13 minute read
THE COLOR OF WINE BY URBANVINO
By Jena Domingue Creator and CEO of UrbanVino House of Brands
Nicole Anderson and HER wine was recently part of the celebration during fashion week in New York City. This was a showing of the cool kids, and Nicole’s wines were clearly the life of the party.
This is a chic and fun wine brand with all the makings of a cult favorite. You will immediately fall in love with Nicole, the hero winemaker. The 32-year-old creator, known for her bubbly personality, started out three years ago wanting to create a wine with a purpose. Her first goal was to deliver a delicious, juicy, fruit-forward, and memorable wine. Her second mission is to ensure that each person who engages the brand knows they are cared for and important. HER stands for Having Evolved Repeatedly. The wine represents how we continually evolve to become better versions of ourselves. The brand is also a commitment to loving and putting ourselves first. After working full time and releasing the wine, Nicole found that she hit a place in life where she needed to take a break and discover what it is that actually makes her happy and brings her joy. She did just that; now, Nicole sees her purpose as helping others find their happiness.
She is a self-described apple-flavored peach— born in Brooklyn and raised in Atlanta. Nicole contributes her entrepreneurial spirit to being raised in a rich cultural environment. Growing up seeing Black CEOs and business owners, having a Black mayor, and seeing herself reflected in leadership was a huge part of her vision becoming a reality. As a newbie getting started in the wine industry, she faced several challenges—many no’s, closed doors, and gate-keeping of information. But Nicole was not deterred. Led by her resilient spirit, she found a pair of winemakers willing to take the journey with her. From ideation to launch, the process took her close to two years.
That same resilience would serve her very well when Nicole was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer last December. For most, that would be a blow, and maybe we would expect her to pull back. On the flip side, Nicole says this is truly her happiest year ever. She is now focusing full-time on building her brand and has chosen to live intentionally and in her power every day. While she still has chemotherapy, surgeries, and additional treatments on the way, this powerhouse is focused on her mental
health and spreading joy, and sharing HER Wines with the world. Nicole documented her journey through cancer diagnosis and treatment. With the help of MontyAngelo Productions, a production company based in Atlanta has taken her content and produced a documentary meant to inspire others to live intentionally despite the challenges life may throw our way as well as educate those who have loved ones or may be going through this themselves about the realities of a cancer diagnosis and how that can completely shift a life. Nicole pulls back the layers and is unapologetically raw and vulnerable, revealing all sides of herself— even the not-so-perfect moments.
Best of all, the big reveal is due out in October, just in time to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
When hanging out in ATL, Nicole is your bestie for a bottomless mimosa brunch; her adventurous side has allowed her to skydive and travel extensively. If you’re lucky, you might come up with a taste of Nicole’s
famous lemon pound cake or apple cake— she loves baking and enjoying live music. Her delicious wines offer a selection of six varietals. They are naturally flavored wine blends with three white, two reds, and two bubbly choices with fun names like A Toast To Me, Mama Needs A Break, and In My Feelings in flavors of mango, peach, and apricot.
Visit herwines.com to find your favorite flavor and enjoy these amazing wines from HER. Follow her on Facebook and Instagram @ Itsherwine.
Visit UrbanVino.com or Apple Podcasts to listen to the UrbanVino Podcast, and visit YouTube for the video version. Connect with Jena on LinkedIn @ Jena Domingue and Instagram @ urbanvino.
Jena Domingue is the creator and CEO of UrbanVino House of Brands and Senior Vice President of Sales and Talent and Culture at WineDirect. She is also US Ambassador (California) for Liquid Icons, a global agency working with ultra-premium wine brands worldwide, offering scholarships and apprenticeships specifically geared to promote diversity and inclusion in wine education and hospitality.
What Our Winners have to say. . .
PR%F MEDALS
Best of Show
Bénédicte Hardy
Brand Embassador Hardy Cognac hardycognac.fr
“Winning the perfect score Century Award and Best of Show in 2020 - in the middle of COVID - was like a breath of fresh air. PR%F Awards opened big doors that were once closed for Hardy like providing an introduction for Hardy Legend 1863 to be on the shelves of Delta Airlines Delta SkyClub lounges. It was such an opportunity for our brand! ”
GINTERIOR
THE OLD TOM GIN MADE IN FVG: VINTAGE SOUL, MODERN SPIRIT.
