5 things no one warned you about …

5 Things No One Tells You About Starting a Wine-Inspired Small Business

So, you’re thinking of starting a wine-inspired small business? Cute.

We thought the same. And then we actually did it.

And while it’s fun (it really is), there are a few things no one warns you about. Here’s what we wish someone had told us. So we’re telling you:

1. You don’t need to live in vineyards to start

We always imagined a wine business starting with vineyard visits and endless tastings… but guess what? We launched without stepping foot in a vineyard (yet 😅). Turns out, curiosity, research, and way too many late-night brainstorming sessions can take you pretty far.

2. Instagram will become your part-time job (with full-time feelings)

You will celebrate that one reel that got 126K views with champagne.

You will wonder why another one, which took 4 hours to edit, flopped.

You will say “don’t care about numbers” and then refresh your insights 5 minutes later.

You will learn about hooks, keywords, SEO, trial reels, on-screen CTAs, and the perfect moment to say “swipe to see more.”

And yes, you’ll yell at ChatGPT when it repeats your reel hook in the caption. (Just us? Never mind.)

3. You’ll need a market stall setup Pinterest board

A wine-themed business sounds like an elegant online thing… until you find yourself at a weekend market with wind blowing over your paper bags, sweatshirts half-folded, and no idea how to display your prints.

We’ve learned to think like interior designers. Layering crates, textures, handwritten signs, wine glass trays… it’s a production.

It’s exhausting. It’s rewarding. It’s a vibe.

4. Your to-do list will always be unfinished

There is no “done.” There’s only “posted,” “scheduled,” “printed,” and “wait, we forgot to tag the product.”

Some nights you’ll stare at your phone and whisper “just one Canva animation.”

Some mornings you’ll wake up with a wine pun idea that simply must become a postcard.

And don’t get us started on packaging materials, cello bag sizes, or trying to cut a wine bottle cleanly. (RIP to the lamp that never made it.)

5. You’ll fall in love with it more than you expected

It started as a fun idea. A creative outlet. Something to do between motherhood, jobs, and life.

But it’s become more than that. It’s a way to share stories. Laugh at ourselves. Learn new things.

And the best part?

It connects us with people who say “I thought I didn’t like Chardonnay” and then realize… maybe they just hadn’t found the right one yet.

So if you’re on the fence about starting your own thing, especially something wine-related, here’s your sign. It won’t be perfect. It won’t be linear. But it will be yours.

And if you ever need help?

We’re not experts. But we’re here. Probably sketching something winey in Procreate right now.

🍷

Love,

Vanya & Cigdem