Alba Hough isn’t just president of the Icelandic Sommelier Association and chief production officer of Himibri Gin. She’s also the coolest woman in wine.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Alb talks about her unexpected career path in wine, including her participation in international sommelier competitions. She also discusses how Iceland’s unique food and wine culture was shaped by its history, geography and tourism — and reveals a unique approach to fish preservation. And there’s plenty about what Icelanders drink and how to get in to the alcohol monopoly.

But more than that, she discusses has past as a teenage grave digger, and how Facebook helped her track down longlost family members.