Every month, we feature a member of our SippingTHIS community (aka Sipper) who is doing incredible things.
With Mother's Day coming up, we couldn't be more excited to feature two amazing sippers - a mother/daughter duo who own an incredibly adorable boutique in Plymouth, MA called Locally, Yours! They are fierce female business owners who can help you live your best local life. Plus, they are one of the first retailers to carry SippingTHIS coasters and have supported us for years (we are so grateful)!
Read on to learn more about Alyssa and Pam and their shop Locally, Yours.
Laura (SippingTHIS founder): Tell me a little about yourselves and your shop Locally, Yours!
Alyssa: Locally, Yours is a small hometown apparel & gift boutique located in a quaint marketplace near the harbor in Plymouth, MA. I am the daughter (Alyssa) & my mom is Pam. We own the company together - a mother and daughter team! I went to college for fashion merchandising and always dreamed of owning my own boutique… while my mom Pam got her degree in graphic design and marketing and has owned her own marketing company in town for over 13 years. In 2018, right after I graduated, we put our creative minds together and opened our shop Sixteen Twenty - which we've since rebranded as Locally, Yours.
Laura: What do you love most about working as a mother/daughter duo?
Alyssa & Pam: The time we get to spend together is something we really enjoy as business partners. Traveling to shows (pre-pandemic!), grabbing a smoothie and meeting about marketing, or brainstorming seasonal apparel ideas is all time we would not have together if we didn’t own a business together. It’s not always easy, and we’ve had to work hard at separating business from personal time “off the clock” as mom/daughter. We have a lot of fun working side-by-side on event days like Small Business Saturday, at festivals, or other events like our Sip & Shops and Friends & Family day.
Laura: Why is it important to you to carry local and US-made brands (like SippingTHIS, thank you!) at your shop?
Alyssa & Pam: One of the biggest perks of working with local or US-made brands is the relationships we establish with other business owners. There really is nothing better than collaborating with another small business to either create a product or bounce an idea off of. A personal touch is everything, and local/USA businesses definitely exude that.
Laura: How has COVID-19 affected your business, and how can people help support you?
Alyssa & Pam: After finally being able to reopen in June 2020, we’ve faced limitations on the number of customers coming into our shop. We’ve been so grateful to our customers who waited in line to visit us, especially during the holiday season. But, supporting our business doesn’t only mean coming in and spending money… we appreciate every single like, share and follow on social media as it helps get the word out about our small business!
Laura: What advice do you have for anyone who wants to start their own business or shop?
Alyssa & Pam: Do your research, and go into it with a full heart and a real purpose.
Laura: What advice do you have for people looking to live their “best local life”?
Alyssa & Pam: Support your local businesses! There are so many local gems. You just have to look for them. Support them, and they'll support you in return.
Laura: How did you find out about SippingTHIS, and what made you want to carry our coasters?
Alyssa & Pam: We found SippingTHIS on Instagram and instantly fell in love with the witty coasters. We knew our customers would love them. Our customers tend to be a lot like us - so if we love wine, we figured they must too!
Laura: What is your go-to wine after a long day?
Alyssa & Pam: We love a glass of the 400th Celebration Rosé from our neighbor in Plymouth - the 1620 Winery!
Laura: What is your favorite SippingTHIS saying?
Alyssa & Pam: It’s not drinking alone if your dog is home! And it’s true. ;)
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What's a MOMosa?
It's what all Moms want to be sipping this upcoming Mother's Day. It's kind of like a mimosa, but better.
How do I make it?
Mimosa = 70% Sparkling Wine + 30% Orange Juice
MOMosa = 99% Sparkling Wine + 1% Orange Juice
What sparkling wine should I use?
Champagne = sparkling wine from Champagne, France made with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, or Pinot Meunier grapes, or some combination of these (depends on the exact style). Champagne tends to be more expensive than Prosecco or Cava. With Champagne, you may not even want to add that 1% of OJ.
OR
Prosecco = sparkling wine from Italy made with a grape called Glera.
OR
Cava = sparkling wine from Spain made with a blend of Macabeu, Parellada and Xarel-lo grapes (don't worry about remembering the names of these).
What wine glass should I use?
Since you'll be going lighter on the OJ and heavier on the sparkling, give the wine a little extra room to breathe by using a bigger wine glass than you'd expect (think a white wine glass vs. champagne flute).
]]>Every month, we feature a member of our SippingTHIS community (aka Sipper) who is doing awesome things in wine.
