It all started on a snowy Saturday night in January 2020, at a Chicago dive bar called Best Intentions. Rachel and Grant bonded over a Vikings loss (some wounds heal with cocktails) and instantly hit it off. Over the next two months, they kept the spark alive with more dates—until the world paused with the pandemic lockdown on St. Patrick’s Day. Through it all, their connection only grew stronger. From long bike rides and tennis matches to park picnics and homemade dinners, they made the most of every moment together. In August 2022, they moved into their first apartment, and just over a year later, they found their home: a cozy condo where they welcomed their English Cream Mini Dachshund, Ziti. (Yes, she’s named after that iconic quote from The Sopranos—a sweet nod to Rachel’s New Jersey roots.) Their shared love of travel and wine led them to Beltane Ranch Vineyard in Sonoma. We fell in love with the breathtaking beauty of California wine country & can’t wait to share it with you.