Female-owned winery in Indian Land offers a buzz - without the headache
June 21, 2023 | Wilson
Indian Land resident Mary Anna Ossa is bringing organic and vegan-certified wines to both South and North Carolina with her company Partners & Grapes.
Ossa would get bad headaches when drinking wine so she typically avoided it. But while on vacation in Barcelona three years ago, she visited a wine bar with friends and decided to join in on the fun. After waking up feeling great the next day, Ossa discovered that the wines they were drinking were organic and didn’t contain the sulfites and sugars that are usually added to wines.
“I knew I wasn’t the only one with this problem,” explains Ossa. “Instead of trying to find a shop that would carry these good wines, I decided to do it on my own.”
Having no knowledge of how to import wine or distribute it, Ossa got to work researching how to secure licenses, permits, and insurance. With the help of a friend in Spain, Ossa found a woman-owned vineyard in Catalonia that had everything she was looking for. It was certified organic and vegan, didn’t have any added sugar or sulfites, didn’t use any pesticides, and of course, had a delicious flavor profile.
Partners & Grapes launched in 2020 offering a Red Blend and White. It has quickly grown adding a Rosé offering, with a sparkling option coming soon. Just this May, the company’s Red Blend, and Rosé took home the Gold and Silver Medals at the 2023 Sommelier Choice Awards.
“This is the dream I didn’t know I had,” says Ossa. “I had this inner voice that said, ‘What do you know about running a wine company? You’ve been a stay-at-home mom for 10 years.’ I want to create a platform for other women to believe in themselves. I want them to know that if they have a dream and do the work, they can make it happen.”
Last fall Partners & Grapes was named a recipient of the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund Scholarship which invests in professional women on their journey to learn and master the business of wine. The scholarship also provides support and opportunities to grow. Ossa’s goal in the next 10 years is to become a national brand. Partners & Grapes is already on its way with Ossa looking at distribution in Georgia and Florida next.
Partners & Grapes
partnersandgrapes.com
Pick up a bottle in Indian Land at:
Stateline Elite
Carolina Wines & Spirits
Southern Spirits
The wine is absolutely delicious and I can attest to the no headache the next day. Thank goodness for Mary Anna Ossa and her entrepreneurship for bringing this option to our neck of the woods!.