Today we’d like to introduce you to Alison Carscaden.
Whether she is drinking wine with friends and family, sampling obscure wines with potential buyers or examining vineyards, Ali Rush Carscaden loves wine and the industry. Ali completed her Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture determined to break into the field of wine. The path to loving and understanding wine first began with a job in the tasting room at Castoro Cellars in Paso Robles. Upon graduation, she was promoted to assistant marketing manager, exposing her to the sales side of the industry. While learning about the business, Ali gained some insight into the magic of winemaking, motivating her to get back in school. Within a year, Ali was completing her Master’s degree in Agriculture.
Her thesis project for the Paso Robles Wine County Alliance inspired Gary Eberle to hire her for a direct sales management position at Eberle Winery. Yet, when the opportunity came for her to work as a Fine Wine Specialist for the Henry Wine Group, she just couldn’t pass it up. Ali worked for the Henry Wine Group for six years and enjoyed added jobs such as teaching a few classes at Cal Poly as well as continuing to be a regular guest speaker. She is now a certified advanced sommelier through the WSET and a certified Somm through the Court of Master Sommeliers. While being the founder, owner /operator of 15c for the past eight years, she is a mother and enjoys leading special trips to France and Spain to enjoy the fruits of her passion’s labor.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I opened during the recession specializing in import wines in a very locally dominated wine region. Originally the shop was next to Trader Joes which has a wide selection of import wines. Through relationships and reputation 15c quickly overcame the competition and gained loyalty and respect from locals, industry partners as well as tourists looking for new, hot, small production wines from locals with no market presence or tasting rooms. 2020 has also been a rough year with many big events canceled and two months of shutting down our food service. We have adapted and overcome and are now adding local artisan coffee shops as well as a hot yoga studio into the complex located in beautiful downtown Templeton.
Please tell us about 15 Degrees C Wine Shop & Bar.
15c is a wine shop and bar specializing in international wines as well as exclusive small production local wines. Partner Chef Nathan Clapp has been trained in Italy and makes incredible Napoletana style pizza. I am very proud to have been in business for 13 years educating and exposing the local wine community to rare eclectic wines and quality unique food.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
Nothing, it started out small and has grown and adapted with the changing times.
Contact Info:
- Address: 624 S main St Ste 101
- Website: www.15cwine.com
- Phone: 805.434.1554
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: 15cwineshop
- Facebook: @15DegreesCWineBar
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