It begins the way every great holiday story should, with family, tradition, and a glass of Bonita Bonita in hand.
Talking to Brie Garcia feels like catching up with an old friend over vino. The former WWE superstar turned winemaker and mom radiates warmth, wit, and effortless sparkle.
Together with her twin sister and BFF Nikki, Brie has lived a life big enough for its own franchise; wrestling fame, reality TV stardom, bestselling author status, and now, Bonita Bonita Wines. Their latest chapter is a toast to sisterhood, reinvention, and savoring the good stuff.
“We're always be Arizona girls at heart,” says Brie.
Brie and Nikki's stories may unfold in Napa now, but when they talk about the Valley, it's as if they're describing an old friend.
“We live in Northern California now, but nothing compares to the smell of desert rain.”
Brie and Nikki grew up in Scottsdale, where the sunsets painted the desert gold and the community felt like one big neighborhood.
“Phoenix has changed so much, but it still feels small to me.”
Their mother and brother still live here, giving the sisters every reason to return home often.
“It’s always a fun excuse to go back home. We’ve been doing many wine events, and anytime someone calls and asks if I can have dinner in Arizona, I don’t even need to know the details. I just say yes," says Brie.
During the pandemic, Brie and Nikki found themselves side by side again, living next door to each other in Arcadia. Both were pregnant. Both were baking bread. Both were searching for what came next.
“We had these companies but didn’t live near any of them. We wanted to be hands-on. Napa just made sense.”
The move turned out to be more than a business decision. It became a turning point.
“Napa is lovely; it’s a warm and wonderful community.”
It’s that same warmth and togetherness that the sisters carry into the holidays.
"Christmas is not what's under the tree, but who’s sitting at the table.”
Brie's voice lifts when she talks about her favorite family tradition.
“When I was a little girl, my grandparents started this tradition called the 'Drummer Boy Dinner.' It was magical. They would set this long table covered in my grandmother’s best china, crystal glasses, and the most beautiful centerpiece. For one night, all the grandkids sat at the adult table and the adults sat where we usually did. It was the only time of year we were treated like grown-ups.”
She pauses, remembering the smell of her grandmother’s spaghetti sauce filling the house.
“Right before dinner, we’d line up from youngest to oldest and follow my grandfather through the house as he led us to each nativity scene. The Drummer Boy led the parade. We’d march and sing and laugh.”
Now, Brie keeps that magic alive for her own family.
“I host it every year. Nikki, my mom, my brother, and our kids all get in line for the Drummer Boy march. I make my grandmother’s spaghetti sauce and meatballs, and we recreate that same table. It’s my favorite.”
Her voice lingers on the memory.
“It’s not about what’s wrapped. It’s about who’s present.”
And the best gift? Sisterhood.
“Always,” she says when asked if she and Nikki were best friends growing up. “We were typical sisters. We fought, but we were inseparable. We played soccer for the Sereno Golden Eagles and were super athletic, but we also loved to perform. When our parents had parties, we’d beg to perform at intermission. We’d dress up as the Spice Girls. I was Posh, Nikki was Sporty. We’d lip sync and dance. No one was surprised when we became wrestlers. It was the perfect mix of athleticism and entertainment.”
She reflects on the adrenaline of those early years.
“WrestleMania was my favorite match. It’s the grandest stage of all. But if I could go back, I’d do it differently. We played too much by the rules back then. There were moves we wanted to do that they told us not to, and I wish we’d said, no, we’re doing it.”
Her laugh is unguarded.
“As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that you have to listen to your instincts and not worry about what people think. That’s the beauty of turning forty. You stop caring about outside opinions. It’s freeing.”
When the topic turns to reality television, her answer is immediate.
“Getting married on reality television… I never thought I’d do that. The best part was showcasing magical Sedona to the world. And being part of Total Divas created a bond that still exists today.”
Brie's life now looks different, but it’s just as full.
“I’m a hands-on mom. I shuffle them to-and-from school and coach their sports. I want them to remember that mom was always there. I want them to have a normal, grounded childhood.”
Her eyes brighten when she talks about Bonita Bonita, the wine brand that has become both her creative outlet and next chapter.
“It’s been such a big year. We’re back in Total Wine and More, and we’re coming to Arizona soon. Restaurants all over are calling. It’s surreal and exactly where Nikki and I dreamed we’d be.”
The Bonita Bonita tasting room in downtown Napa has become her second home, part European speakeasy, part family scrapbook. It also made the perfect backdrop for their PVCL cover-shoot.
“When people walk into our tasting room, it's an escape. We designed it cozy and full of heart, with photos of our family on the walls.”
She laughs when asked what she pairs wine with.
“I’m a cheese board girl, but I had to go gluten-free and dairy-free because of allergies. So now I do pickles, crackers, different spreads, and sliced meats. I still make boards though. During the holidays, I’ll add sugared cranberries, rosemary sprigs, and little touches of red and green. I love hosting.”
As the conversation turns toward what’s next, Brie lights up with excitement.
“We’re big on vision boards… we do one every year. Bonita Bonita is growing, and personally, I’ve been working on a YouTube series called 'Hi, My Name Is Brie' about gardening and my passions. I keep hoping the Magnolia Network will call me… I even DMed Joanna Gaines. No response yet.”
She smiles again.
“Nikki and I also want to get back into hosting. There’s potential talk of a new reality project, the right kind of one. Stay tuned.”
As the conversation winds down, Brie’s excitement for what’s next turns tender. Talk of new shows and future dreams gives way to memories that anchor her, and the people and traditions that remind her what matters most.
“My grandmother passed away recently at 92. She was the kindest human. She taught me compassion, love, and grace, even when people didn’t deserve it. She lived through so much and still saw the best in everyone. I talked to her every other day. It’s been hard losing that, but I try to carry her lessons in everything I do. Every year when I set the table for the Drummer Boy Dinner, I think of her. Her presence is everywhere.”
When asked if there is anything the world doesn’t know about her, Brie laughs.
“What you see is who I am. I think that’s why people have stayed with Nikki and me all these years, through wrestling, reality TV, the podcast, and now wine. We’ve never pretended to be anyone else.”
Her favorite Christmas movie is Elf. Her favorite holiday song is Canon in D.
“It gives me chills every time.”
And just like that, the story ends the way it began, with warmth, gratitude, and a glass of Bonita Bonita. A reminder that the best stories, like the best holidays, are the ones poured from the heart.
"Christmas is about connection. Not what’s under the tree, but who’s at the table.”