Where and when did your passion for wine start?

Probably a little late for Napa standards, but it started when I was 25 years old. My family purchased our first wine and spirits shop in Tennessee, and my job was day-to-day operations and conducting all tasting appointments and wine selections. My knowledge started very much on the job and took off with self-learning about different wine regions and styles via the internet and local seminars.

What do you find most rewarding about owning and operating Back Room Wines?

Helping small wine brands share their story, passion, and great wine from near and far to clients who may never of come across their wines. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Can you speak to any prejudices you have faced as a woman in the wine industry?

Yes, when Prashant and I originally purchased the shop, guests would be shocked to learn that a young Indian woman owned the fine wine shop. After all, in a world where I’m “expected” to be a lawyer, doctor, engineer, etc., owning a fine wine shop is not the “typical thing to do.” I didn’t let it get to me and it makes me happy that I was able break the stereotype. And as far as the guests are concerned, I let my bubbly personality speak for itself. Business is great.

Tactics to overcome them?

Be nice and personable. BRW is a shop where we take the time and help guests pick wines they can make great memories around. While doing that, we build a connection which hopefully grows into a great relationship! And it’s this connection that breaks down all barriers.

Any advice to women trying to start their own company in the wine industry?

Starting a business in any industry is huge undertaking. I believe you should always seek out a mentor. No matter how smart you think you are, how well you know your target market, or how knowledgeable you are in wine or any other channel you are seeking a business opportunity in, someone out there will always know more than you, or at least offer a different perspective on what you are trying to achieve.
When Prashant and I purchased BRW, I was a mother to an 18-month-old little boy and I didn’t know how I would “make it” being a mom to a toddler and owning a new business. I figured out early that time management is especially important to juggle it all. Fast forward three years, add two more kids, and I realize there will never be a perfect time to launch a new business or buy one. We make sacrifices in life to obtain our goals.
Today, being a mother of three young children (Niam is 4 1/2 years old, Jace is 2, and Raya is 6 months), I have learned to trust my amazing team at BRW while being absent on maternity leave. I still do work in the background, of course, because there are so many moving parts when owning a business. And I may not meet some of my business-growth timelines I had set for myself, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get there (we as women, are our own toughest critics!). Becoming a business owner and a mother were two goals I wanted to achieve in my lifetime and I did that.

How has Back Room Wines adapted to the new reality posed by Covid-19? Do you have advice on how to stay afloat as a business during these past months?

This pandemic has disrupted brick and mortar business forever … we have focused more on online sales and email campaigns to help while we all were sheltering in place and foot traffic was basically non-existent. It’s important to stay connected with your clients and keep them engaged. For our local customers, we offered online ordering and safe curbside pickup. As the economy starts opening back up, my first priority is the safety and well-being of our clients and team members: we are following all the guidelines set by Napa County while still trying to provide the best service and experiences to clients when they come into the shop—trying to maintain our distance with a smile on our faces under the masks.

If you were allowed to invite one woman of wine (dead or alive) to dinner, who would you invite?

It would be Barbe-Nicole Clicquot. I love Champagne and she was a pioneer. The first women to run a Champagne house. She turned her passion, heart, and soul into a real business and made sure that failure wasn’t an option. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot was a woman ahead of her time and I feel like I could learn a lot from her!