Meet Alessandra Esteves | Co-Founder and Director of Wine Education

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

Hi Alessandra, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For Florida Wine Academy, I wanted to offer certifications to professionals in the hospitality industry in Florida. I also wanted to offer unique experiences and personalized tastings to clients. 305 Wines came as a consequence, as clients wanted to buy wine from us, so we decided to open our very own wine shop.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
One of the things that differentiate our brands is the personalized learning and shopping experience that we offer. At Florida Wine Academy, we have a team of educators that are very knowledgeable, working in different sides of the industry. At 305 Wines, we are always ready to recommend a great wine, at any price point and we search for obscure wines and older vintages, if clients ask us. It was definitely not easy, especially in 2020 with lockdowns and Covid. We had the support of great clients and we learned to be patient, do our jobs and trust the process. I want the world to know that we are here to help clients develop their wine knowledge and career, and that we are just getting started. In light of the pandemic, we’ve shifted our wine programs, certifications and events at Florida Wine Academy to a virtual setting. We’re proud to continue sharing wine education in innovating ways. We want to continue encouraging those interested in wine and sake to pursue the education and expand your knowledge. Follow us on our social channels, @floridawineacademy and @305wines to stay up to date on what we have going on.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I think Miami has a lot of interesting places, but I would definitely go to South Point Pier, to enjoy the views and Miami Beach. I would then go to Wynwood Walls and to Perez Museum to enjoy the artsy side of Miami. I would finish with a trip on the way to the Florida Keys and would stop by at 305 Wines to buy some delicious Champagnes, rosés and reds to enjoy with the endless Florida summer.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My family deserves all the recognition for my success, and in fact, my husband, Guilherme De Macedo, changed careers to be my partner in the business and he is a great supporter.