How are you preparing for the holidays at the store?
We hope to do some in-store as well as virtual wine tastings during the holidays with some popular brands like Caymus, Silver Oak, Grgich Hills, and Far Niente. We're stocking up on special holiday wines such as Pinot Noir for Thanksgiving and Magnum bottles for holiday gifting. We're gearing up for our same-day and overnight Gift Delivery Service through our website.
Tell us about the awards OC Wine Mart has won this year.
We had a good run this year with awards. It started with "Small Business of the Month" for January by Aliso Viejo, "Small Business of the Year" for District 68 by Assemblyman Steven Choi, "Best Alcohol by the Taste of Orange," and "Best Wine Selection by LA Times OC Reader's Choice.” One that took me by surprise was being named "Woman of the Year" for the 46th District by Congressman Luis Correa.
What community outreach are you involved in?
We're very involved with other local business owners in Yorba Linda. We must stick together and help each other in order to survive. We show our gratitude to first responders such as Firefighters and Law Enforcement by offering them free breakfast burritos or sandwiches on special days.
What are you thankful for right now?
We're thankful for our family and our amazing team who have been troopers throughout this time. This year has been a great challenge for most businesses including ours. We're extremely grateful for the on-going support of our community. During the lock-down, they pivoted along with us as we moved to take-out, wine deliveries, and virtual tastings. It is only because of them that we are surviving the pandemic and are still in business today.
Julie Lim
"Woman of the Year"
Owner OC Wine Mart
"Small Business of the Year"