Ep. 2494 McKenna Cassidy interviews Danny Vale of Chicago Yacht Club | Next Generation

Welcome to the Next Generation and Episode 2494 of the Italian Wine Podcast. Today McKenna Cassidy interviews Danny Vale to talk about life at Chicago Yacht Club, from hosting exclusive yacht club events to curating wine experiences for its members. Danny also shares insights on his preparations for the VIA Chicago. More about today’s guest: The Chicago Yacht Club (CYC) is famous for hosting the Race to Mackinac, the world's longest annual freshwater sailing race, and for its long history as one of the oldest and most respected yacht clubs in the United States, founded in 1875. The club is also known for its active racing and junior sailing programs, commitment to promoting the sport of sailing, and its community outreach through the Chicago Yacht Club Foundation. The clubhouse offers upscale dining with both indoor and outdoor seating and views of Lake Michigan. Danny Vale is Assistant Food and Beverage Director of the Yacht Club. Connect: Website: https://www.chicagoyachtclub.org/  LinkedIn: ​​https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-vale/  More about the host: McKenna found her love of wine while serving in a Napa Valley tasting room. She later graduated from the University of Notre Dame and pursued wine on the East Coast with E. & J. Gallo Winery. She has worked in wine distribution for restaurants and luxury retail stores for the past three years. Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, McKenna is a Certified Specialist of Wine (2021), Certified Sommelier (2022), and Italian Wine Ambassador (2023). She loves country swing dancing, hosting brunch parties, and sipping Italian wine. Connect: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mckennacassidy/ LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckenna-cassidy-cs-csw-66baa412b/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mckennacassidy _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast    If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/  Until next time, Cin Cin!