We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Melanie Garibay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Melanie, so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?
My optimism comes from my strong belief in living each day with gratitude and purpose. Every day in life is a blessed gift and I try not to waste time getting bogged down with all the external challenges we all face on a daily basis. I try to share positivity and happiness with everyone I encounter while always remembering that tomorrow is not a promise. We can all make a difference in someone’s life if we just try to be thoughtful, kind and respectful. The same philosophy applies to animals, and that is a core value in my company, which is why we give back to dog rescues!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am the Owner & Founder of Nectar of the Dogs Wine. After starting the company with a partner in 2015, I took over the company in 2020 to continue the mission of handcrafting premium wines to share with fellow wine and dog lovers so we can give back to nonprofit dog rescue organizations.
I am not a certified winemaker, but I do consider myself a seasoned wine enthusiast and throughout this journey, I have developed a deep appreciation for the business and the intricacies of bringing quality wines to consumers. My team and I sample every wine before deciding what varietals and blends to bottle, because we want to ensure that we are bottling easy-drinking, versatile wine that can be enjoyed on any occasion.
Our wine labels feature our four original inspiration Rainbow Bridge dogs: Dachshunds Clyde, Connie, Floyd & Husky-mix, Mika. Recent additions include our two Doxies: Braunee & Vinnie. Gone from our lives but never from our hearts, these six pups remind us how much the love of a dog can change your life. That’s why we are passionate about giving back to organizations that help dogs find a second chance to share their love with someone!
We are SUPER EXCITED to share the news about the opening of our NEW tasting room! We opened on Jan. 14th, 2023 as the FIRST tasting room in Simi Valley. We are open Saturdays and Sundays from 12–6 pm and starting in June , we will be open on Fridays. Check our website or IG page for the most current information on hours as we continue to expand days and times for wine tasting! We invite guests to bring in their own light bites, though on occasion we will have a food truck on-site to help with that, and every Sunday we feature live acoustic performances by various local musicians. It’s also a beautiful place to host private events so please reach out and inquire if interested. We are located at: 791 Chambers Lane, Suite 110 Simi Valley, CA 93065
I still maintain my full-time corporate job in the professional beauty industry while running Nectar of the Dogs Wine with a small team and the support of my husband, Todd, and our two dogs, Moose (doxie) & Hula (chi-weenie).
I believe that dogs can change your life and that the best wine is wine shared with friends – two or four-legged.
Oh, and that life is too short to drink bad wine, so …just don’t!
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
If I had to select the 3 most important qualities, skills or areas of knowledge that had the most impact in my wine biz journey, I would say:
*Patience- This journey continues everyday and everyday brings new challenges that take time to resolve. We worked really hard over the last 3 years to bring the tasting room to life – there were many hurdles, a lot of waiting, and areas where we needed to compromise. Opening our doors has been a dream come true.
*Perseverance- There are challenges you won’t anticipate and things won’t always go your way, but you have to hang in there. There have been many times when I just wanted to give up, but I am thankful I have a wonderful support team, most notably my husband Todd, who helped push me to keep going!
*Determination- Opening Simi Valley’s first wine tasting room was not an easy feat. When alcohol is involved, there is a lot to navigate and one wrong move could cost everything. Don’t let anything get in your way! With this latest journey, I am determined to blaze a trail for new wineries interested in joining the community. I hope that being the first to navigate this with the City of Simi Valley makes it that much easier for the next business.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
Our ideal customers are dog and wine lovers who want to enjoy great wine knowing they are sipping for a great cause!
We want to share our story and mission with our guests, but we also want to hear about their stories! I love it when people tell me about their dogs and what their animals mean to them.
Dogs and wine bring people together! Sharing great conversation over a glass of wine brings happiness and joy. It’s these simple things in life we want our guests to be a part of in our tasting room.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nectarofthedogswine.com
- Instagram: @nectarofthedogswine
- Facebook: @nectarofthedogswine
- Youtube: @nectarofthedogswine9438
