Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberle Elbery.
Hi Kimberle, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Back in March of 2020, I was home with a newborn and a toddler when the world shut down. I needed something to do for myself outside of being a mom and that’s when an incredible opportunity dropped in my lap to become a wine consultant for a direct-to-consumer winery. My passion for wine was reignited and I began my formal wine education through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust out of London. While out educating consumers on the wine I was marketing for I realized there is a massive lack of awareness around the wine industry here in the U.S. and that’s when I started my company, Southern Sunshine and Wine. I created the company to bring education and awareness to consumers on what is really in the wine they’re consuming and how to help them make better choices when purchases or drinking wine. Less than three years later, I won Best of Georgia 2022 for Wine Tastings & Tours. I continue to educate at tastings both in-home and with corporate businesses. My goal is to make wine more approachable for people and to continue to create community through our love of wine.
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?
I jumped into starting a business without any previous experience so I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way and have learned from those mistakes. Luckily none of those mistakes have cost me too much but they have definitely taught me valuable lessons. I think the economic climate is my biggest struggle right now, with wine being a luxury item to most people so I am learning how to navigate around that.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Southern Sunshine & Wine was created as a Wine Tastings & Education company to help wine consumers in a few different ways. I want to bring wine education to people in a simple, understandable way so they can feel more confident when talking about wine, drinking wine or purchasing wine. Wine can be very intimidating so my goal is to always leave the consumer feeling more confident through educating them. Both the tastings and education classes are fun, light-hearted and a great way to try new wines. I specialize in wine tastings/classes for all levels. My attention to detail is what sets me apart and you will always leave learning something. My platform I educate on is small, sustainable producers and the wines are sourced from local wine shops so I am also supporting other local, small businesses at the same time. I’m so proud of all the work I’ve done, this is an important topic and anytime I can change someone’s mind about what they’re drinking or hear back from them and they have more confidence when walking into a wine shop to pick out a wine, those are wins for me!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I have always put myself in the room or at the table with people who are smarter and better than me and that’s been the best way to learn or find mentorship. Get out there and network and meet new people as much as possible. You never know who you will meet that will change the projection of your life.
Contact Info:
- Website: southernsunshineandwine.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/southernsunshineandwine
- Facebook: facebook.com/southernsunshineandwine
Image Credits
Kierston Parks Photography
