Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in food and beverage but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with David Aferiat, Owner of Avid Vines LLC, located in Atlanta, GA, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

Avid Vines imports organic, artisanal, premier cru brut champagnes and sparkling wines to the United States. Our customers are sparkling wine enthusiasts and business owners within the food and beverage trade (bar, restaurant, and distributor).

Tell us about yourself

Having made wine on two continents, slept in vineyard rows, and spent a good chunk of my life weaving back together my French and American families ripped apart by war and revolution (in Algeria) and who struggled fiercely for their own independence a generation ago, I live to see others appreciate wine for not only what it represents culturally and in a culinary sense, but for its ability to add to the significance of shared moments.

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

It is launching the concept of an organic sparkling wine club with a brand that resonates with all who come in contact with it.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

Your stockpile of the following emotions is tested every day: Perseverance, Patience, and Passion. The rest is processing and creating systems so others can help execute what needs to be done.

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Have clear guardrails that you won't violate. Mine when creating Avid Vines were:

  1. Do not let the launch distract you from my other responsibilities (family, other business, personal health).
  2. Do not take any outside, long-term debt until a product/customer match is made.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

The best bang for your buck is a champagne that will not leave you with a headache or regrets the next day. If you drink a low-priced Prosecco and get a headache, as a result, you've paid twice. Drink an organic Brut Champagne with low residual sugar, that's Premier Cru or higher, and you'll enjoy the experience twice: once when drinking it and the next day with no regrets.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://avidvines.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avidvinesllc
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avid_vines/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AvidVines
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/avid-vines/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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