Shaunna and Shayla are the two sisters behind Wine Spencer. A contemporary wine brand that exists to inspire people to decant and appreciate the taste of wine from professional and business events to private occasions and social celebrations.
The two fell in love with wine early and chose to pursue WSET Level 2 sommelier certifications. Both were eager to share their passion with the world, so they joined forces, naming their new venture in the tradition of their father, grandfather, and great grandfather’s name ‘Spencer.’ It is a name that denotes stewardship, guidance, protection, and cherishing. Both sisters have a strong desire to redefine what wine means and give it a modern significance, especially among minority communities, diverse ethnicities, and cultures that have been traditionally not been catered to by the wine industry.
Wine Spencer was created to make wine tasting accessible, fun, and easy to understand for the novice wine enthusiast. It is the goal of Wine Spencer to elevate the beauty of wine to a new generation of consumers.
Shaunna Cooper is the Co-Founder and Chief Wine Taster of Wine Spencer. Her love for wine started when she graduated from Loyola Marymount University and attended her first sales meeting with her then employer in Phoenix, AZ. Although she didn’t know what kind of wine to order, she was persuaded to try a White Zinfandel and that became her first experience to the world of wine. It’s no wonder Zinfandel is now her favorite wine. Soon after that first encounter it intrigued her to want to learn more about wine so she could share with her friends and colleagues.
Shaunna’s love of wine expanded when she became a server at an Italian restaurant. She enjoyed helping customers pair wine with their food to create the perfect pairing. Her love of wine tasting has moved her to travel to wine tasting rooms in Tuscany, Greece and Napa Valley, California. One of her
newly favorite wine destinations is Temecula Valley, California, where she discovered some excellent wine in the small, quaint wineries of the region. She loves to cook, her favorite food is Mexican, loves home decor, and has taken a new-found interest in gardening.
Shayla Smith is the Co-Founder and Chief Wine Pairing Officer at Wine Spencer. Her role is to identify and target corporate partners that align with Wine Spencer’s vision to make wine accessible to a new generation of consumers. She pulls from her experience working as the Population Health Strategy Manager where she develops partnerships with community based organizations whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of New York City residents.
This passion for connecting with people began while she was an undergraduate at Stanford University. Shayla hosted holiday dinners in her dorm for dorm mates when they couldn’t get back home to their families. It was over these dinners where the people she lived with became friends and she saw how food and wine bring people together. Her passion for wine intensified as an undergrad while studying abroad for four months in Madrid, Spain, traveling to several wine regions to attend wine tastings. Then, as s a graduate student at Columbia University, Shayla lived in South Africa for three months doing research and had the opportunity to tour wineries there. She became acquainted with the complexities of the Pinotage grape and the beauty of the Stellenbosch wine region. She is eagerly awaiting her next trip to another world-renowned wine region.
Wine Spencer is committed to inspiring people to decant and appreciate the taste of wine wherever and whomever they’re sharing it with. We will do this by providing the most contemporary, highly knowledgeable, wine consultations and tasting occasions possible.
Wine Spencer is a leading brand with the purpose of redefining the modern wine tasting and learning experience. Passionate about all things wine, we believe that everyone should enjoy the most beautiful wine types, regardless of age or wine-tasting knowledge. Inspired to reinvent the wine experience at social and formal events, Wine Spencer introduces classes, event hosting, and much more. We wish to bring the excitement and the beauty of wine to all who wish to enjoy fine wines thoroughly and to expand their knowledge on premium selections.
Wine has a rich history. It is available in a variety of types and with origins from all over the world. At Wine Spencer, we aim to share our passion and our love for fine wines with the world. We introduce red and white wine tasting with a brief history and a fun, engaging approach to our wine tasting classes. Our aim is to make wine drinking and tasting an exciting experience in which our guests refine their preferences and appreciate exceptional wines.
We want to break down the stereotypes surrounding wine present unique wine experiences to both new and emerging segments of the market.