I first heard of Las Amigas Cuvée when I attended the Latina Coalition Silicon Valley Sisterhood brunch. It was the perfect selection for the event’s toast since Las Amigas Cuvée was built on the sisterhood and friendship between founders Miriam Puentes, co-owner of Honrama Cellars, and Lola Llamas, co-owner of Llamas Family Wines.
Miriam and Lola have several years of experience between the two of them combined and a deep family history rooted in the wineries. Miriam had worked in wineries most of her life. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Business from St. Mary’s, and Lola completed the Executive MBA-Wine Business program at Sonoma State University. Along with their deep knowledge of the wine industry, the idea to collaborate on a limited-edition Napa Valley sparkling wine, Las Amigas Cuvée, started among two friends and is built around two women supporting one another.
Stronger together in their journey
Their love, passion, and shared aspirations for wine brought them together. They had become friends back in 2015, meeting at a Mexican American Vintners Association MAVA, and their friendship continued over the years. During the pandemic, the two began spending more time together as they sheltered in place and shared ideas to help their family wineries weather the tough times brought on by the pandemic.
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During their time together, they started the Las del Vino Instagram page to support each of their family wineries. “It all started with IG, as we were emerging from homes and how we were going to keep our business growing, support our wineries together. Later on, the sparkling wine opportunity came up – Juan working on that wasn’t quite finished,” Lola recalled.
That unrealized project that Miriam’s husband Juan presented in early Spring 2020 turned into a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Lola and Miriam. With the pandemic, many would have shied away from starting a new business venture, but they jumped at the chance to collaborate.
Starting a business comes with many challenges, and the pandemic brought additional obstacles from business shutdowns, fires, power outages, and more. The two became very creative with their go-to-market strategy and started hosting soft launch outdoor parties in late August.
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As they navigated their new business collaboration, Lola and Miriam have grown stronger and wiser over the last year.
“Las Amigas is our baby. We have a ying-yang relationship and end up balancing each other,” said Miriam. “Out of bad situations, good things come. It has been a blessing. People want to see good things happen, two friends coming together for this project.”
Looking back at the whirlwind year, Lola and Miriam learned so much and shared some advice for other Latinas pursuing their dreams to start their own business. Lola had always been the type of person to figure things out herself. “Don’t be afraid to reach out to network and ask for help,” said Lola referring to her impressive cohort, all experienced in different aspects of the wine industry.
And sometimes, it is about timing, and going for the opportunity presents itself. “If you have an idea go for it, develop it. Don’t be scared,” exclaimed Miriam.
Family and community is the heart of the business
Lola and Miriam talk with so much love and pride about their families and their legacy.
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Miriam shared how her parents moved to the United States from Guanajuato, Mexico, and began working at various farms throughout California. Her family eventually settled in Napa Valley when her father worked full-time at a vineyard. He had the dream to one day own his winery. He is no longer with her, and her father’s dream became her dream.
“My father wanted to make his wine. For me, it was an inheritance of his desire to make his wine and all of the immigrants that come here for a better life for their families,” says Miriam.
Similarly, Lola’s family winery pays homage to their family in the wine industry. “It started as a passion project that has slowly grown over the years, and we brought in our nephew to start selling it,” said Lola.
They both strongly believe in building a future for their children and the next generation. They talked about how the business is a family affair with everyone pitching in. Lola’s son works in the tasting room when he is home from college, and Miriam’s son helps wash glasses and sanitize at the wine tasting room.
“For us, it’s a bonded generation, to build a business and work on it and give it so much attention. When you are a micro-winery, it is matado; we have to do it 24 for 7,” said Miriam. “Honor our ancestors and future generations, and do something for the community.”
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On top of managing the businesses, Lola and Miriam are loving mothers and being entrepreneurial role models. The business can take a toll on family life, having to work weekends, but the two have adapted by incorporating family nights during the week and getting the family involved with the business.
“It’s hard to be a mother, lot of juggling, squeeze in fun. Our daughters see us doing it and that it’s possible. They are budding entrepreneurs,” said Miriam.
It’s clear Las Amigas Cuvee is a labor of love and that Lola and Miriam have a lot of fun together too!
‘Two families, two brands, one dream’ is the slogan for Las Amigas Cuvée, the first collaboration on a limited-edition Napa Valley sparkling wine.
Outside of bubbly, cuvée refers to a blend of wines. Las Amigas Cuvée comprises 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay blend from grapes grown in Napa County. The cuvée is light and has the perfect amount of sweetness. It will be the ideal drink for upcoming family holiday celebrations, a night out with your amigas, or just a night in with your sweetie.
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Miriam and Lola love to create enjoyable, welcoming events for guests and host private, small-tasting events. If you would like to sample or purchase Las Amigas Cuvée, you can visit the Honrama Tasting room located at 22985 Burndale Road, Sonoma, CA 95474, or purchase online at Honrama Cellars and Llamas Family Wines.