Stephanie is taking the WSET course and sharing her learnings along the way. She also is an avid traveler who can't wait for her next wine adventure (something we can all relate to). We're so excited to feature her this March!
Read on to learn more about Stephanie.
Every month, we feature a member of our SippingTHIS community (aka Sipper) who is doing incredible things in wine and for the world.
Rebecca is a superstar sipper who is also a Somm! I met her at our Wine Riot event in LA a few years ago, and we instantly connected over wine, Wisconsin, and being badass women with a sense of humor.
Rebecca makes wine more relatable and fun with her fast food and wine pairings. She also is a kick-ass wine bar owner who has innovated to keep the wine flowing amid these unprecedented pandemic times. We're so excited to feature her this February!
Read on to learn more about Rebecca.
Every month, we feature a member of our SippingTHIS community (aka Sipper) who is doing awesome things in wine and for the world. This Sipper is so awesome, she gets two months.
Marti is long-time sipper and close friend, who works in the wine biz! She has graciously volunteered to help me host wine tastings at my past pop-ups and continues to share the SippingTHIS love with everyone she meets.
Marti makes learning about wine more approachable and more fun with her awesome wine and music pairing videos. And like me, she loves a good rap song. We're so excited to feature her this November and December.
Read on to learn more about Marti.
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Pinot Grigio is a very popular white wine. In some places, they call the wine Pinot Gris, but it’s the same grape.
]]>Every month, we feature a member of our SippingTHIS community (aka Sipper) who is doing awesome things in wine and for the world.
Meagan is long-time sipper who I adore! She brightens my day with her insanely stylish pics and has become a friend that I can't wait to meet in person one day.
Meaghan is a super approachable wine fanatic who brings wine people together and encourages them to be as open and honest about their wine journey as she is with hers. We're so excited to feature her this October.
Read on to learn more about Meaghan.
Laura (SippingTHIS Founder): How did you get into wine?
Meaghan: My love for wine came when I was 24 years old. I was invited to a wine festival with close friends, and it was the first time that I had ever attended. I had no clue about wine, the brands, the varietals, the origins, absolutely nothing. I just knew alcohol is good, and if I sip it fast, I would get fairly drunk! (lol) This event was different, I sipped different wines from different places and it was wonderful. The wines had good flavor, it had history, it was pleasurable, it triggered aromas through the nose that I wanted to learn how to identify. That day, I was sold – wine was my new Jam.
Laura: What impact do you want to make in the wine world?
Meaghan: In the world of wine, you see a lot of the same. I would like to bring more diversity by adding more women, African-American men, wives and moms to the wine world. I want to bring people together and create a space where they can be open and honest. I want others to be able learn about wine, converse about wine, drink a lot of wine, and know what to look for when buying wine.
Laura: How do you juggle #momlife with #wineliife, especially during quarantine?
Meaghan: Ha! I take it day by day, bottle by bottle. The quarantine did bring our little family closer than we were. I thought that was impossible. It helped us to appreciate the little things, cherish our health, and become creative. It took a lot of time to focus on the positivity in our lives while continuing to stock up on a lot of wine because being without wine during the pandemic is plain nuts. Yes, of course it was not peaches and cream but we made it with the kids and all….cheers to that!
Laura: What is your favorite type of wine and why?
Meaghan: My favorite type of wine is pinot noir; it took me awhile to realize that. I like a lot of different varietals but that one is my go to. When you pour a glass of pinot, the color is beautiful. The aromas soothe you as it flirts with the palate. The first sip is soothing, calming, and delicious. After that first sip, you close your eyes and take a deep sigh after tasting it and realize, damn that’s good.
Laura: Tell us about your IG account @trillwinewife!
Meaghan: My Instagram account started off as Odum journey. Odum is our families last name, and I wanted to tell the journey of our life through pictures. It started as a family page, with me wanting to be super honest about parenting, being domestic, basketball wife life, traveling, and wine. I wanted to connect with others that may be in the same position as I was.
The page was great, and I generated a great following but I knew I wanted to lean more towards wine. Wine is what brings us together and connects us. I started tying my wine post to pairings that would let you envision what was happening while I was drinking. For example, I paired Rose’ with 5th grade homework from my daughter, a screaming toddler, the show “Weeds” and my husband’s snoring. These pairings became memorable and a way for people to relate to their daily life. I ended up changing my name to Trillwinewife: Trill meaning genuine and authentic; Wine because I love wine and wine loves me back; Wife because my husband does not want men sliding in my DM’s trying to shoot their shot, haha. I am all of those things, the true definition of who I am. I am straight to the point, blunt, real, honest, genuine and loving. I am a real person going through real life and what better way to do so with wine and good company.
