“Wine has an amazing complexity. It connects people.” For Svetlana, those connections are the best part of her work: a conversation at a tasting, a friendship formed on a tour, or a meal shared with someone who made the wine.
Born in Belarus, Svetlana’s story with wine began during childhood summers in Crimea, a beautiful peninsula on the Black Sea with a winemaking tradition stretching back more than 2,000 years. Her uncle worked at the historic Massandra Winery, and she spent time among its vineyards and cellars. The process of making wine and the beauty of its labels first caught her attention. She later earned an MS in Viticulture and a Ph.D. in Agriculture and worked as an Associate Professor of Viticulture in Ukraine.
After moving to the United States, Svetlana earned the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spirits, the highest qualification offered by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. In Philadelphia, she worked as a sommelier and wine director at prestigious restaurants and taught wine classes for corporate and private clients.
Svetlana moved to Nashua in 2007 and opened WineNot Boutique in 2010. Over the next 15 years, the shop earned multiple Best Wine Shop honors. It was also a place where people came to discover wine, ask questions, share stories, and become friends.
In 2013, Svetlana began leading small-group wine and culinary tours. Her travels have taken guests to Piedmont, Tuscany, Champagne, Burgundy, Rioja, Priorat, Bordeaux, the Douro Valley, and Mendoza. She plans each journey around the people and places behind the wines, bringing together winery visits, regional food, local culture, beautiful hotels, and time to explore.
Today, WineNot Experiences carries the spirit of the shop into a new chapter. Svetlana continues to bring people together through travel, wine classes, tastings, and events in New England—always with warmth, curiosity, and room for one more person at the table.
Her favorite type of wine is Champagne, and her favorite grape is Pinot Noir.
