Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Moreau.
Hi Amy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am, first and foremost, a mother to 4 amazing children, dedicated entrepreneur and wine expert, known for my unique approach to wine education and travel. Following a career shift in 2010, I began planning for my future business. Between 2010 and 2013, I wrote my business plan, took academic classes on wine, and worked with the local government to change alcohol codes, ensuring my business could thrive. This preparation led to the founding of Talk of the Table in 2013, just north of Atlanta, Georgia.
Talk of the Table is a boutique wine shop that offers a curated selection of over 300 wines and artisanal cheeses, focusing on small, often lesser-known wineries from around the world. My philosophy is to make wine both approachable and exciting by sharing the stories behind each bottle, creating a personal connection for her customers.
I frequently travel abroad to expand my wine knowledge and to bring new, carefully chosen selections to her store. Ivisit wine regions throughout Europe and the United States with my customers, and these experiences are reflected in the diverse range of wines offered. My commitment to education is evident through in-store tastings, where customers can learn about different grapes, winemaking techniques, and the rich cultural history of wine.
Beyond wine, Talk of the Table hosts food pairings, special events, and wine club gatherings that foster a sense of community among customers. In 2023, I expanded my business with a new franchise location in Sugar Hill, Georgia, further extending my mission of making wine discovery fun, inclusive, and educational.
My dedication to wine education, paired with my entrepreneurial drive, hopefully has made Talk of the Table a beloved destination for wine lovers in the metro Atlanta area.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not always been a smooth road!!! But if it was easy, everyone would be doing it!! The first hurdle I encountered was realizing that the alcohol codes in my county did not support my business plan. I worked with the county commissioners to get the alcohol codes changed to suit my plan. Thankfully, the new codes were adopted but the process delayed my build out by 6 months. Once the build out was started, there were small hurdles along the way but nothing insurmountable. As time has gone on, making sure that pricing and quality of wines is balanced has been a challenge but I’ve learned just to dig a little deeper to find the hidden gems that fit my criteria. In this current environment, dealing with tariffs and a change in drinking habits have been the biggest struggles. Luckily, with the majority of the wines in both Talk of the Table’s being under $20.00, I am still able to make the wines unique and affordable while adding some non-alcoholic options to address the change in drinking patterns.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in wines from small boutique producers and artisanal cheeses from all over the world. I am very proud that through my stores, there is a community of wine lovers who want to learn and understand the wines and cheeses they are tasting. I am very proud that the name of my franchise, Talk of the Table, evokes exactly what I hope happens as a customer goes home after an interaction at the stores. Talking around a table about what they learned or tasted at one of the stores is the ultimate goal!! I am also proud of the brand colors. The purple and green I chose were picked to convey green and red grapes but also to covey a bright and approachable vibe.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Talk of the Table’s mission is to offer a memorable experience to each patron that passes through its doors, offering an upscale, yet inviting atmosphere to enjoy the finest wine and most exquisite cheeses in the area. Talk of the Table will always employ courteous, well-trained personnel dedicated to providing exceptional customer service. Talk of the Table will be the only retail wine and cheese store with tasting and food options, as well as high-level, knowledgeable staff providing wine education. Talk of theTable will provide a unique, one of a kind experience, combining luxury with affordability. The Company looks to have the Talk of the Table name be synonymous with excellent wine and cheese selections and educational wine tasting, providing the highest level of focus on details without ever compromising profitability.
Corporate Overview
MJEB LLC dba Talk of the Table was established in 2012, with an official opening of April 27, 2013. Prior to opening, the business was registered with the State of Georgia, Alcohol Licenses were obtained from the State of Georgia, Forsyth County and a deli license was awarded by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
Amy Moreau created Talk of the Table from her passion for educating people on wine and food. In early 2009, she saw an opportunity to bring unique wines, cheeses and tasting experience to South Forsyth after seeing similar models in downtown Atlanta and California. Armed with a degree in Marketing and years of experience in sales and catering, Amy created the proprietary model for Talk of the Table. After 8 years in business, Talk of the Table has become a destination for unique, affordable wines and cheeses, valuable tasting experiences, an incomparable monthly wine and cheese club and experiential wine trips to domestic and international wine regions.
The first Talk of the Table’s market consists of, most prominently, a 5 mile radius around The Collection at Forsyth. Secondarily, there has been an increase in customer traffic from North Forsyth and Dawson County. The competitors who have a similar business model to Talk of the Table are Rise and Wine in Halycon and Fermented in downtown Alpharetta, while big commercial wine stores like JAX, Pop’s, Total Wine and grocery stores are competition from a convenience stand point, they are not competition from a product, educational or experiential standpoint. The growth of the wine market in the United States, coupled with the growth in retail and residential properties North and East of the Flagship store, franchising Talk of the Table, in a judicious and controlled manner, has become the next step in the corporation’s growth. As part of the judicious growth, in addition to selecting sites that are desirable demographically, a franchisee will be required to have at least 5 years in the wine business with extensive study of wine regions, winemaking, wine distribution and wine sales. The franchises will be solely women owned.
Pricing:
- $20.00 per person for weekly themed tastings
- $12.00 per person for Daily Flights
- $12.00 per glass of wine
- $12.00 cheese board
- $50.00 & $80.00 per month for wine club membership
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talkofthetable
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/TalkOfTheTable
- Other: https://share.google/ENBIOsaWKHlU2goBg
