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Blanca Recio

@breciomartinez

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Marketing/ Entrepreneurship Professor,Founder @wineanddinedames, AI/Innovation advisor |Coral Gables & DC living, Curated Travels & Wine -WSET 2

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🍷🍟💃 Wine, Fries & a Whole Lot of Heart! ❤️👠

The Red Shoe Society’s 2nd Annual Wine & Fries was an unforgettable evening!

From the moment we walked through the doors of the beautiful CocoPlum Woman’s Club, the energy was electric. Greeted by the sounds of flamenco music and dancers, we were instantly transported to what felt like a magical night in Seville. 🇪🇸

But beyond the music, the wine and the fun, what I’ll remember most was the genuine feeling of goodness in the room. It was palpable. The ladies of the Red Shoe Society beamed with joy knowing that every glass raised and every connection made was helping raise funds and awareness for our beloved Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida and the families it serves. ❤️🏠

Throughout the evening, we enjoyed beautiful Spanish wines carefully selected by our sponsor @wine41 Wine41, paired — in true Wine & Fries fashion — with everyone’s favorite McDonald’s fries and incredible dipping sauces created by the talented Chef Eileen Andrade of @finkatableandtap Finka Table & Tap. 🍷🍟

And the creativity didn’t stop there. Inside, action painter Rebecca Barba captured the energy, movement and spirit of the evening on canvas as the celebration unfolded around her. 🎨

It was high energy, joyful and, most importantly, filled with purpose — a perfect reminder of what happens when women come together to have fun, build community and do good.

So proud to be part of this incredible group of women and already looking forward to next year! ❤️👠

#RedShoeSociety #WineAndFries #RMHCSouthFlorida #WomenDoingGood taken in Coco Plum Woman's Club by @breciomartinez

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11 days ago

I am often asked why I love visiting vineyards when I travel, and the answer is simple: I love stories.
To me, every vineyard is a novel — a new story waiting to be discovered. Of course, there is the wine, and in the case of Benjamín Romeo and Bodega Contador, extraordinary wine. But what stays with me is the story of the land, the people, their risks, and their passion.
In late 2024, we visited Rioja and fell in love with the “Rioja rebels” — winemakers who challenged convention and helped revolutionize Spanish wine by bringing the focus back to the vineyard and terroir.
Benjamín Romeo was one of those rebels. After 15 years at Artadi, he followed his own vision and created Bodega Contador and the magnificent Contador, now one of Spain’s iconic wines.
But what I remember most is learning about the human side of Benjamín himself — his warmth, quirky humor, and wonderful fascination with Clint Eastwood and Pale Rider, which inspired his wine Predicador. As Americans visiting his corner of Rioja, it made us laugh and feel immediately at home.
I was so saddened to learn of his passing. I feel incredibly fortunate that our travels allowed us to learn of his genius and experience a small part of his story.
Now, when I open the bottles of his wine resting in my cellar, I’ll remember much more than a great Rioja. I’ll remember the rebel, the storyteller, the lover of American culture , and that wonderful afternoon in Rioja.
May Benjamín Romeo rest in peace. Our condolences to the entire @bodega_contador family🍷🇪🇸 taken in Bodega Contador by @breciomartinez

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

The American Wine Story: Entrepreneurs Who Built Napa

The more time we spent in Napa, the more I realized that America’s wine story is really an entrepreneurship story. It is the story of visionaries who saw opportunity where others saw risk, entrepreneurs who built iconic brands, and pioneers who bet on a patch of dirt long before the world understood its value.

Robert Mondavi helped convince the world that Napa belonged alongside the great wine regions of France. His vision and partnership with Baron Philippe de Rothschild—gave rise to Opus One, one of America’s most prestigious wines.

Andy Beckstoffer built his legacy differently. Rather than creating a winery, he assembled some of Napa Valley’s most coveted vineyard sites, proving that great wines begin with great land.

We were fortunate to experience this firsthand hand as we visited the newly reimagined Robert Mondavi Winery, explored Opus One, tasted at Realm, and spent time with FIU alumnus Duffy Keys at B Cellars. Since 2003, B Cellars has sourced fruit from all six of Beckstoffer’s Heritage Vineyards. Realm which is one of Napa’s most exciting wineries sources heavily from Beckstoffer and Realm’s Beckstoffer To Kalon is one of Ian’s all time favorite wines.

