level, he is not sure where yet, but he is definitely excited to find out.
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WIA AMBASSADOR
From vineyard to glass. Each wine is a unique experience, and it needs an ambassador to share it with the world. A journey that begins with wine and continues with people.
Leveraging relationships and contributing to creating a great wine community. WIA Ambassadors experience and share a deep understanding and excitement of wine. Bringing wines and vineyards to life in the form of great wines, events, courses, interviews, tasting, photos, videos and more.
Making local wineries global & bringing the wine community around the world to enjoy a life of wine, passion & prosperity.