Corks & Cameras

Get to Know Rochester wine Vlogger @thepadawanwino

Wine. Fashion. Travel. Music. Entrepreneurship. Rochester’s Rubi Rodriguez, who goes by @thepadawanwino on social media, truly does it all. As a wine vlogger, she’s the first to know about a new drink spot in town, can tell you the best drink to get at any restaurant, and knows exactly what food to pair it with.

Curiosity about what the Finger Lakes region had to offer sparked a passion for trying wines around the area and documenting her reviews online. Rubi’s travels brought opportunities to talk with local winemakers, and she was “consistently impressed” by the quality of their wine and the immense care they put into their craft.

She says, “You hear people talk about Napa Valley and European wine producers, but what our community may not realize is that people are coming from all over the world to visit OUR wine region.”

And so, Rubi decided that more people needed to know about the incredible food and wine produced right here in our own backyard. Enter @thepadawanwino, where she vlogs her travels and shares food/wine recommendations on Instagram and TikTok.

Recommendations are just the tip of her wine content, though. If you’re ever wondering what to eat with your drink, Rubi has you covered with creative food and wine pairings guaranteed to elevate your meal, many of which take inspiration from her favorite movies and TV shows.

One delicious example is her pairing inspired by the popular Netflix show, Stranger Things. In this one, she combines Chianti wine with pizza, recreating a meal eaten by the show’s characters.

Being a wine connoisseur myself, I of course had to get the scoop on Rubi’s top recommendations in the area. A new favorite of hers is Unwine’d, located in the heart of downtown Rochester. This place offers a unique drinking experience with a self-serve wine bar that lets guests sample flavors before buying a full bottle. Her other local go-tos for wine include Capri Wine Bar for a Mediterranean style bar/restaurant combo, and Flight West for whiskey lovers.

WINING & DINING IN STYLE

Take even a quick scroll through her @thepadawanwino socials and you’ll notice Rubi’s bold, vintage style on full display, often infusing her love of ’80s pop culture. Rich hues like emerald, deep maroon, and classic black dominate her wardrobe, accompanied by chunky statement jewelry.

When it comes to finding your own unique fashion sense, her biggest advice is to:

“Find your style icons. Watch old movies from decades that inspire you. Look at what some of your favorite recording artists from those decades were wearing at the time.”

Pinterest is your best friend in this process. Search the platform for favorite outfits of your favorite icons and save images to a board along with other looks that speak to you. Take bits and pieces of inspiration from the images you choose and incorporate them into your everyday ensembles.

DESTINATION INSPIRATION

Wine vlogging has taken Rubi throughout Rochester and beyond. Along the way, she’s curated a list of favorite nearby destinations perfect for a day or weekend-long escape. Hammondsport and Penn Yan, situated on the shores of Keuka Lake, top her list.

Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes wine region, these quaint towns are home to a myriad of beautiful wineries. Rubi’s favorites include Weis Vineyards, Domaine Leseurre, Dr. Konstantin Frank, and Living Roots, which she calls “the best winery in both Rochester and Keuka Lake.”

Seneca Lake’s charming city of Geneva is another standout for Rubi. She’s “obsessed” with Vinifera Wine Bar on Linden Street, a shop and tasting room entirely dedicated to serving Finger Lakes wines. The underground speakeasy makes a memorable experience she enthusiastically recommends.

FROM BOLD FASHION TO BOLD BRANDING

Rubi uses her content creation skills not just as an influencer, but to help empower local businesses with bold and unapologetic branding. In 2016, she and co-founder Stephanie Armstrong launched marketing agency, Moxie Creative Studios, to do just that. While the duo loves working with conscious brands of all backgrounds, they’re especially passionate about helping women-led businesses establish their unique “signature.”

Rubi says, “We truly believe we're stepping into a timeline where women get to take their power back and make a strong impact on their communities and their world.” Always open to collaboration, she loves highlighting local businesses and brands.