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.