As marketing specialist for the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, Christa Holtzclaw helps the organization share its message with the public.
"It's a lot of work, but it's very rewarding," Holtzclaw said.
Funded by a 12 cents per gallon tax on wine sales, the board coordinates marketing and public relations for the industry's wholesalers, restaurant operators and retailers in order to strengthen consumers' patronage of the state's grape, grape juice and wine industry.
Holtzclaw's job is to blog about the industry, manage the board's website, keep an up-to-date content calendar, get the word out through social media and publish electronic newsletters for both consumers and the industry.
She also assists with hosting wine tastings around the state, a task the staff - which is housed in the Missouri Department of Agriculture - shares.
"I really, really enjoy it," she said.
Holtzclaw said if she could tell people one thing about the industry, she would encourage them to "get out and see the wineries and try the different wines." Missouri has 129 wineries and 10 wine trails open to the public.
"It's a local movement," she said. "People are starting to see it's a great thing to support" local growers and producers.
"More and more people are starting to take note of Missouri wines," she added, noting many Missouri wines have won awards in national competitions .
Prior to Prohibition, Missouri was ranked second in the nation in terms of production, she said, and is now in the process of rebuilding that stature.
"We really have a strong history," she said. "And the industry has really built itself up after Prohibition."
Holtzclaw, 27, lives in Columbia and is married to Brennan Holtzclaw. In 2010 she graduated from Stephen's College with a degree in marketing and minors in event planning and graphic design. Before being hired by the Wine Board in May 2013, she worked as marketing director for Columbia's bus transit service.
When she's not traveling around Missouri, she enjoys seeing the world.
"I really enjoy traveling," she said. "And I'm a crafter. I like to knit, and make different things out of found objects to give away as gifts."