Alice Achayo
Founder + Owner
Alice Achayo is a dynamic entrepreneur originally from East Africa. Growing up in a culture where agriculture and food are central to genuine connection and community building, Alice was naturally drawn to these fields in her studies, pursuing a dual focus in hospitality management and sustainable food systems.
After graduating university, Alice found herself on a farm as a bread baker's apprentice, a role that resonated more deeply with her than the traditional path of hospitality management in high-end hotels and restaurants. Her love for baking flourished over the years, but she eventually sought a new challenge, pivoting into the world of wine. What started as a break from baking turned into a deep passion, as Alice immersed herself in the wine industry for the next nine years.
Through her experiences, Alice began to see the barriers to genuine engagement with wine and the negative perceptions that often surrounded it. This realization inspired her to start The Wine Linguist two years ago. The company’s vision is to redefine the language and culture of wine, reflecting the diversity of today’s and tomorrow’s wine enthusiasts and professionals, across cultures and generations.
Learn more about Alice:
An in-depth interview with the Oregon Wine Archive, where Alice talks about her journey from East Africa to New England and finding her way into the world of wine. This is a 2 hour interview. Watch on Youtube , Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcast
Recognitions
Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemakers
Black Women in Food Awards
Marie-Ana Follett
Associate Creative Director
Marie-Ana (she/her) is a born and raised Bostonian and mixed Latina who strives to be a global citizen. Marie-Ana’s journey in wine started with her childhood love for food and the land. She has continually explored and cultivated these interests through formal learning and on-the-job experiences.
Marie-Ana's interests led her to study Race, Class, and Gender and the Environment at Pomona College. Prior to her budding interest in the wine world, Marie-Ana worked in documentary filmmaking as a producer, community-based farming, corporate recruiting, diversity, equity, and inclusion, and education. These experiences brought her to California, China, and back to Boston. Last year Marie-Ana worked in wine retail in Boston, and at a Willamette Valley winery as a harvest cellar hand intern through Our Legacy Harvested.
Marie-Ana strives to bring authenticity and some humor in all that she does, and she holds a belief that we can embrace equity and community in every space, including wine. She’s incredibly excited to work with Alice and help grow The Wine Linguist in this next phase.