About Us

The Second Glass is your unpretentious, badass source for baller wine information.

The Second Glass drops knowledge through weekly e-mails and events throughout Boston encouraging everyone to learn about and drink more wine. We empower our readers by enriching their knowledge of different regions, styles and techniques. Our goal is not to critique wine but explain the world of wine in a down-to-earth and humorous tone. It is our firm belief that good wine is not just for the elite. Good wine, like good food is available to everyone.

Want to read about all the interns that helped us get here? Check out the Intern Wall of Fame

Principals
	Tyler Balliet *President, Editor* Twitter: @tylerb
	Tyler was born and raised in Madison, WI then attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA. After graduating in 2003 he traveled the United States and Europe, living for close to a year in a tiny town in rural France. It was here he decided, inexpensive but totally awesome wine was a good idea. In May of 2005 Tyler moved to Boston and got a job in a wine store. In the store he learned about non-French wine what not paying full retail value was all about. In August of 2006, while flipping through the latest copy of Wine Spectator on a particularly slow evening in the store, the idea for an unpretentious wine magazine hit him. After a three months, a few Craig’s List ads, a couple dozen meetings and hundreds of phone calls later, The Second Glass was born.
	Morgan First *Marketing and Community Director* Twitter: @morgan1st
	Morgan manages The Second Glass with her vast knowledge of the Publishing Industry and the Boston Landscape. Originally from Los Angeles, Morgan came to Boston to attend Emerson College for her BA in Publishing and Marketing Communication. Morgan is the instigator and organizer of community events as well as the press liaison. You can also find her work running Motion Affair Planner (MAP) BOSTON a weekly agenda and guide to the city.
	Kate Pluhar *Sales Director*
	Kate was born and raised in Chicago and moved to Boston three years ago for a corporate gig. When she regained her sanity, Kate discovered you can actually make a living doing what you love! During a trek through France in college, Kate discovered there is life outside boons and box wine and has ever since been trying to convince her mother to put down the white zin. Now, this wino can’t learn enough about wine and loves to kick back with friends and share a bottle or three! Kate’s into good literature, bad reality television, cold beers, hot beaches, and boys who are up to no good. The Wine that got me into wine: French red bordeaux Drunk Munchies: Cheese and crackers If I only had to drink one wine for the rest of my life: Pop bottles! Champagne!
Staff
	Ashley Lashgari *Wine Riot & Events Coordinator* Twitter: @ashleylashgari
	Ashley grew up in Connecticut, spent 4 months in Australia, 4 years in Rhode Island, 11 days in Chile, and now loves life in Boston. Our resident smarty-pants, Ashley got her undergrad degree in Marketing from Bryant University and her MBA from Northeastern University. This girl is a serious Riot veteran, volunteering at the first Riot, being an intern for the second, and now coordinating the third! While not drinking yummy bottles of red (which isn’t too often..), Ashley enjoys watching bad reality dating shows, playing dodgeball with SBS, online shopping, and telling her favorite pirate joke to those who will listen. The Wine that got me into wine: Catrala Pinot Noir Drunk Munchies: Toaster Waffles If I only had to drink one wine for the rest of my life: Argentina Malbec
	Holly Gordon *Design Hero*
	With the flick of the wrist and the click of a mouse Holly Gordon whips up killer designs for The Second Glass. Whether it’s a tasteful invite to an exclusive wine tasting or a giant monster eating a city of wine bottles, Holly’s got the skills. Check out more of her work at MissGordon.com
	Kyle Wright *Editorial Assistant*
	The search for full-time employment has lead Kyle Wright to drink. He joins The Second Glass a little tipsy, but ready to edit. In May, he received his BA from Emerson College in Writing, Literature and Publishing. Kyle’s work has been featured in the Improper Bostonian, Providence Monthly and Intermezzo. When he isn’t researching the latest in wine, searching for a career, or drinking his way through the city, Kyle can be found knotting bow ties or wearing madras. The Wine that Got Me Into Wine: Sparking Red Shiraz Drunk Munchies: Spike’s Junkyard Dog If I only had to drink one wine for the rest of my life: Riesling, because it’s fruity enough to double as juice for breakfast.