Laura: You’re always posting fun new wines on your IG. What advice do you have for someone who wants to try new wines but isn’t sure where to start?
Meaghan: When picking wine, don’t break your pockets. Pick a label that attracts you. Pick a wine you have never tried. Drink for the season and always add a bottle of bubbly with your purchase.
Laura: How did you find out about SippingTHIS?
Meaghan: I have been a loyal fan since Laura started this company. I started following SippingTHIS on my personal page and found myself checking the page several times a week. I have most of the shirts on the site along with coasters. I wear my shirts to events and promote SippingTHIS all the time. I will continue to support and be loyal to this brand throughout my journey of wine.
Laura: What is your favorite SippingTHIS saying?
Meaghan: My goodness there are so many but to name a few BIG faves…“Cork Tease”, “Malbec that ass up” “Life can be a bitch but wine makes this bitch happy”, “You can’t make everyone happy you aren’t wine.”
Laura: Your wine style is fire! What tips do you have for someone who wants to dress up their SippingTHIS tee?
Meaghan: These t-shirts can go with anything and everything, I do just that. I wear my shirts with skirts, jeans, leggings, and shorts. It can be dressed up or dressed down and always perfect for a night or day of sipping
Laura: Anything else you’d like to share?
Meaghan: In the world of wine, you don’t have to know everything. You do not have to be rich and you do not have to be in the wine business. You just have to be open to drinking wine, trying new wines and feeding your soul with knowledge. Whether it is learning the origin of wine, how it was made or learning how to take the cork out of a wine bottle. Wine is meant to be adored by yourself or with others. Pour a glass, sit back, relax and enjoy.
]]>Sauvignon Blanc is a white wine. Most people know New Zealand makes Sauvignon Blanc, but this wine is made many other places too.
]]>Jules has been sippin' since the very beginning. She didn't just follow along though, she graciously volunteered to help us at our first out-of-state pop-up in LA (her payment was wine while we worked, a shirt, and lots of laughs). She is now the proud owner of many SippingTHIS shirts and has become a great friend.
Jules is also a down-to-earth, hilarious wine badass who is helping the young, broke, and winey find cheap wines that don't suck. We're so excited to feature her this September.
Read on to learn more about Jules.
Laura (SippingTHIS Founder): How did you get into wine?
Jules: As far as I go (the Jules half of @youngbrokeandwiney), I owe my wine obsession to The Wine Bar in Long Beach, CA. I lived above the bar for about 4 years and prior to that I never really drank wine. Once I started going there, I became friends with the 2 guys that owned the place. They opened my eyes to the wine industry, and that started my complete and utter fascination with wine. So to Mike and Alex, thank you! As far as how Lisa got into it… I think it was my fault, so she owes her wine obsession to me! 😊
Laura: Tell us about Young Broke and Winey!
Jules: YBW started in mid-2017 when Lisa texted me one day and word for word said, “just bought a house, bitch is broke, I need some cheap wine recommendations.” I rattled off a few $10 bottles I liked, and she suggested we start an IG/blog reviewing cheap and good wine. However, about 6 months ago we put the blog on “hold” because… life and COVID. We still maintain our IG and FB accounts and post there just about every day. Unfortunately, quarantine has really messed up our reviewing because Lisa and I are both considered essential employees. She works as an engineer keeping the lights on for half of Northern California, and I work in the maritime/shipping industry keeping goods on store shelves. (SipTip: Follow YBW @youngbrokeandwiney!)
Laura: What impact do you want to make in the wine world?
Jules: I’d say bringing the pretentious world of wine to the bitch on a budget is the goal. There are a lot of cost-effective wines out there, and we just want to leave our legacy with real people, living real lives, who are in need of wine in normal-people price ranges. We are just trying to make it day by day through the shitshow that is adulting, and wine is required to do that. If we can help the student, single parent, young worker bee, or any other young, broke, and winey person out there drink great wine for less than 20 bucks a bottle, then we have done our job!
Laura: What is your favorite wine?
Jules: Do I have to pick just one?! Apothic Red Blend is a staple in my house. So is Justin Cabernet and Josh Cellars Cabernet and Chardonnay. I'm clearly a cheap date. Haha. I always have a few bottles of Joseph Phelps Chardonnay and Cab in the house for “fancy” nights. Not in any way cheap wines, but my hubs works for Hensel Phelps (JP’s dear ole dad’s company), so we get their wines at a discount.
