Meet Maria Peterson! Maria is originally from South Africa and is a wine consultant for Scripps Laboratories located in California. Maria moved to Dahlonega from South Africa with her husband Theron and worked at Montaluce Wineries and was then offered a job with Scripps in California. After a three year stay in California an opportunity came for she and her husband, Theron, to move back to Dahlonega. Maria now travels the country visiting wineries for Scripps and works from Dahlonega.
Question: What led you to your current career?
Answer: I am from South Africa and the youngest of seven. My family’s connection and with the wine industry goes back to the 1600’s (Huguenots). I grew up at my parent’s winery in South Africa, so I was exposed from a very early age to the wine world. I really didn’t think I would make a career in the wine industry, but when I went to register for university I was in a hurry, had my horse in a trailer in the parking lot on my way to a horse show and I had the intention of majoring in horticulture, but the line to register was halfway around the building and the line to sign up for “winery” was only about four people. So, I said the heck with it…this must be what I am meant to do and I signed up. Needless to say, my Dad was really excited!
Question: What attracted you to Dahlonega?
Answer: Honestly, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I found it to be very quaint, beautiful and refreshing. I remember meeting someone and they said they never locked anything in Dahlonega, including their car and their home. I couldn’t believe it. We bought our first home here (with your help) and we are SO here. It is a dream come true and we are enjoying every minute creating our forever home on the Chestatee River amongst the trees and peace and quiet.
Question: What are three bands or entertainers you would like to see (dead or alive)?
Answer: Nat King Cole, Nora Jones, and Ricky Lee. If I could add a few more I would love to see Ray Charles and Madelyn. (My husband is a musician and we actually met at a concert in France…it is a long story!)
Question: What current local business makes you the most nostalgic about?
Answer: I would have to say that would be Montaluce Winery. I loved working at Montaluce, but it was during the time of their possible bankruptcy and it was a roller coaster. Just such a beautiful place and the beginning of setting up a wine business was exciting and fun and heartbreaking at the same time. I love that it has sold in the past five years and is doing really well.
Question: What are three words or phrases that come to mind when you think of the word “HOME?”
Answer: Peace, Serenity, Chestatee River
Question: What advice would you want to share with others?
Answer: One year in your life say YES to everything! Push your limits. Learn to have a more open Mind. Here is an example: I do a lot of travel. Right now I am pretty much covering the United States for the company I work for, so I am visiting wineries all over the United States (Not a bad job!) When I get a call that says they want me to go to Kansas or Timbuktu I will say YES…whatever. I will go. And I go with the expectation that I know I am going to learn something. I always do. There are no mistakes. It is all in how we perceive life.
Question: What is something on your bucket list?
Answer: Well, I have a short bucket list and a long-term bucket list. On the short list, I have two things I would like to do this year. One is zip lining and the other is paddle boarding. On the long list, I would like to travel to the Far East and Iran. Places sort of out of the way and far away.
Question: Do you have a favorite saying or quote?
Answer: “Pray for rain and marry for water.” This is something I heard as a small child growing up in South Africa and it was really true there. Maybe not so much in Dahlonega, but maybe so.
