Jessica Yañez | 2024 Latina of Influence

Hispanic Lifestyle is honored to recognize Jessica Yañez Founder and Host of The Wine & Chisme Podcast as a Latina of Influence.  Ms. Yañez will be recognized for her leadership in our community during Hispanic Lifestyle’s Connecting Latinas of Influence | Inland Empire to be held on May 23, 2024 in downtown Riverside, California.  

Latina. Fierce. Fighter. A San Diego native with a laugh as big as her hair. These are just a few things we would use to describe Jessica Yañez, the Founder and Host of The Wine & Chisme Podcast. But that’s just the beginning.

Jessica grew up in the suburbs of San Diego and has always had a curiosity for other people and their stories. As far back as she can remember, she would be the first to approach a new student at school, introduce herself, and want to know all about them. Not much has changed as her curiosity has lent itself well to learning more about the world around her.

She specifically created The Wine & Chisme Podcast to amplify voices across communities of color and share their stories on career, love, life and more. All while sipping on a glass of wine.

In 2021, she launched the VERY FIRST directory of Latiné owned wine brands based in the United States and has since expanded into hosting virtual wine tastings that specifically focus on these vintner. She believes that people need to know that our community not only works the land, but owns the brands.

Posted on Jessica’s Instagram page . . .
Never in my life did I think the best part of my life would start while I was in my 40’s, but here I am.

I moved to Dallas just 3 weeks shy of my 22nd birthday and moved back home to San Diego in my 40’s. Most of my friends were married with kids and I although we still hung out from time to time, I had to make an entire new friend group.

At 42, I decided to create The Wine & Chisme Podcast. I had no idea if anyone would even listen to it but I felt so drawn to this vision I couldn’t say no. It’s now been 4 years and we went on our first tour last year.

I honestly think I had given up on love and was just living my best single life when I unexpectedly met my now husband…I was 44 when we met.

I’m 46 and just married my best friend, my biggest supporter, and the one who makes me laugh harder than anyone else. I was happy before him and even happier with him by my side.

And this is just the beginning because IT’S NEVER TOO LATE to take hold of your life in ANY WAY you envision! Age is just a number but your drive, your value, your dreams never have an expiration date.

If you doubted yourself, this is your sign to believe in you and get started!