As a wine lover and Panther, I am so proud to see an FIU Alumnus and visionary making such great contributions to the American wine story. Duffy’s journey reminds us that the entrepreneurial spirit that built America’s wine industry continues to thrive in those carrying it forward today.

🍷🇺🇸 #America250 #AmericanWineStory #NapaValley #FIUAlumni

Lovely tasting at Opus One

The Opus Nursery 2025 in all new French Oak

A view of the Tokalan vineyards from Opus.

2013 was a great year! Exploring variations in Opus One vintages.

Robert Mondavi’s remodeled winery sitting with his history.

Mondavi winery with natural blooms fertilizing the surrounding landscape.

Truly beautiful space at the renovated Mondavi winery

Realm’s Calistoga winery last day of visits as all now will be done from their Prichard Hill location. Admiring the beautiful landscape.

This art piece greets you at Realm it is from Shakespeare’s Richard II, Act II, Scene I, taken in Napa Valley, California by @breciomartinez

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3 months ago

In Search of the Future of Napa’s Cult Wines

Our visit to Promontory began with a glass of Dom Pérignon and a walk into what felt like a sanctuary. Looking out across Harlan’s vineyards from a serene, almost Zen-like space, it quickly became clear that Promontory is something entirely different.

Led by Will Harlan, who left the tech world to help shape the next chapter of his family’s wine legacy, Promontory is built around a remarkable piece of land perched on the elevated, forested southwestern edge of Oakville. Here, ancient fault lines and tectonic upheaval have created a landscape unlike anywhere else in Napa. The vineyards sit high above the valley floor, surrounded by dense woodland and cooled by mountain influences that allow for a later harvest, an advantage that may prove increasingly important as Napa’s climate continues to warm.

A walk through the tranquil gardens led us into a cellar that perfectly mirrors the estate’s philosophy: modern, understated, and breathtaking. Massive Austrian oak casks appear to float above the floor as the wines rest for nearly four years before release. The extended aging is not by choice but by necessity. These soils produce wines of such structure, minerality, and tannic depth that time becomes an essential ingredient.

Then came the tasting.

If most Napa Cabernet speaks in bold fruit, high alcohol, Promontory whispers in another language altogether. Here’s a Cabernet expressing freshness, acidity, crushed wet stone, moss, slate with violets, lead pencil. A hint of Graves somehow transported to America. Powerful, yet weightless. Elegant, yet commanding. It was one of the most distinctive unique and fascinating expressions of Cabernet Sauvignon we encountered on our journey. Definitely something I had never tasted before and immediately wanted more of. Complex. Mesmerizing. Unforgettable.

WOW. WOW. WOW.

#Promontory #NapaValley #CultWine #CabernetSauvignon #HarlanEstate taken in Promontory by @breciomartinez

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3 months ago

In Search of California Cult Wines: Colgin Cellars

A visit to Colgin begins with one of the most beautiful drives in Napa. Colgin is perched high above the valley in Pritchard Hill. The estate is just majestic, a tribute to its founder’s impecable taste. Founded by Ann Colgin in 1992, the winery emerged during a period when very few women occupied such visible leadership roles in fine wine. Ann brought with her a background in the art world, and her appreciation for beauty, craftsmanship, and culture can be felt throughout the property. The estate feels less like a winery and more like an elegantly curated chateaux- a true expression of Napa’s progression visible in Ann’s art collection.

Colgin wines are a testament to remarkable winemaking and land stewardship. My favorite the IX Estate is so powerful yet elegant and well balanced with such aromatic violet notes feeling like a fine Parisian perfume. It truly reflects the talent of women in wine making and the brilliance of Allison Tauziet, who has led their winemaking program since 2007. The visit and tasting with a view of Lake Hennessey helped us appreciate how all comes together in that glass you hold. The careful toil of those grapes, the necessity of that geography, the effects of the altitude, the right amount of fog pulling in the mornings, the craftsmanship of those wine makers and the vision of a wise perfectionist founder. Cult wines is term used since the 1990s, to describe rare, limited-production wines that inspire near-legendary devotion among collectors. It’s easy to see why Colgin has earned so many of those coveted 100 points that secure such cult status.

