Our Story
Passionate and Proven
Founded in 2015
We are passionate about the booming craft industry and the country’s interest in small-batch, well-made products. Seeing businesses evolve from the spark of an idea to tough, hands-on work to financial success is a great joy. Our chemistry and microbiology skills are generally used by large corporations, but we want to use them in an environment that really means something to us and our community.
Imbibe Solutions was established to give small breweries and wineries a leg up by providing them with access to analytical data their larger counterparts have access to in-house. After a heavily scientific conversation with a craft brewer, our founder, Audrey, realized that there was a need for scientists in the brewing industry, but most craft breweries don’t have space or funds to maintain their own labs. With nothing comparable nearby, it was decided that a local lab that could service regional breweries was much needed.
Audrey founded Imbibe Solutions in November 2015 and opened its doors in August 2016. She offered services to local breweries and wineries, but soon got samples of cider, whiskey, kombucha, bitters, and cheese.
Who We’ve Partnered With
See what some of our clients have to say about our services.
How We’ve Helped
Read case studies on how we’ve provided solutions for our clients’ problems.
Meet the Team
Audrey Skinner
— President, Gastronomical Chemist
Audrey graduated from Saint Mary’s College of California with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Eastern Religious Studies. She then circumnavigated the globe with Semester at Sea, earned an M.L.A. in Gastronomy with a minor in Food Politics and Certificate in Culinary Arts from Boston University, and then backpacked through Europe for nearly four months before landing in Charlottesville, VA.
When stationary, she often worked in the restaurant industry and found joy in meeting and serving patrons. Once in Charlottesville, Audrey worked at Champion Brewing Company and then Michael Shaps Wineworks, a contract winemaking company. In 2015 she founded Imbibe Solutions to combine her loves for chemistry, gastronomy, and public service.
When not in the lab, Audrey can be found backpacking in Shenandoah National Park, traveling the world, or drinking a beer with her husband on their deck.
Email: Audrey@Imbibe-Solutions.com
Jessica Trapeni
— COO, Enologist
Jess graduated from Virginia Tech with a B.S. in Biochemistry and a minor in Chemistry. Her first job out of college was as a process developer at a Biotech company in Blacksburg.
After moving to Charlottesville, Jess changed fields and accepted a job as the laboratory manager at Michael Shaps Wineworks. She immediately fell in love with the science of winemaking and during her 6 years at Wineworks, both in the lab and as Production Manager, she saw and tasted hundreds of wines throughout their life cycle. In 2021, she completed her Winemaking Certification from UC Davis.
When Jess is not working in the lab, you can find her chasing her twins around the hills of Charlottesville along with her two dogs.
Email: Jess@Imbibe-Solutions.com
TTB Certified Chemists
Imbibe Solutions chemists are TTB Certified Beer and Wine Chemists. Every two years our chemists apply for and receive samples from the TTB to test their accuracy. Passing scores recertify the chemists for export analyses.
Proven Results
Interlaboratory Testing
Three times a year, Imbibe Solutions participates in Collaborative Testing Services’ Worldwide Interlaboratory Testing Program for wine.
How good are our measurements?
For each round, the more than 90 participating labs receive two bottles of wine a piece for analysis. Each type of wine is from a single production run to ensure minimal variation between bottles.
Collaborative Testing Services then compiles the data to compare results and methods. Imbibe Solutions uses the data to track their accuracy and precision throughout the year.