Meet Nicole Anderson | Wine Enthusiast & Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nicole Anderson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nicole, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
UnWined was birthed from my love for wine which has grown over the years. As a young millennial, I constantly searched for brands that resonated with me and my friends. I remember walking up and down the aisles of wine stores aimlessly, staring at the labels but never feeling drawn to anything. Until one day, out of pure curiosity, I decided to research how to craft my own wine. This search led me down a Google rabbit hole, but I found so much information and decided to give it a shot and dabble in flavored wines. After several trials and errors, I made a product worth sharing with my family and friends. I was shocked at how well received the first batches were! They really liked it and wanted me to make some for them, and that’s when I knew I was on to something. As a marketing strategist by trade with 10+ years of experience, my wheels began to spin on how I could develop a brand that represents experiences where women can find pleasure and tranquility in a glass of my wine. Thus, the creation of UnWined was born.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
UnWined is a boutique wine collection designed for the women of today. My wines are carefully curated to enhance those moments where wine is a subtle release. As women of the 21st century, we tend to wear many hats from 9 to 5 warriors, mothers to the future generation, and courageous entrepreneurs changing the world. UnWined is the brand that speaks to those women and their everyday experiences. We currently have 4 wines in our collection:

· Finally After 5 – Peach Moscato

· Mama Needs a Break – Sweet Red Blend

· Girls Night In – Mango Moscato

· In my Feelings – Sweet Riesling (flavor announcement soon!)

This journey was far from easy. I entered this industry a bit naïve. All I had was my love for wine and my passion to share my creations and build a sustainable business. I had minimal knowledge of wine. Mostly information obtained from years of visiting wineries and attending wine tastings. Having created wines myself now, I also understood the fundamentals around how wine is made, but mass producing and distributing it was a new challenge. Navigating the red tape of wine regulations and standards was a daunting maze in it of itself. Additionally, being young, black, and inexperienced, brought more barriers to my dream. Over the course of 2 years, I approached over 25 wineries seeking a strategic partner to bring my vision to fruition, and none of them chose to work with me. I had several moments where I became discouraged and questioned whether this dream was attainable for me, but, I was determined to make this work. I just knew that this seed was planted in me by God, so it had to work. That being said, I am so excited about the future of UnWined. There are so many amazing things in store! UnWined isn’t just a wine, it’s a lifestyle. It’s about accepting that we all need to take a moment to slow down and relax, from the grind of life and allow ourselves the time to indulge in the things that make us happy. I want to share this brand and provide women with outlets to express their indulgences, so our next venture will be moving into offering merchandise. Such as cute and comfy graphic tees, wine glasses, and other fun wine accessories. We are also committed to expanding our line of wines. I want to take our customers down a journey and introduce more unique flavors and share different styles of wines that they may not have explored before.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
The great thing about Atlanta is that it is so diverse, we have a little of everything no matter what your interests are. If my friend was coming into town, I would take her first to brunch! Bottomless mimosas are all the rage and who can say no to champagne and French toast! Monday and Tuesday, I would take her around downtown Atlanta to visit some of our tourist attractions, as a native, I enjoy some of the attractions I wouldn’t normally explore so we are checking out the Aquarium, World of Coke, and the MLK Center. Wednesday is Wine Down Wednesday, there are several lounges and bars that play live music and half-off bottles on Wednesday (aka ladies night) so I would make sure we indulged in some amazing wine and good vibes. Special shoutout to The Trap Jazz band, I would make sure we catch them if they were performing. Thursday is another great night for poetry/comedy or live music expos. Kats cafe or Apache are great spots to patronize on those evenings. Friday first we would grab lunch at a black-owned restaurant and then we would check out some happy hour events for professionals, possibly Jazz at the High Museum. After that, we may check out a fun after hour spot to keep the party going! On her last day on Saturday, we would have to go to a day party (I miss those!) close it out with dinner at another black-owned restaurant and spend her last night partying it up in the city!
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I have so many people to thank for supporting me along this journey. First and foremost is God. He planted this seed inside me and has guided my journey every step of the way. Having faith in Him that my dreams can be realized if I just take a risk has been the most rewarding decision I have made. My family has also been a HUGE support system. Not just my immediate family, but extended as well. My cousin Alexis White has been my ride or die partner on this journey. Not only supporting but also now as an associate of the business. Without her assistance, UnWined wouldn’t be as far along as we are today. Lastly, my mentor Kevin John, owner of IslandJon Vodka, has been an immensely valuable supporter. He has given me so much insight into the alcohol industry and helped to connect me to awesome resources that propelled me further than I could have imagined. Being able to have someone who is seasoned in the game, and willing to share their gems with you is priceless and I am very grateful to have him in my circle as someone I can learn from.

Website: www.girlsjustwannaunwined.com

Instagram: @girlsjustwannaunwined

Facebook: UnWined

Image Credits
Ryan Horton