Hello, my name is Kendal, and I like wine. 

I started sipping back in 2009 when I moved to Chile for a photojournalism internship at The Santiago Times. But it wasn’t until landing a job at Viña Cono Sur in 2012 that the real journey began. It was my first experience with “the good life.” All of a sudden, this girl who had spent her childhood running barefoot through the hills of West Virginia was sitting down to fancy dinners, traveling the world, and discovering new cultures — all the while remaining deeply connected to the earth. I was hooked. 

The idea for Purple Mouthed came within those first months, when I was with a group of girls who refused to drink the reds at a tasting for fear of wine-stained teeth. Meanwhile, I was already on my second glass of Pinot Noir…

Wine was intimidating, stuffy, so I set out to change that by pairing wine with real life. There are ways to talk about typicity and terroir without sounding turgid. And how boring are those who spit the entire time and make a bunch of motions about how the wine enters their mouth while spouting off about apple, citrus, and pear? 

As I grew, Purple Mouthed developed as a brand and is now a tax-paying entity that provides creative services and consulting. From growers and producers to importers and retailers, I help create context for all facets of the wine industry. And though I take it all a little more seriously these days, I’ll still rock a purpled mouth with pride.

Based in Brooklyn, New York, I work wherever I need to be and am always willing to dream with you. 

Cheers!