GINTERIOR is the Old Tom Gin Made in FVG, which emphasizes FVG’s interiority by highlighting the quite unique quality, nature and purity of the FVG Region. GINTERIOR is the vintage soul spirit which reflects the Victorian tradition: its delicacy gets a modern key review thanks to the skillful mixing of various natural botanicals with some excellences of our territory, such as the Fiumicello City’s Peaches, “Crambe Tataria‘s” seeds, as present in the Pordenone‘s Area dry grasslands «I Magredi», Marasca’s Cherry Honey of the Karst Area, the Dandelion Infusion, typical of the Carnic Valleys.GINTERIOR is an all generis drink: a unique blend, dry and pervasive, as an harmonious perceptive symphony of elements never combined together before.
www.xedequa.com - info@xedequa.com
glitter and glitz enhance cocktails
Stuart Cutler
glitter and glitz enhance cocktails
PR%F Awards Double Gold Snowy River Cocktails Raises the Bar
By Debbie Hall Photos courtesy of Snowy River Cocktails
the award-winning Snowy River Cocktails decorating products add a new level of color and creativity to any cocktail. Its cocktail sugar and salt rimmer range offer a naturally colored, Kosher, gluten-free option for cocktail and margarita decorating. It also features a popular range of cocktail glitters in over a dozen colors, adding a new dimension of glitz and glamor to any drink. Snowy River 4th July Cocktail Salt and Margarita Cocktail Salt were both awarded Double Gold medals at the 2019 PR%F Awards, with an entirely new group of salts and sugars nailing the Double Gold status again in 2020 and 2021. PR%F Awards judges rave about the consistency, rich flavors, and colors of these cocktail enhancements, year after year. PR&F Magazine spoke with Stuart Cutler, CEO and President of Snowy River Cocktail Co., about the many award-winning cocktail products.
How did Snowy River Cocktails get its start?
Stuart Cutler: Snowy River cocktail decorating products were born out of bar/restaurant demand for an all-natural cocktail decorating with sugar and salt. There are a lot of artificially colored products in the market, and our partners requested something new and more versatile, which gave them a lot of creativity while ensuring only natural ingredients were used. So, based on our 15 years of experience in the food and baking industries, notably through our sister company Ultimate Baker, our team set out to develop a range of products for the cocktail industry which met our standard for quality, versatility, and ease of use. Over the last four years, we have launched many new products, from our Cocktail Sugars and Glitters to our recent launch of Cocktail Confetti and Cocktail Salt Flakes.
Why was this something you wanted to create?
Stuart Cutler: We firmly believe in natural products and the removal of synthetic and artificial colors from our food and drinks. At the same time, many bartenders are looking for new innovative ways to capture their guests' attention with simply stunning cocktails.
Snowy River products meet those requirements and allow bartenders various decorating tools that can be readily used stand-alone or together to create something truly special.
What is Snowy River Cocktail Flakes?
Stuart Cutler: A cocktail is more than just taste; it's a whole sensory experience that starts with the overall presentation and looks of the cocktail through to the balance and texture of the drink. Importantly, the rimmer style and flavor need to align with the overall taste and experience you are trying to achieve. Snowy River cocktail salt flakes have been crafted and designed by experienced bartenders and mixologists with a view to turning any cocktail into a true masterpiece. Their elegant look, cocktail paired taste, and ease of application make Snowy River cocktail salt flakes a "musthave" for home and professional bartenders. Our new salt flakes range is available in six fun colors, adding new options to our more traditional Kosher salt products. Both retail and wholesale packaging options are available.
How is Snowy River different from other cocktail rimming salts?
Stuart Cutler: Snowy River cocktail decorating products are designed by bartenders for bartenders, both home and professional. We undertake rigorous testing with the industry to ensure our products are natural, look amazing, and are quick and simple to use. We are one of the only brands that use all-natural ingredients, no synthetics or preservatives, Kosher, dairy-free, GMO-free, and naturally colored by us using real fruit and vegetables. Our Double Gold awards at the Las Vegas Proof industry awards are a testament to the design and quality of our products.
