Wine is a Journey | Shay Gilchrist |Episode. 002

Shay Gilchrist  |  Founder, (Wine & Vibes, LLC)  |  Author, Vinology™

  "I've done a lot of things scared. And doing it scared has built my confidence."  

THE STORY

Shay Gilchrist started with a glass of White Zinfandel and a kitchen full of curiosity.

A self-taught cook from Virginia Beach, she discovered that every dish she made sparked the same question: what wine would pair with this? That curiosity led her to earn her WSET Level 2 certification with merit, launch Wine & Vibes, LLC, and write a book called Vinology™—a wine word search collection designed to make wine education accessible and fun.

But what struck me most about Shay wasn't her credentials. It was her clarity.

When people told her to expand her wine tastings beyond 30 guests, she said no. "I have a vision and I wanted to keep the integrity of that vision," she told me. "Keep it intimate and conversational. That 30 will always be my max."

When I asked how she built the confidence to stay firm, her answer was simple: "I've done a lot of things scared. And doing it scared has built my confidence."

In our conversation, Shay talks about the emotional load of creating experiences, why she wishes she'd stopped over-explaining sooner, and how she wants people to leave her events feeling like they just left a spa—relaxed and realizing they needed that more than they knew.

Wine isn't intimidating. It starts with curiosity. And Shay's proof.

WHAT WE TALKED ABOUT

→  Wine doesn't have to be intimidating—start with curiosity

→  Staying true to your vision (30 people max, no exceptions)

→  Doing it scared—and how fear builds confidence

→  Stop over-explaining (the right people will get it)

→  The emotional load of building experiences

→  Avoiding burnout when you're passionate about your work

→  Family, faith, and the people who shaped her

QUOTABLES

  "I've done a lot of things scared. And doing it scared has built my confidence."

  "I have a vision and I wanted to keep the integrity of that vision. That 30 will always be my max."

  "Stop over-explaining. The people that are gonna support you will do that."

  "Imagine leaving a spa. Like, ooh, I didn't know I really needed that. And I feel relaxed afterwards."

  "What are you sitting on right now that could be a potential business or idea? Just go for it. Do it scared."

CONNECT WITH SHAY

Instagram: @wineandvibes_

Website: wineandvibessc.com

Book: Vinology™ on Amazon (February 4, 2026)