Meredith Hyslop ’05: Traveling the World of Wine
At Whitman, Meredith Hyslop ’05 took the first steps toward a globe-trotting career in the wine industry—mastering the French language and immersing herself in French culture through off-campus studies. Today, she travels the world as a wine ambassadrice, winemaker, and founder of her own wine import and marketing company.
“Thanks to Mary Ann O’Neil strongly encouraging me to study abroad in France, my horizons and worldview were broadened in an incredible way.
”
Meredith’s Pathway
2001 | Admitted to Whitman
with a scholarship from the Spokane Rotary Club
2001–2004 | Competed on the cross-country ski team
2002–2005 | Pledged Tri Delta
and later served as Vice President of Membership
2003 | Studied abroad in Grenoble, France
2004 | Worked as an Assistant Editor
for Mary Anne O’Neil, Professor of Foreign Languages and Literatures (French), Emeritus
2004–2005 | Worked in the Language Lab
May 2005 | Graduated from Whitman
with a Bachelor of Arts in French Literature
2005–2007 | Studied at the Institute for Enology and Viticulture
at Walla Walla Community College
2007–2009 | Worked in the tasting room
at Northstar Winery in Walla Walla
2009 | Completed the Work, Wine, Latin program
in Argentina, learning Spanish and working on two Argentinian wine estates
2009–2011 | Earned a Master of Business Administration
in International Wine and Spirits Business from École Supérieure de Commerce de Dijon in France
2010–2012 | Worked as an Assistant Broker
for an international bulk wine brokerage company
2012–2018 | Worked as an Export Manager
for a French château, traveling the world selling wine in 25+ countries
2018 | Founded her wine business,
Sapere Originis, representing small, boutique vineyards specializing in organic farming practices
“Today, I am the owner of my own wine company and specialize in importing wines from France and Spain and making my own wines in Walla Walla.
”
Upward Pathways. Our alumni’s diverse student experiences and career paths showcase the transformative power of a Whitman education. Find other Upward Pathways.