Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Anderson
Hi Nicole, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey is one of faith, resilience, and learning to embrace life’s unexpected turns. I didn’t start out in the wine industry. I was an everyday woman with a career in corporate America, leading major marketing accounts, and breaking barriers as one of the few women—let alone Black women—at the leadership table of a Fortune 500 company in Atlanta. But deep down, I always knew I wanted to create something of my own, something meaningful.
I started making wine at home, just experimenting, teaching myself the craft from the ground up. What began as a passion project turned into something bigger than I ever imagined. HER Wine was born before I even realized what it could become. The brand started growing fast—faster than I was ready for, to be honest. Suddenly, I had a business, demand was skyrocketing, and I was pouring everything I had into making it work.
But with that growth came immense stress. I was juggling it all—business, life, expectations—until my body forced me to stop. In December 2021, I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple-positive breast cancer. It was a moment that shook me to my core. It made me realize that, while I had built a brand around self-care and empowerment, I wasn’t actually living it.
Cancer changed everything. It forced me to slow down, surrender, and truly embrace what HER Wine stood for. Through treatment—chemo, a mastectomy, and immunotherapy—I had to learn to rebuild not just my business, but myself. HER Wine wasn’t just a product anymore; it became a movement. A reflection of every woman who has had to pause, reset, and come back stronger.
And that’s exactly what I did. I rebranded, rebuilt, and refocused, and HER Wine took on a whole new life. Now, it’s in Thorntons, Total Wine in multiple states, and growing nationwide. It’s been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show and Essence Magazine, proving that a woman with a dream—learning how to make wine in her kitchen—can build something extraordinary.
This journey has taught me that setbacks are sometimes the setup for something greater. That you can lose everything and still come back stronger than ever. That success isn’t about never falling—it’s about how you rise when you do.
And I’m just getting started.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Has it been a smooth road? Absolutely not. But I’ve learned that the road to anything worth having is never smooth.
Building HER Wine has been a journey filled with highs, lows, and unexpected detours. When I first started, I had no blueprint—I was just a woman with a passion, teaching myself how to make wine, turning an idea into a brand. But as HER Wine grew, so did the challenges.
At one point, I was wrongfully sued for copyright infringement—a situation that had nothing to do with me but still threatened to derail everything I had worked for. I was forced to fight for my brand, my reputation, and my peace. And just when I thought I was getting back on track, life hit me with something even bigger.
In December 2021, I was diagnosed with stage 2 triple-positive breast cancer. Everything stopped. The stress, the pressure, the sleepless nights—it had all caught up with me. But in that stillness, I found clarity. Cancer forced me to pause, surrender, and redefine what success really meant. It wasn’t just about building a business—it was about building a life that I actually wanted to live.
So I did what I’ve always done—I fought back. I went through chemo, had a mastectomy, endured immunotherapy, and came out on the other side stronger than ever. And just like I rebuilt myself, I rebuilt HER Wine, turning it into something even greater than before.
Now, HER Wine is in Thorntons, Total Wine in multiple states, and still expanding. It’s been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show and Essence Magazine, and we also launched our private label program, Tailored by Her, where we help businesses, entrepreneurs, and visionaries create their own wines.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but I wouldn’t change a thing. Every obstacle, every hardship, every unexpected twist has led me here.
As you know, we’re big fans of HerWine. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
HER Wine
HER Wine is a self-care-inspired wine brand designed for women who do it all. More than just wine, it’s a movement that encourages pause, indulgence, and celebration. With fun, easy-to-drink flavors, HER Wine is available nationwide making self-care as simple as pouring a glass.
Tailored by Her
Tailored by Her is a private label wine program that helps entrepreneurs, brands, and businesses turn wine into a marketing and sales tool. Whether for brand-building, corporate gifting, or an additional revenue stream, we make it easy to create custom-branded wine without industry barriers.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that your challenges do not define you—your response to them does.
I could have let my diagnosis stop me. I could have said, “This is too much,” and given up on my dreams. But instead, I chose to keep going. I chose to believe that my story wasn’t over—it was just being rewritten.
I’ve learned that faith and resilience will take you further than fear ever will. That sometimes, life forces you to slow down—not as a punishment, but as a redirection toward something greater.
I’ve also learned the power of community. You don’t have to do it alone. Whether in business, in life, or in the fight for your health, having people who believe in you, support you, and uplift you makes all the difference.
And finally, I’ve learned that your brand is not just what you sell—it’s how you make people feel. That’s why Tailored by Her is so powerful. It gives brands and entrepreneurs a way to create something that isn’t just a product, but an experience. An extension of their story.
So, if you’re reading this and wondering if you have what it takes to start that business, launch that idea, or push through a difficult season—let me be your proof that you do. Keep going.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.herwines.com
- Instagram: @itsherwine
- Facebook: @HERWine LLC
