Autumn Gilliam of Rochester wears two hats depending on the time of day. During the day, she works as a golf pro with a full schedule of lessons. Off the links, she teaches and leads workshops on wine in the evening.
Well-known for her expertise in both arenas it was her wine expertise I wanted to hear about.
A trip to France during college was her first real exposure wine in its many varieties. An aunt introduced her to French wines and that planted the seed.
“After college I was working at golf courses and was often asked to help with social events, and wines were usually part of that,” Gilliam said.
The more she was around the many varieties, her interest grew enough that she decided to learn more. And more. On her own she started wine tastings with friends. So impressed were they with her choices and growing expertise that with their encouragement she decided to pursue that as a professional. She isn’t done yet.
Autumn Gilliam pours class attendees wine during a wine tasting class on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Buzzin’ Blooms in Rochester.
Maya Giron / Post Bulletin
Gilliam is now certified by the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level III, WSET Diploma candidate (similar to a master sommelier), WSET certified in Spirits, a Minnesota licensed wine educator. She is planning to soon start her education as a master of wine, the highest level a wine professional can achieve.
She has also managed to combine her love of golf with that of wine. Among her many classes is one called Sip, Swirl, Swing, a four-person 9-hole scramble where blind tastings are on three holes, and two more tastes after.
“It fills up minutes after its posted,” she said.
Her classes are on a variety of subjects from tasting a particular wine or wines, to wine and food pairings. They cover a wide variety and all levels, in-home tastings, interactive classes and more personalized experiences. So far this she has taught 55 classes, often at 125 Live.
Sat down with Gilliam with some questions. The answers poured out.
Holly Ebel: What to look for in a bottle?
Autumn Gilliam: Choose the flavors you like — citrusy, tropical, dry, sweeter. Narrow it down. Grapes from cool climates will have more citrusy tones than those from warmer climates, like California. Right now I’m drinking pinot noir or a dry Riesling, which to me are light, refreshing, food-friendly and good for summer.
Holly: Is a $75 to $100 bottle of wine that much better than one for $35?
Autumn: Some might say so, but it’s hard to tell. The less expensive are decent wines, no question. Pricey doesn’t necessarily mean better, I learned that long ago. Good values right now are wines from Portugal, South America, South Africa and Australia.
Holly: How is the best way to store bottles of wine and what about buying by the case?
Autumn: Keep bottles in a cool spot, away from light and on their sides. Most of the wines we buy are meant to be consumed soon, not necessarily kept for years. About buying by the case, I don’t do that. There are so many wines available I want to explore. Right now I have about 400 bottles, mostly my work inventory.
Holly: How important is the label on the bottle?
Autumn: You want to know what’s in that bottle and the label helps you with that. It gives you all sorts of information about the wines identity — the winery’s name, the grapes, the year harvested and where. These days labels are almost works of art and can really make the bottle stand out on a shelf. Still, go by what the label tells you.
Holly: I’ve just opened a bottle and poured a little into a glass. Before I sip it, what should I do?
Autumn: Swirl it gently to develop its aroma, sniff it for its intensity, then take a sip. How is its mouth feel? Does it taste and smell the same? Most of all, enjoy it.
Holly: What are most popular wines right now?
Autumn: Red blends are popular and have been for awhile, so are Cabernets and Chardonnays. The best advice I have is to drink what you like.
Gilliam’s favorite, no surprise, is the wine that started her on this amazing journey — Champagne from France.
The Adventurous Sip
You can find Gilliam’s wine tasting business online at
www.theavdenturoussip,com
or call her at 312-543-2147.
Post Bulletin food writer Holly Ebel knows what’s cookin’. Send comments or story tips to
life@postbulletin.com.
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