Meet The Hosts
Zena Polin
After a career spent writing about food, drink, and travel (with a stint running her own hospitality PR firm), Zena took a turn into the restaurant world, co-founding two beloved Maryland eateries. But in 2020, when the world paused, she saw an opportunity to rethink her path. The result? Beauty Champagne & Sugar Boutique, a wine bar, wine shop, bistro and boutique that was recently nominated for The RAMMYs "Wine Program of the Year."
Beauty, housed in a charming Victorian lovingly called The Little Blue House, is where wine lovers sip curated bottles, indulge in Zena’s housemade desserts and discover thoughtfully selected gifts, all while soaking in the kind of warm hospitality that has become her signature.
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Beyond Beauty, she’s bringing her love of wine and storytelling to new platforms, launching her YouTube channel, Sipping Beauty and the podcast, When You Just Want a Glass of Wine.
Did we mention she once went #nakedchefs to raise money for the Lee Initiative? Because, yes, she did that too. Zena’s journey from journalist to restaurateur to boutique wine bar owner is a testament to reinvention, passion, and a love of bringing people together over good food, great wine, and a little sparkle.
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​Renée Gentry
Lawyer. Law professor. Wine aficionado-in-training. Renée's "ah-ha" wine moment came in law school where she discovered the magic of Spanish wines. After moving to the DMV 30 years ago, Renée joined an amazing friend group as passionate about wine and travel as she is and fell in love with wine and the stories of making wine and those that happen when you drink wine.
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In August 2023, she braved an "end-of-times" storm in Washington, DC to see her favorite artist, P!nk, perform at Nationals Park. Singing "I Am Here", six rows from the stage, in the driving rain with thousands of new friends became a catalyzing moment launching her into the next phase of her life. "I Am Here" became her life motto. Listening to a subsequent podcast with the pop legend/singer/vigneron led Renée to discover Two Wolves Wine and the Wine Spirit & Education Trust (WSET). Shortly after, she began taking her first formal wine classes. Renée has been supplementing her WSET training with classes led by Zena and her merry band of wine experts! ​Since then, it's been one wine adventure after another, all leading to this moment: studying for her WSET Level 3 wine class and sharing wine stories with old friends and soon-to-be new friends.
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I AM HERE. Might as well make the most of it.
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Jimi Taylor
Jimi is always down for a black diamond run, a tuneup in the shop or popping bottles at the après boarding bar. With a heart as warm as his mulled wine and hands that fix more than engines, he's the wine host you never knew you needed.
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His Catchphrase: "Fix it, Shred it, Sip it."
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Profession: Mechanic by day, snowboarder by season and wine connoisseur by night.
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Signature Look: Windswept hair and chill smile.
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Accessories: A bottle of champagne, Snap-On Tools and a well-earned après-snowboard glow.