What goes into creating a successful international wine brand that tells a story before the bottle is even opened? What does it look like to build a young wine brand vintage by vintage? What makes Bordeaux such a hard place to break into as an outsider?

In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Namratha Stanley, author of the new memoir Vineyard Melody.

You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.

Giveaway

Three of you are going to win a copy of Namratha Stanely's terrific new book, Vineyard Melody: How One Woman Rebuilt Her Life, One Grape At A Time. To qualify, all you have to do is email me at natalie@nataliemaclean.com and let me know that you've posted a review of the podcast. I'll choose three people randomly from those who contact me. Good luck!

Highlights

What was it like arriving alone in rural Margaux for an internship?

What made Namratha push through fear, exhaustion, and the pressure of a visa dependent on work?

Why is the French concept of terroir so powerful in understanding the connection between place, identity, and wine?

Why did Namratha make the decision to build her own wine brand instead of becoming an agent for existing wineries?

How did the name and branding for Solicantus come together, and what influenced these choices?

How did a single LinkedIn message lead to Solicantus wines being listed with the LCBO in Canada?

What did the first international sale feel like after years of uncertainty and effort?

Why is Namratha passionate about building philanthropy into her wine and book business?

How did reuniting with her daughter in France mark a turning point for Namratha?

About Namratha Stanley

Namratha Stanley is the debut author of Vineyard Melody, a memoir chronicling her personal and professional transformation. Once confined to a patriarchal household in India, where she was barred from working, she broke free from marital violence and moved to France in 2017 to pursue a Wine MBA. She went on to found Wine Equation, a Bordeaux-based wine merchant company, and created Solicantus, her signature wine brand now distributed in five countries. Today, she serves as Program Director at INSEEC (Omnes), mentors women and students, and donates part of her wine sales to support children's education in India. Her journey—from traditional housewife to entrepreneur—has been featured in Forbes, Decanter and many other magazines. Namratha lives in France with her daughter and two cats, continuing to write and grow her wine business.

To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/373.

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