And in the midst of that wonder an unexpected reminder of home. Among the sports memorabilia displayed in the estate sat a signed Miami Heat basketball from Pat Riley. Thousands of miles from Miami, in the hills above Napa Valley, we found a small piece of our city on display.

Cheers to home! by @breciomartinez

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3 months ago

Napa Trip – Part I: The Original Story

As America begins celebrating its 250th anniversary, Ian and I set out on a journey to better understand a distinctly American story: the rise of fine wine in California.

Like many wine lovers, much of our wine education had been deeply Eurocentric. We knew Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rioja, and Champagne long before we knew Napa. What little we did know about California’s great wines came from a dear friend who passed away earlier this year. He was a passionate collector of Napa cult wines and, through his generosity, helped start our own collection with a few treasured bottles. In many ways, portions of this trip became a quiet homage to him. No story about American wine can begin anywhere other than the 1976 Judgment of Paris.

At a blind tasting organized in Paris by Steven Spurrier, some of France’s most respected wine experts unknowingly ranked California wines above many of France’s most celebrated estates. The results shocked the wine world and forever changed perceptions of what American wine could achieve.

Two wines became legends that day.

The 1973 Chardonnay from Chateau Montelena won the white wine competition, proving Napa could stand alongside the great white Burgundies of France.

The 1973 S.L.V. Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars captured first place among the red wines, triumphing over some of Bordeaux’s most revered names.

The photos in this post capture visits to both historic wineries. Among the highlights were standing before the original letter sent from Paris notifying Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars of its victory and walking the grounds of Chateau Montelena, whose iconic stone château became a symbol of Napa’s emergence on the world stage.

Today, Napa Valley is synonymous with world-class wine. But fifty years ago, these two wineries helped write a new chapter in American history—one that demonstrated that excellence, innovation, and a willingness to challenge convention are not limited by geography.

Sometimes the most fascinating journeys begin not with what we know, but with what we realize we still have to learn.

🍷 To be continued…
#napa #america250 #americanwine #judgementofparis taken in Napa Valley by @breciomartinez

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3 months ago

Philadelphia has always held a special place in our family story. Ian was born in Philly . Like many Cuban families arriving in the United States during the 1960s, his family was repatriated to Philadelphia rather than Miami. While Ian eventually made his way back to South Florida, many of his cousins built their lives in Philadelphia, and he later returned to Temple for college. Over the years, we’ve visited often.

I’ll admit, though, Philadelphia was never a city that truly captured my heart.

This visit was different.

We were in town to celebrate the wedding of Ally and Sean. @ally_mcvv is Ian’s younger cousin, and her mother and aunt are among Ian’s closest primas. Their wedding was extraordinary, every detail felt thoughtful and welcoming. From the trolley transport to the incredible food, seafood towers, martini service, lively photo booths, and best DJ ever, every element reflected their personalities and love story. I especially loved that the seating arrangements blended guests from both families at every table. It transformed the evening from two families gathering into one family being created. It was beautiful.

We also spent time with dear friends that are family, enjoyed unforgettable meals at Butcher and Singer and Fiorella, discovered the charm of Tria Wine Bar and found ourselves consistently impressed by Philadelphia’s hospitality. Everywhere we went seemed to strike that perfect balance between honoring tradition and embracing what’s next…then there was the Four Seasons Philadelphia. The spa high above the city on the 57th floor, the breathtaking views, and cocktails at SkyHigh on the 60th floor reminded us that Philadelphia is majestic. For the first time, I found myself seeing Philadelphia thru a new lens.

This time Philly delivered the greatest gift a city can give a visitor, to so many visits later still manage to surprise them.
#america250 #philadelphia taken in Philadelphia by @breciomartinez

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4 months ago

Marisa and I met in our early twenties at our first jobs after college. Two highly driven young professionals, we built a friendship rooted in mutual admiration and respect for one another’s talents. Soon after, we discovered our families had been neighbors and friends in Cuba across multiple generations spanning nearly a century.

