I’m Adriana, the visionary behind Pure Life & Olives. While my credentials as a certified sommelier may suggest a profound love for wine and they would be correct…my passion extends well beyond mere appreciation for what’s in the bottle.

My fascination with wine and the story it tells began long before the idea of starting a business took shape. It was nurtured through a lifetime of cultural immersion and countless shared moments around the table with friends and family throughout the countries I’ve made my home.

My Story

From my homeland of Costa Rica, I inherited the spirit of Pura Vida or “Pure Life” in English. You may now recognise how the name of my business directly pays homage to my home country. Pura Vida embodies every Costa Rican’s approach to daily living. We embrace and are grateful for our lives, recognising that if we have our health and the love of our dear ones, we have everything regardless of circumstances.

From Costa Rica I moved to the shores of the Mariana Islands where I became a part of a tightly knit Chammaro community, we shared meals with many diverse cultures that also called the islands home. My family easily adapted to the island lifestyle, mastering the art of outdoor cooking over open fires and communal eating. This skill was essential as our tiny island frequently lost power for weeks at a time due to passing typhoons, long term power loss seemed to go by unnoticed, gathering outdoors in groups for meals was already deeply embedded in the local culture. 

Departing from the tranquility of our tropical island, we embarked on a new journey to the US, a significant transition for a family accustomed to the warmth and relaxed rhythms of tropical living. In the US, I built a fulfilling life, dedicating over 23 years to a career as a stylist and educator in the salon industry, serving over 23,000 clients. Through the privilege of nurturing enduring relationships and offering high quality services with countless individuals I refined the art of human connection and the universal desire for well-being and positivity, something I’m proud to excel at. 

Life in the US was fulfilling, however, unforeseen life events prompted change and I turned my sight to Europe, as someone accustomed to adapting to new faces, languages, and inclusive environments, I was up to the challenge of creation in a new land.  The question I had for myself was simple

Are you ready to see who else you can be in this life? 

If you’ve ever lived abroad for a significant amount of time, you know it changes you forever. 

Over a decade in Germany and exploring beyond its borders, with both a guest and resident mentality, the answer to that question is still unfolding. My approach to life abroad has offered me the perfect balance, anchoring me while continuously fueling my strong sense of curiosity in the still very new world around me. 

Every bottle of wine is a place on earth 

with my cultural history I wasn’t surprised I found a sense of belonging in the vast world of wine in Europe, in many ways the core elements of wine mirror the only life i’ve ever known. 

Discovery. change. adapatation

For those of us who have made a home in a foreign land, these elements infuse our lives with a special aura that shape our experiences and fuel our journeys. 

this special perspective on life has served as the foundation behind the workshop and retreat collection for Pure Life & Olives, it is my intention to bring our tribe together, for learning and sharing our experiences, to deepen our sense of belonging, centered around the shared enjoyment of wine. 

All of you is welcome here 

Stay tuned to the unveiling of the Pure Life & Olive online wine list and Workshop & Retreat collection, expect meeting locations in Germany, Italy and France! I look forward to raising a glass with you! 

Cheers From Bavaria,

Adriana