Behind the Vines: Pourer Finds Life Lessons In Tasting Room

Kristin Grattan, 24, had only taken one wine appreciation course in college when she applied for a job in the tasting room at Duckwalk Vineyards in Southold.

But in the just over a year since she was hired, Grattan said she's received on-the-job training not just in the art of pouring, but in learning how to work up-close-and-personal with an array of people and personalities.

Grattan, who graduated from the University of New Haven with a degree in forensic science, ultimately plans to go back to school to study nursing; her goal is a career in forensic nursing. 

The lessons she's learned in the tasting room at Duckwalk Vineyards have given her invaluable people skills, Grattan said.

"I really do enjoy it. There's never a dull moment. You always come home with some kind of story to tell. It's rewarding — you get to meet all kinds of people."  

The experience has also broadened Grattan's wine horizons. North Fork wine country, she said, is becoming well-known on the national and international canvas.

"I had someone come in from California come in, and it was nice for someone from another wine region to take the time to appreciate what we have out here."

Of the local wine region, Grattan added, "The vines are really starting to mature. I realize that the North Fork wine country has been around for 40 years now, but we're really up and coming."

Her favorite wine at Duckwalk, Grattan said, is the new Malbec release. "It's got a really nice body to it. I like drier reds, and it's got nice tannins to it."

One of the best parts of her job are the love stories that unfold between the vines, Grattan said, smiling.

"We do a lot of weddings here, and I have personally witnessed at least four engagements," she said. "From the most casual, where he said to the woman, 'Hey, you want to get married?', to someone who said, 'Let's step outside and take a look at the vines.' All of their friends were pressed up to the door, looking out the window to watch him propose."

Her happiest moments at the winery, Grattan said, have been nuptial-inspired. "I've seen some beautiful weddings out in front of the vines. After the crazy insanity of a summer Saturday, the whole place is completely transformed by a gorgeous wedding. Those are my favorite days."

Working in the tasting room, Grattan said, has challenges. "You have to be able to do so many different things at once," she said. "You might have three different people at the bar, and one wants to know every detail about the wine, while another person really doesn't want to talk. It's about  managing yourself and reacting in a way that's going to ensure that every customer has a great experience."

The position has helped Grattan to grow. "I've definitely become more patient, and it's also taught me how far I can stretch myself on a busy day."

Behind the scenes, the work can be physical, Grattan explained. Before opening, a complete restocking of the bar takes place, which often involves carrying "upward of ten cases of wine."

And although she's learned on the job, Grattan said she's been touched by the warm and generous community of North Fork pourers, all of whom are always just a phone call away, to answer questions and provide guidance through the first months of transitioning to a new position.

Just as wines mature, so has Grattan. Most fulfilling, she said, was introducing an avowed beer drinker to his first sip of wine. "To be able to turn people on to something new was very rewarding," she said. 

Looking ahead, Grattan said when she takes a job in a fast-paced hospital emergency room with a revolving carousel of patients and personalities, she'll remember her training at Duckwalk Vineyards. "I've learned how to react to different people, and how to relate to people in all kinds of situations," she said.