About us.

We’re Doug and Lacie—a husband and wife team who’ve spent our careers building things, leading people, and chasing what’s next. These days, what’s next looks like good wine, intentional travel, and figuring out how to live this next chapter on our own terms. Welcome to The Next Vintage.

Wine is our second act. It turned into a calling.

We came into wine as most people do, as fans. Then it became something more. We earned our Wine & Spirits Education Trust Level 3 (WSET 3) and Certified Specialist in Wine (CSW) certifications, built and scaled two specialty wine bars and shops from the ground up, and eventually sold both. Along the way, we learned that wine isn’t really about the wine, it’s about the people, the places, and stories behind every bottle.

That belief took us to Napa Valley last July, where we traded the business side of wine for the dirt-under-your-fingernails, purple-stained hands reality of harvest season in the Carneros region. It was humbling, unglamorous, and one of the best things we’ve ever done.

Before wine, there was a lot of life.

Doug spent 31 years serving in the U.S. Navy, enlisted and officer ranks, retiring in 2015 as a Commander in the Special Operations community. After the military, he followed another passion and served as Director of Operations for both the Boston and New York City Marathons. He now brings that same love of teaching and structure to his Vines to Wines course and private tastings, covering everything from vineyard management and winemaking to regional deep-dives, food pairings, and hands-on tastings.

Lacie channeled her endurance sport obsession into entrepreneurship, founding Swirlgear, a women’s running apparel brand, consulting for major marathons and cycling events across the country, and serving as Vice President for Heatsheets, who’s reflective finish line blankets you’ve probably seen at every race you’ve run.

We’re now entering a new vintage.

With the businesses sold, the kids grown up, and retirement on the horizon, we’re doing something a little different: slowing down on purpose. We’re traveling deliberately, drinking curiously, and documenting what intentionally living actually looks like in this season of life. Not a gap year. Just a conscious decision to be present for what’s next, and to bring you along for it.

We offer wine education, exploration experiences, and consulting for small businesses in the wine and hospitality space. Head to our Services page to see how we can work together.

Every bottle of wine tells a story