Meet Claire St. Pierre, sommelier and surfer

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Claire St. Pierre is the founder of Crushed and Barreled, where formal wine training meets relaxed, coastal hospitality. 

Her journey began in Aix-en-Provence, France, where she studied wine in a traditional setting and developed a deep respect for technique, structure, and sense of place. From there, Claire began leading wine tours in Barcelona, Spain, then ventured to the volcanic sands of Gran Canaria, where she fell in love with surfing. 

Nicaragua is where her passions, wine and surfing,  came together -- where she learned 

how wine truly comes alive: in conversation, at the table, and shared among people.

Claire is WSET Level 3–certified and brings a thoughtful, grounded approach to every tasting. 

She believes wine education should feel engaging and intuitive, not rigid or intimidating. 

Her goal is to help guests expand their palate, understand what they enjoy, and feel confident choosing and 

enjoying wine in their own way. 

Today, through Crushed and Barreled, Claire creates curated wine experiences for boutique hotels, private clients, 

and events across Central America—each shaped by intention, place, and connection.