Laura: How has quarantining affected your wine intake?
Jules: Honestly, it hasn’t really changed much. I will say my taste in wine has changed during quarantine. I have been drinking A LOT more white wines which I really unusual for me. I'm generally always a red wine kinda girl.
Laura: How did you find out about SippingTHIS?
Jules: I first learned about SippingTHIS on Instagram. I honestly cannot remember how I came across the profile, but once I did, I was hooked!
Tell us about your experience working the SippingTHIS booth in LA.
It was so fun!! After talking with SippingTHIS over IG, email, and the phone for a while, it was amazing to finally be able to meet in person! Discovering that Laura and I are quite alike and come from similar backgrounds and then both having a major love of wine was so cool. Working the booth with Laura really made me realize how much I really love the wine industry. I was able to speak to numerous different people from all over the place who share the same love affair with wine that I do.
What is your favorite SippingTHIS saying?
I think it’s a tie between "I LOVE WINE AND NAPS" and "WINE IS A NICE ALTERNATIVE TO HATING EVERYONE." I literally wear those two shirts every week.
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Sparkling wine is sparkling because it goes through a second fermentation process. When making sparkling wine, the grapes are first turned into regular wine, and then the still wine is made into sparkling wine through either a traditional method (where the sparkling party happens in the bottle) or a tank method (where the sparkling party happens in a tank before bottling).
]]>Stacy has been a Sipper since the early SippingTHIS days. She followed, liked, and pressed click to purchase on numerous shirts, which she then added her own flair to (read on for more on that). But at SippingTHIS, we care about more than a purchase, we care about community and connections. We've loved learning more about Stacy over the years and more about Virginia wines (her specialty). When she asked us to participate in one of her charity events last year, we were honored and moved by everything she's doing.
Stacy is a rockstar in so many ways, and we're so excited to feature her this August.
Read on to learn more about Stacy.
Laura (SippingTHIS): How did you get into wine?
Stacy: My very first job out of college was working for an event production company, and one of our events was the Town Point Virginia Wine Festival in Norfolk, Virginia. Being a part of this event for three years, I watched how wine brought people together and I learned a lot about Virginia wines in general and how the industry was exploding. It wasn’t until a few years later when I finally got to visit some vineyards throughout the state that I just fell in love with the wine, the experiences, and the feeling that I got when enjoying it all surrounded by our beautiful nature. I enjoyed my time so much that I wanted to start telling everyone about it. So, I eventually started my blog, Virginia Wine Know, and from there my passion has just progressed to me studying wine, getting some certifications, and becoming an avid wine lover (expanding my palate to wines from all over the world).
Laura: Tell us about @VAWineKnow?
Stacy: My IG account is a progression of my blog and what was originally my Twitter handle (in the early stages of my blog, Twitter was the most popular social media platform to engage). I just love to share good vibes and good wine! My whole premise is that wine is an experience. It’s about the laughs shared, foods paired, and relaxing/stress-free environment that it promotes. So, my goal with Instagram is to spread all those good vibes about Virginia wines/wineries (and wine in general).
Laura: What impact do you want to make in the wine world?
Stacy: I started blogging about 11 years ago so the answer to that question has certainly changed a lot over time. For several years, I struggled with the notion of trying to transition my full-time career into wine or not. And, this might be something I still end up doing eventually (so ask me this again in five years lol) but to answer your question directly right now, I just want to continue growing my social channel and influencing/educating people about the overall wine experience and hopefully “opening the cellar doors” to people who are interested in wine and making it much more approachable for them.
Laura: What is your favorite wine?
Stacy: Tough question! I love big, bold reds of many varietals but one of my favorites is Cabernet Franc. This is usually used as a blending grape, but it grows so well in Virginia that it can stand on its own. I really enjoy the earthy, bell-peppery notes of it. It’s usually my go-to at the wineries when I get a glass to sit and enjoy.
Laura: Tell us about Cindy’s Legacy.
Stacy: Thank you for asking. Cindy’s Legacy is a 501c3 charity that I founded in 2011 after my mother passed away from cancer. Our family struggled financially during this time so after her death, I vowed that families should not have to worry about daily living expenses as well as medication and treatment costs while trying to survive a cancer diagnosis. Since 2011, we have provided more than $70,000 in financial aid grants to 300+ cancer patients nationwide.
Laura: How can people support the foundation?