This Saturday, I was overwhelmed with gratitude for the privilege of witnessing her daughter Gabriella’s wedding.

Through the years, we have watched each other evolve from ambitious young professionals to wives, mothers, and business owners and executives. We have stood beside one another through seasons of joy and heartbreak, celebrated milestones, mourned loved ones, and shared the conversations that inevitably follow both.

This weekend was a joyful celebration and, as is always the case with her family, it was filled with tons of warmth, laughter, music, and love. They are among the most talented musical families I know.

Over the years we have held many titles, but the one I am most honored to carry is simply: friend. To be here decades later, witnessing such a beautiful moment in her daughter’s life, felt incredibly special.

Congratulations, Gabriella and Gabriel. Wishing you a lifetime filled with joy, partnership, and a friendship as sincere and enduring as the one I have been privileged to share with your mother. 🤍 taken in Coral Gables, Florida by @breciomartinez

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5 months ago

Last night, I had the honor of being installed to the FIU Alumni Board @fiualumni alongside an inspiring group of leaders committed to serving our alma mater and strengthening alumni engagement across generations. Surrounded by more than 500 Panthers at the beautiful Biltmore Hotel, I was reminded of the power of the FIU community and the many ways our graduates continue to shape Miami and beyond.

As President Jeanette Núñez took the stage to Don’t Stop Believin’, she shared that this is what FIU does for its students and alumni. We believe in possibility. We create opportunity. We open doors. And we continue showing up for one another long after graduation.

A heartfelt thank you to my dear friends @jnmhdz1 @favifavi @elle_kay_be @becky88m @anacristinacash, @johncartercash , Esther, my Dames tribe, my husband and his firm Bello, Martinez, and Tomas who came out to celebrate our FIU and support me. Your presence meant more than you know. To share milestones with people who genuinely cheer for you is a gift.

I’m proud to reaffirm my commitment to engaging FIU alumni, strengthening connections, and highlighting the extraordinary contributions our institution and Panthers make in building the future of Miami.
#pawsup #fiu #fiualumni taken in The Biltmore Hotel by @breciomartinez

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5 months ago

So grateful to spend Easter in DC with our Isa. After a long harsh winter, such a beautiful spring in full bloom was a reminder of renewal and the promise of resurrection all around us.

Our weekend was full of color- we visited fields of tulips @burnsidefarms and the brilliance of Joan Miró’s work in his largest exhibition outside of Barcelona @phillipscollection

We lingered over Easter brunch @fiolamaredc shared a special dinner @imperfectodc , and toasted the weekend at a few of our favorite spots across the city. Felt truly blessed to enjoy Mass @immaculateconceptiondc surrounded by such a warm, caring and welcoming community.

Spring felt invigorating. My heart is full 🐣💐 by @breciomartinez

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6 months ago

This year felt like a dream realized in my wine journey. 🍇🍷

For a long time, I wanted to truly educate myself about wine—not just enjoy it, but understand it. From WSET Level 1 to Level 2, tastings, and producer dinners, this year gave me exactly that.

I’m so grateful to @floridawineacademy and @aleesteves7 and her incredible team for guiding me through my WSET Level 2 with such passion and care. Thank you to Allegra from @getvinya and Fabrizio from @sospiro_winebar_cucina for creating exceptional wine dinners and tastings, and to @ferreirocindy for always helping Ian pick the most thoughtful wine gifts.

One of the biggest highlights has been sharing this journey with my @wineanddinedames Wine & Dine Dames—our wine dinners, conversations, and friendships have been such a joy and a reminder that wine is about connection as much as knowledge.

From Reims and Épernay to Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, from Virginia tastings to unforgettable Rioja producer dinners in DC, and incredible programs like Fiola del Mare, each experience added another layer to my appreciation of wine.

Most of all, I’m thankful for the amazing people I’ve met along the way. Here’s to continuing to learn, taste, and gather around the table. WSET level 3 in 2026 here we go…🥂🍷 by @breciomartinez

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10 months ago