Meet the mentee: Natalia Grego, Moet Hennessey Argentina
From wine to whisky, Moet Hennessey Argentina sommelier, Natalia Grego, has carved out her dream communications role. She explains how nailing down her goals made her focus on her whisky future to become one of our Atonia’s Acorns.
OurWhisky Foundation: Hi Natalia! Tell us a a little bit about your background.
Natalia Grego: I live in Buenos Aires, where I was born. Growing up I was much shyer than I am now but I was definitely born a communicator: both my parents are teachers and my professional career started from covering football and tennis, writing music chronicles, interviewing artists and posting on socials, as well as hosting my own radio shows and tastings.
OWF: Can you explain what your role entails?
NG: I lead Glenmorangie and Ardbeg tastings all over Argentina and Uruguay but it’s not just about whisky; I’m in charge of communication for all the Moët Hennessy brands we distribute here too, such as Champagne houses, Hennessy Cognac and our wineries in Mendoza.
I train direct clients and distributors, do tastings at restaurants and wine shops, and host private sales and press events.
OWF: What were your thoughts on your future career when you were growing up?
NG: I always wanted to be a journalist, and I became one. I remember saying it for the first time in 6th grade. I also wanted to be in a band, which I also did for many years as a guitar player.
OWF: When did your love of whisky begin and why?
NG: At a bar I'd always choose something with whisky, I just loved how it tasted. My enthusiasm grew as my wine interest started to grow as well. Attending wine tastings made me think of the possibility to explore flavours in whisky as well.
In my 20s, whenever I travelled, I would buy a bottle at duty free. I used to ask bartenders for recommendations, sometimes discussing which type of whisky we enjoyed the most and that took me to my first bottle of Islay single malt. I didn’t like it the first time as I was more into American whiskey or unpeated malts at that time. How things change! I love heavily peated whiskies now.
How times have changed: Whisky opportunities didn’t always come easy for Grego.
OWF: Why did you apply for the OurWhisky Foundation Mentorship Programme?
NG: I wanted to build a career in whisky. With nearly four years of experience in whisky tastings, I worked as a freelancer while being an account executive for wineries and hosting a radio show. However, in those last six months I wasn’t getting as many whisky opportunities as I had hoped.
I wanted to work as a brand ambassador; I was determined to become one, even though I knew there were few whisky distributors in Argentina. Close to finishing my Sommellerie degree, I came across the OurWhisky Foundation and the Mentorship Programme. I didn’t hesitate for a second.
OWF: What were the biggest challenges for you in progressing in your career?
NG: At the same time I became a mentee I had quit my previous jobs and was ready to become a sommelier for one of the biggest beverage companies in the world. I was really excited, but everything seemed to be challenging. I knew I had to really nail it, but first, I needed to organise all the information, train with winemakers, visit vineyards and figure out how to tell the stories of distilleries and wineries abroad in the best possible way. It was a big challenge.
I’m glad it happens to me very rarely nowadays, but being a woman in this job also means you’re exposed to situations where a male attendee at your tasting looks at you - from your head to your toes - wondering why there isn’t a guy in charge. I’ve gained a lot of confidence in the last few years so my reaction wouldn't be the same as it used to be if something like this happens. But sadly, just being a woman can present a challenge.
OWF: How did you work with your mentor to overcome these?
NG: Joe Cabassa (international brand ambassador for Academia de Whisky) and I had such amazing conversations. He always encouraged me to trust in everything I had learned. As an experienced ambassador for luxury single malt and wine brands, which I’ve just become, Joe provided me with the most valuable tips on what I should cover during a tasting.
He also encouraged me to identify some key goals I wanted to achieve to become better as a professional. I’m so grateful for having him as a mentor.
OWF: What was an 'a-ha!’ moment for you in the programme?
NG: There were two. First, discovering that I was a ‘pleaser’ in the Power Room. Second, I set four clear goals that I felt I needed to pursue. What actually gave me clarity was to write them down, which helped me organise my thoughts and, more importantly, enjoy the process. I’m so happy I wrote down those goals; I'm about to complete the last one this week!
OWF: What are you working on at the moment?
NG: I’ve been hosting internal spirit training sessions for the sales and marketing teams and getting ready to include more spirits. I also just got my Single Malt Diploma from the Edinburgh Whisky Academy. In the meantime, I’m excited to see if we’ll launch more single malt expressions in our market next year.
“When one woman rises, we all do”: Words Grego is inspired by.
OWF: What was your favourite part of the entire Mentorship Programme?
NG: I’m from Argentina and whisky is not that big here, so being aware that there are other women in the world like me, in Scotland, US, Canada and more, in a similar situation, made me feel less alone in this universe.
Connecting with women that both love and understand whisky, who are seeking a career, or already killing it at their roles; that was life-changing for me. I’m a part of a community now and we speak the same language: we are women in this industry.
OWF: How has the Programme changed how you feel about being a woman in whisky?
NG: I feel it gave me strength to handle any situation without underestimating myself. This experience felt like a reminder that this world is full of qualified women who are fully capable of holding the most important positions in production, distribution, finance, communication and every area of the industry.
OWF: How has this programme empowered you to empower others?
NG: ‘When one woman rises, we all do.’ This quote from Sarah Burgess means everything. If any part of my career inspires someone or creates the space for more girls or non-binary people to pursue roles in the industry, that would be so beautiful and amazing. This also made me dream of maybe someday in the future mentoring someone myself.
OWF: What advice would you give someone applying for the programme?
NG: I’d tell them not to miss out on anything and that it’s a journey that goes beyond achieving goals. It’s about being in touch with people – both for professional connections and for making friends or simply colleagues who can inspire you, with whom you can share what you’re going through, whether good or bad, and learn from other experiences.
OWF: What are your hopes for the future for women working in whisky?
NG: My most important hope would be to have an industry with no gender gap at all, no differences in opportunities based on gender identity and I also hope to see more women working in it.
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