Sip What You Enjoy.
Discover Something New.
What We’re About
Grape Libations is a wine blog for the know-it-alls, know-nothing-at-alls and wine enthusiasts alike. We’re a small team who enjoys learning about wine and wants to share that passion with others.
Our goal is to make wine less intimidating by educating our readers about this complex grape juice in an approachable way.
We know this drink is associated with a pinkies-up stereotype, but it doesn’t need to be. Wine drinkers can admire the intricacies and nuances if they so choose, or simply enjoy it while relaxing after a long day of being.
If you like wine simply because you like it, that’s all right enough. But if you want to learn more, and become more educated, we’re here to help you with that. For whatever reason you drink wine, that’s just fine.
OUR TEAM
Cole Swanson
Founder/Creator & Chief
WSET II, WSET III, SWSCole began working in the wine industry in 2018. A career in wine was never a predetermined decision, simply the result of serendipity. His original career choice was advertising, but, shortly after college, that pursuit went south.
In search of another job, simply because he needed one and wanted to escape boredom, he walked into a Washington state tasting room with his resume in-hand. He didn’t even like wine, and winced at its bitterness and pungency. Nine months in, he began to appreciate the drink, and serendipity occurred: he vacationed to Italy with his family.
While there, he became inspired by the culture and mystified about wine. It excited him in a visceral way that advertising didn’t, and he wanted to share that excitement with anyone who would listen.
Six years after walking into that tasting room, he worked his way around the industry, gaining his WSET II and III certificates, publishing articles for a Seattle-based beverage magazine, and co-founded Grape Libations. The sole purpose of gaining all of this experience was to provide people the same amount of excitement he felt while in Italy.
Taylor Rausch
Contributing Writer
WSET II, Cider Expert
Certified Cicerone Beer Server, Level 1It's been a journey much like you would expect. Taylor started a small ketchup business and learned the hard way how the consumer packaged goods industry operates. He was able to grow the business successfully and has since sold it after 8 years. Ever since the creation and selling of this small business, Taylor have become entrenched in problem solving at a high level for manufacturers, vendors, retail operators both big and small, across all types of fast-moving products.
However, as his tastes continue to be refined, Taylor realized his love and passion are in the wine and general alcohol categories. Some may call it destiny. He calls it living well. Once Taylor was able to marry his passion for wine with the professional expertise of buying and selling packaged goods, he never really looked back!
Hope you enjoy our writing, hope you enjoy our voice, and please drink responsibly. Let's have some fun!
“I’d rather have a bottle in front of me, than a frontal lobotomy.”