We had the good fortune of connecting with Isaac Estrada and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Isaac, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risks are one of my favorite parts of life. The only way you truly know if you desire something is if you are willing to take a risk. It is a healthy mindset that can teach you so much about yourself,. There are negative and positive outcomes that shape the person you become. In my case, one of the biggest risks I probably have ever taken was dropping out of college. Popular to contrary belief, It opened up more doors for me. I soon became a wine specialist and a passion quickly grew. Once that passion was strong I decided to start my own wine podcast, and that was another risk in itself. Risks have played a pivotal role for me, it is how I got to be where I am now.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
It is a really odd story as to how I got to where I am today. I met my mentor playing soccer in Hollywood while we were on the same team in a bar league. We would go out for drinks and we became good friends, and he offered me a job to be a wine specialist. At the time, I did not know a thing about wine and that is where the challenge presented itself. I had to learn how to authenticate wines that are 20+ years old. I was taught how to verify paper and ink from the 1950’s and how to verify if the glass of a bottle matches the decade it was produced. All parts of a tedious authentication process of really old wine. Along the way of all this I learned that I was pretty young and brown amongst a field of more experienced white men. That brings me to what I want my brand to be, I want to expose younger people to wine in a different aspect. That’s why I started my wine podcast, I have a guest every week and I open up bottles of wine that they would not typically be exposed to. Wines from France, Napa Valley, Germany and these wines can be from 1990, 1980, 1970, and so on. I strongly believe a bottle of wine is not truly drank unless you experience it with someone, and I love to share my wines and tell stories.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend was visiting I would have to take them to a Dodger game! We would have some beers and hot dogs and just enjoy the game. After the game we would go bar hopping along Sunset Blvd and I would have to end the night with some al pastor tacos from Leo’s Taco Truck, its a must! On a sperate night I would take them to the Arts District, I think its become a defining spot in DTLA that exposes you to bars/breweries and really good food.

Growing up in Northeast LA, one of my favorite views of DTLA is in Mt. Washington, whenever I am up there it brings me a real peace of mind. At some point we would have to do brunch, bottomless mimosas and frosé just hit different on a hot summer day. Lets be real, we are only going to brunch for the mimosas.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Wow, there are so many people I would like to mention! First I would have to shoutout my Mom. I would not be here without her, and she has guided me to become the person I am today. My siblings have also been a great support system, they helped me succeed even when I did not know where to start. They were always very honest and kind when I needed them to be. I have to thank my co-host on my podcast, Arturo! I asked him if he wanted to join me on this journey to drink wine and have a podcast and he supported me and I could not have done it without him. I could not go without shouting out my mentor, Frank, he has taught me and continues to teach me everything I know about wine.

Website: https://www.instagram.com/decant_it

Instagram: isaacme_

Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/27tn00HPVzFAhnNRsva1zM https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/decant-it/id1562793484

Image Credits
Aldo Ayala

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