Stacy: We usually hold several wine tastings and silent auction events every year to raise vital funds, but this year, and likely next, will be very different. We must rely on individual and corporate donations. We are always accepting donations via our website at www.cindyslegacy.org or even directly from our IG and Facebook pages (@cindyslegacy). When we can hold in-person events again, we will be grateful for any silent auction item donations (thanks so much to SippingTHIS for past donations!). Note, we are an all-volunteer organization so virtually every penny we raise goes right back out to cancer patients in need!
Laura: How did you find out about SippingTHIS?
Stacy: I just happened to find you on Instagram and was hooked! The sayings you come up with are just brilliant.
Laura: People are loving how you customized your SippingTHIS shirts. How does one achieve that look?
Stacy: I am not much of an artsy person, but you can learn to do anything on YouTube! I usually start with cutting off the collar, then I cut a few slits on the sleeves. I also do some slits in the back too.
Laura: What is your favorite SippingTHIS saying?
Stacy: Malbec that Ass Up (Back that Ass Up is my favorite dance/clubbing song of all time!!)
Laura: Anything else you’d like to share with my audience?
Stacy: I guess I’ll take this opportunity to also self-promote the fact that I work in marketing and communications full-time, and I also help start-ups and small businesses with their social media marketing and management. (Leave a comment below if you're interested in learning more about Stacy's services).
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As of mid-July, nearly 16,000 US restaurants had to permanently close because of Covid-19, and more closures are anticipated. The sad truth is many of these restaurant closures are small, independent businesses just like SippingTHIS, and these closures, both permanent and temporary, have resulted in people losing their jobs. California, Texas and New York have been hit the hardest.
At SippingTHIS, we believe in helping our community and people in need, especially the wonderful people who have served us wine over the years. Even though our own business has also taken a hit because of Covid-19, we still want to give back however we can.
Here's how we've been helping and how you can help too.
1. Donate
With many PPP loans running out and business down with people staying home, restaurants need our help to pay rent (and in many cases back rent from when they were closed) and to pay employees.
At SippingTHIS, we're donating 10% of all sales to restaurants and restaurant workers impacted by Covid-19. Learn more here.
You can donate too! There are restaurant organizations, GoFundMe accounts, and more.
Here are a few places we've donated to:
If you have a favorite restaurant, don't be shy about asking them how you can donate. If you own a restaurant or know of one that needs help, please comment below with the donating details. We aim to spread the love with who we donate to and would love to support our SIPPERS.
2. Volunteer Your Time and Skills
Not everyone has funds to spare right now, but that doesn't mean you can't help.
I've been donating my time and skills to help my favorite NYC restaurant Lavagna bounce back. I've been helping them with their social media and email marketing efforts. I may not be getting paid for this work, but perk alert, they've generously provided me with free pasta and wine during our "work sessions."
If you have a skill to offer, volunteer your time. Here are a few examples of how you could help local restaurants near you.
3. Dine (& Tip!)
We've been showing our support by dining out and ordering takeout and delivery. A real win-win!
If dining out, make sure the restaurant is following the correct safety protocols like spacing tables 6ft apart, wearing masks, and using digital menus or disposable ones. You should also make sure you are protecting their staff's safety by wearing a mask when speaking to the waiter or leaving the table.
If ordering takeout or delivery, look into their wine pricing. Many restaurants offer retail pricing on their wine list so you can wine and dine for less at home.
And don't forget to tip! I'm talking 20% tips. If you can afford more, tip more.
4. Share
If you love a restaurant, let your friends, family, neighbors know! Post about the restaurant on social media and tag them. Leave a positive review on Yelp or other review channels.
2020 is a strange year, and many people are struggling. We've chosen to focus our efforts on helping restaurants and restaurant workers, but there are so many other ways you can help. By helping others, you also help yourself 'cause it feels good to make a difference.
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Pinot Noir is one of the most common red wines in the world. It’s a lighter red wine if you’re into that.
Sancerre (the region) is made with SAUVIGNON BLANC (the grape). Sancerre is a sub-region of France's Loire Valley that's known for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc from Sancerre tends to taste very crisp and is a bit more subtle vs. New Zealand Sauvignon Blancs, which tend to have stronger flavors.
]]>Malbec is a popular red wine that originated in France, however, the grape is now most widely grown in Argentina. It’s typically a medium-bodied, sexy-smooth wine that may or may not cause you to “Malbec That Ass Up.”
]]>Chardonnay is one of the most common white wines in the world. It’s also a wine many people either love or love to hate.