Can Snowy River products be used in other things besides a cocktail?
Stuart Cutler: Definitely, Snowy River products are widely used in the cake decorating and food industries for decorating cakes, pastries, cupcakes, donuts, and on many other desserts and treats. Our cocktail glitters are used in the beverage industry to add sparkle and color to non-alcoholic drinks as well as kids' drinks. Our new salts are also great as an addition to salads, steaks, or other foods whenever a salt flake is needed.
Why should someone use a product like Cocktail Flakes, whether they're a beginner or an expert cocktail maker?
Stuart Cutler: Here at Snowy River, we believe a cocktail is a full sensory experience. People drink with their eyes long before they actually taste a cocktail. So our goal is to make products that allow for the creation of simply stunning cocktails. From the look to the color to the texture, Snowy River cocktail products offer the range and versatility to decorate any drink. To this end, our cocktail salt flakes meet all of these design and product quality aspects and look simply stunning on the rim of margaritas, Palomas, and other cocktails that look for a part or full salt rim.
Have we heard rumors of a new Backbar program?
Stuart Cutler: Snowy River Backbar program is an exciting new range of mixers and shrubs designed specifically for the bar and restaurant industry. From our new Dirty Mix to Grenadine, Orgeat, and a range of tasty, easy-to-use infused shrubs, Snowy River Backbar offers all the flavor, versatility, and balance bartenders require to make the perfect drink. Importantly, Snowy River Backbar continues our focus on natural ingredients, which are all proudly US-made, free of synthetics and artificial colors. We have tested our Backbar program with customers and bartenders over the last few months, and the feedback has been amazing. We are in the final stages of preparation for launch and expect to have these products available by early October.
Do you offer decorating tips and cocktail recipes?
Stuart Cutler: We love supporting customers, and bars make stunning cocktails. So we share many recipes and cocktail decorating ideas on our website while also designing custom menus for bars, special events, and other corporate functions.
Snowy River products are available on its website at snowyrivercocktails.com, on Amazon and Walmart as well as a growing number of gift and liquor retailers across the US. New distributors and wholesale accounts are always welcome.
COCKTAIL SALT FLAKES
• Range of blends, all naturally colored • The finest grade salts and ingredients • Vegan, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, and Certified Kosher • No synthetics or preservatives • Made in the United States. • Snowy River cocktail salt flakes are available for wholesale and retail sale as well as in bulk and private label custom orders, including six-ounce bottles, 1-pound bag, 5-pound bag, and 25-pound bag options.
snowyrivercocktails.com
MASKED
The coveted double-blind tasting competition
UNMASKED
The total package competition
Century Award
Perfect. To receive a Century Award is to be de ned as perfect. It is a 100-point perfect score, unanimously, from all judges present at the awards tasting program. Unanimous. Only a selection of these brands makes it to the prestigious level. It is the ultimate accolade and the utmost level of achievement in a spirits and wine brand. Unparalleled.
Double Gold Award
Outstanding. Spirits and wine awarded a Double Gold are beyond industry standards and celebrated with prominent elegance in their respected categories. These brands de ne nesse and make a palate dance with superiority. When you achieve this award, your brand de es gravity.
Gold Award
Great and distinguished with high praise and worthy of celebration. Our Gold award is a high merit of achievement. These are the brands that set the bar beyond standard heights and reach it — at all costs and are classi ed as some of the best brands in the arena. Hue, Taste, Texture, Power, Length, and Echo all balance to create a superb avor and moment.
Silver Award
Rated as good and recommended for the public, our Silver award recipients demonstrate a noticeable well-balanced presence between avor and complexity, taste and nish. Many of our Silver recipients can be found nationally in stores, restaurants, bars, and online.
Bronze Award
Our Bronze award recognizes these brands to be fair, well-crafted, attractive to nose, taste, and nish—worthy of recognition.
now in stores!
What Our Winners have to say. . .
Stuart Cutler
PR%F MEDALS
