Stevie
is a writer, educator, innovator and instigator who’s made a career out of launching brands and organizations that stir the pot, inspire joy and cultivate community.
who’s that girl?
Dislikes: being cold, itchy tags on T-shirts, scary movies.
Likes: running, colorful tennis shoes, giant bowls of pasta, Sangiovese.
Writing
Stevie Stacionis began her professional life at age 15, working her way through almost every front-of-house restaurant position and eventually paying her way through a magna cum laude diploma at the University of Southern California by waitressing. Soon after, she applied for a writing internship that segued into the best job a poor graduate could ever possibly get: getting paid to eat, drink, travel, and write about it for a luxury lifestyle magazine. In addition to her editorial work, Stevie went on to become a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers and to manage various wine retail, hospitality and educational brands’ communications, content and strategy. Her food and beverage writing would ultimately be published by Modern Luxury, Wine & Spirits magazine, the San Francisco Chronicle, SevenFifty Daily, Food & Wine, Serious Drinks and more.
Wine
In 2014, Stevie and her partner, Josiah Baldivino, opened their first business, a wine retail shop and bar in Oakland, California, self-professed to be dedicated to “making wine less douchey.” Bay Grape went on to win national acclaim for its progressive approach to wine retail, its diverse and sustainability-forward selection, and its inclusivity initiatives. It also garnered numerous awards and press including multiple “best wine shop” designations from publications such as VinePair, Sunset magazine, the New York Times, San Francisco magazine, East Bay Express, Wine & Spirits magazine, Wine Enthusiast and Saveur. Stevie and Josiah were named Wine Enthusiast’s Top 40 Under 40 as well as the publication’s New Wine Evangelists, and after opening the second location of Bay Grape in Napa, California, in 2021, the shop won the Napa Rise Leadership Award for Sustainability. She successfully sold Bay Grape in 2025.
Hospitality
Stevie and Josiah also opened their restaurant, MAMA Oakland, in 2019, and successfully pivoted and pawed their way through the Pandemic by reimagining what sustainable hospitality could look like and by redesigning a more resilient model. Today, MAMA offers an affordable three-course Italian prix fixe dinner service with a progressive wine list featuring California and Italian producers who work with sustainability top-of-mind. It has been praised by publications such as Eater, the San Francisco Chronicle, East Bay Express, and it has received the Michelin Bib Gourmand award four years running.
Community
In 2018, Stevie founded the Bâtonnage Forum, an organization dedicated to “stirring up the conversation” around women in wine. Bâtonnage promotes equity for women in the wine industry through an annual forum, ongoing content and community events, and a three-tier mentorship program, and it collaborates with other diversity organizations in the wine industry to address intersectionality. Stevie currently sits on the Board for the Bâtonnage Forum to advise on content, aid in fundraising and mentorship, and guide the organization and industry toward continued improvement in the diversity, equity and inclusion space.
Resiliency
Most recently, Stevie has launched Resilient Wine, a Substack advocating for a more inclusive, pragmatic and holistic course forward for the wine industry at large. She is also the author of the forthcoming memoir and manifesto I'm Here to Save the Wine.
Through her content creation, events and education work, and her ongoing writing and speaking, Stevie has gleaned a reputation for being one of the wine industry’s most progressive thought-leaders in the sustainability and DEI spaces. She has a particular knack for thoughtful debate, for a graceful consideration of both sides of an argument, and for putting forth her opinions with conviction, poise and humaneness.
Her current client list includes a diverse range of rising star brands seeking really great copy, internal manifestos, external mission statements, company taglines, founder’s stories, website and social copy, mailing list emails, back label copy and product descriptions. Stevie also offers wine education, buying and list curation, service training, and strategic consulting on building resiliency and service culture.
Kind Words
“We’re quite pleased with the copy Stevie provided us. We appreciated her different approaches taken to give us various versions and really captured the essence and tone of our brand.”
-Frankie P.
“I was inspired by how Stevie moderated the conversation so effectively. She gave grace and compassion while making sure everyone's voice was heard.”
-Ashley C.
“Stevie makes wine tasting fun, accessible and very chill.”
-Teresa B.
“Working with Stevie is an absolute dream, so spunky, gracious, and delightful through our entire creative process.”
-H.V.
“I loved how Stevie took our ideas and ran with them, captured our tone, incorporated feedback and made everything read FUN.”
-Josh H.
Stevie
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Reach out about a project, collaboration or just to say hello! I’m here to inspire and stoke.