	Jess Margolis-Pineo *Wine Riot Assistant*
	Jess finished her undergrad in Montreal and is now halfway through her M.A. at Emerson here in Boston. Chances are you’ve seen her around Boston eating and drinking in the South End, cruising on her red scooter, or you’ve sat at her bar over at Houston’s Restaurant. She grew up in Portland, ME so she’s a true New England girl at heart… but please don’t ask her about sports – it’s embarrassing for everybody involved. When she’s not mixing or drinking cocktails, Jess watches really crappy TV to pass the time. She would be ashamed if you saw her Netflix queue, and don’t even get started on the iPod. But despite her trashy taste, she’s useful around the second glass as the new blogmaster and tweet-ess, so I guess she can stay. The Wine that got me into wine: Oyster Bay Sauvignon Blanc Drunk Munchies: Bagel Bites If I only had to drink one wine for the rest of my life: For reals? Well, I can pretty much drink any Prosecco for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so I guess that’s the best I can do.
	Jack Railton *Marketing Assistant*
	Introducing Jack Railton, Fresh out of Emerson College, Mr. Railton is a transfer advertising and marketing major from L.A. Finishing his senior year, what better place to work than the Second Glass! Traveling and Drinking wine are two of the most important things to him. In August, Jack will be in Cape Town, South Africa scoping out the wine scene and touring the magnificent vineyards! The wine that got me into wine: the complex flavors of French Bordeaux Drunk Munchies: UBurger & Annas Taqueria If I only had to drink one wine for the rest of my life: Chilled bottles of Duval Leroy Brut
Contributors
	Emma Criswell *Contributor*
	Emma is from Southeastern Ohio and currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Public and Media Relations at Ohio University. She brings her polished interviewing and writing skills to the table from her previous jobs as a radio news anchor and a contributing television reporter at stations in Ohio. Her claim to fame: writing, editing, reporting, and sending a story to meet her deadline while waiting in a McDonald’s Drive Thru line. When she’s not studying her life away, she’s the only girl at the party holding a wine glass instead of a red plastic cup. Emma is a self professed exercise junkie, loves cooking, traveling, candles, books, and exploring her many passions including wine and Ancient Egypt. Wine that got me into wine: Louis-Jadot Beaujolais Villages My Drunken Munchies: Roasted red pepper hummus and Triscuits If I had to drink one wine for the rest of my life: Emma would be a dull girl.
	Stacy De Fino *Contributor*
	As a 20-something Manhattanista, Stacy is a PR Diva by day and an aspiring wino by night. Like a good wardrobe, she believes that selecting wine should blend affordability with a few doses of sheer luxury. As founder of WinoBee.com, Stacy enjoys being spontaneous with her selections and aims to provide a forum for wine lovers of all levels, sans the snobbery. If she’s not sipping wine, you can likely find her traveling the world, tailgating in Hokie country, frolicking the latest NYC hot spots, overusing the “ellipse” or working extra hours at the office so she can afford all her costly habits!
	Ari Friedland *Lord Photography*
	Ari is from White Plains, NY and is currently attending Boston University, pursuing his PhD in Biomedical Engineering. This makes him our legit scientist, so we can “officially” perform semi-scientific research in the comfort of our homes. Ari enjoys cooking, tending his plants and totally kicking ass on the weekends. There is no match for his new camera, as it can see spots on the sun, radioactive debris lurking in the air and it has the power to free Leonard Peltier, if it so chooses.
	Jessie Pray *Staff Writer*
	Jessie was born and raised on a farm in Upstate NY, replete with plenty of sheep and an overflowing wine cellar. Her parents instilled in her a love of wine and food extremely early on and she has spent the last 24 years eating and drinking everything she can get her greedy little hands on. Jessie is a graduate of Emerson College and is currently enrolled in classes at Harvard Extension School. You can find this former SG cover girl mixin’, shakin’, and pourin’ at Sonsie on Newbury Street, where she works as a bartender. Jessie digs cowboys, couture, short stories, bad television, and all things South American.