We were lucky to catch up with Monique Griffin recently and have shared our conversation below.

Monique, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Any thoughts about whether to ask friends and family to support your business. What’s okay in your view?

Asking friends and family to support your business can be a nuanced topic. Personally, I believe it’s appropriate to let them know about your business and provide opportunities for support—whether that’s through word of mouth, attending events, or even making purchases. However, it’s also important to respect their boundaries and avoid making them feel obligated.

I draw the line at pressuring them to invest their money or time. While their support is meaningful, I prefer their involvement to come from genuine enthusiasm rather than a sense of duty. A good way to approach this is by simply sharing your passion for your work and inviting them to be part of your journey without any expectations.

My sister Angela partnering with me to create our wine brand was a defining moment that shaped how I view support from those closest to me. It wasn’t something I expected or asked for, but she stepped in without hesitation, even with her own busy life. Her enthusiasm reminded me that genuine support often comes naturally from the people who truly believe in you. Similarly, my friends have always shown up for me in different ways throughout my endeavors. I love when they’re excited and interested in the journey, but I also understand they have their own lives. Whenever they do show up, it’s always a joy to see them, and I never take their presence for granted.

On the flip side, I’ve also learned that not everyone in your circle will be able—or willing—to support you, and that’s okay. I once invited a friend to one of my wine tastings, but they didn’t show up. Initially, I felt hurt, but I realized later that their absence wasn’t personal. It taught me to focus on gratitude for those who do show up, rather than dwelling on those who don’t.

Ultimately, friends and family can be an incredible support system, but they shouldn’t carry the full weight of your success. Building a loyal customer base beyond your inner circle is where true growth happens.

Monique, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Monique, and I’m the co-owner of The Pour Up Wine Bar and wine brand alongside my sister, Angela. Our journey into the wine industry began during the pandemic. I’ve always spent time with friends over wine, snacks, and lively conversations. We’d laugh, we’d cry, play games and just have an overall good time. Those moments of connection inspired me to create something that brought people together in a similar way. I reached out to Angela, and together we built a wine brand that embodies our love of fun, community, conversation and good wine.

Our wine brand offers five distinct wines, including our award-winning Margarita Bubbly, which perfectly captures the refreshing essence of a margarita with effervescence. We also run The Pour Up Wine Bar, a cozy and inviting space located in downtown Antioch, Ca on the waterfront, where we focus on highlighting BIPOC & local wine brands.

What sets us apart is our commitment to creating a welcoming and joyful experience. Whether it’s through our wines, our wine bar, or the events we host, we strive to foster connection and conversation. We also prioritize supporting underserved winemakers by giving their wines a platform in Contra Costa County, to shine!

I’m most proud of the sense of community we’ve built through our work. It’s incredible to see people come together, share laughs, and create memories over a glass of wine. I want people to know that our brand is more than just wine—it’s about creating an experience, supporting small businesses, and making wine culture more inclusive and approachable.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Opening The Pour Up Wine Bar has been a journey filled with unexpected challenges, setbacks, and frustrations—plenty of moments where giving up might have seemed like the easier option. But each obstacle became an opportunity to show resilience and determination.

One particular moment stands out: after months of planning, we encountered issues with the space that delayed our opening and required creative problem-solving. It was frustrating, and there were days when it felt like progress was at a standstill. But instead of letting those challenges derail us, we took things one step at a time, found solutions, and stayed focused on the bigger picture.

That experience reinforced my belief in perseverance. It’s a reminder that even when the road gets tough, pushing forward and staying true to your vision can lead to something amazing. Now, as I welcome customers into the space, I’m proud of the journey it took to get here and the resilience it represents.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

Funding The Pour Up Wine Bar was a mix of determination, belief, and community support. When we first started looking at spaces, we had no capital at all. Thankfully, we connected with Working Solutions, a company that believed in our vision and provided us with a small loan to get started. On top of that, our family came through in incredible ways, stepping up to help us bring our dream to life.

Even with that initial support, keeping the business going remains a challenge to this day. Staying afloat is difficult, but we push through because this wine bar is more than just a business—it’s our passion. We created this space to connect the community, to bring people together to laugh, smile, and enjoy life, even if just for a moment. In a world full of chaos and stress, we want The Pour Up to be that “ahh” moment where people can relax and recharge. That’s what drives us to keep going, even when the road feels tough.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepourupwinebar.com
• Instagram: https://Instagram.com/Thepourupwinebar
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555903914812&mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr