Today’s woman is busy. And all too often, her work goes unrecognized — from cooking dinner, to helping the kids with homework. Enter The Sisters Wine Co., created to raise a glass to these daily contributions. We sat down with Marketing Director Belinda Jackson to hear about the brand’s upcoming U.S. debut, and how it is redefining success for women.
THE VISION
“The Sisters is about celebrating the small stuff,” says Jackson. “Because at the end of the day, it’s not small.” It’s this desire to recognize the full scope of women’s achievements that sets The Sisters apart. It’s not a wine that’s trying to be political or start a feminist movement. It’s simply here to shed light on the fact that women are accomplishing much more than we give them credit for.
The Sisters also strives to serve as a reminder for women to take a breather, and reconnect with one another. “There’s so much pressure to do more, raise the kids, etc., and at the end of the day, it’s your girlfriends that end up further down the list,” Jackson says.
Women have embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly. They’ve taken to social media to share their celebrations with The Sisters, which range from soaking in the bath after a long day at work to celebrating new business ventures.
THE IMPACT
In addition to shifting the societal mindset, The Sisters works to support women in the local community. It is the official sponsor of The Sisters Marlborough Women’s Triathlon, New Zealand’s longest running women’s triathlon. It is also an ardent supporter of Dress for Success, which provides attire and resources to help women in their careers. In the long term, Jackson hopes for The Sisters to be an even bigger donor to womens’ causes. “We’re a team of just 15 people with lots of passion,” says Jackson.
THE WINE
Of course, The Sisters isn’t just a mantra — it’s also a delicious wine. We had the opportunity to experience The Sisters Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris. Winemaker Rebecca Wiffen has crafted the wines to be classic expressions of both the varietals and their terroir. All of the wines are sourced from vineyards in the Wairau, Awatere, and Waihopai Valleys of Marlborough, New Zealand.
The Sauvignon Blanc was wonderfully refreshing, with bright flavors of passion fruit, grapefruit zest, and lemongrass. The Pinot Gris was slightly off-dry, brimming with lovely aromatics of juicy yellow peach, guava, and a hint of nutmeg.
In the spirit of The Sisters, we enjoyed each wine over a meal with loved ones. The Sauvignon Blanc took our weeknight taco bowl to the next level, adding snappy acidity to the fresh flavors of cilantro, corn, and avocado.
As the Pinot Gris was slightly off dry, we found it perfect with the Cajun spices of a chicken and andouille sausage jambalaya. The slight sweetness of the wine stood up well to the heat of the dish, while its supple weightiness matched the creamy, slow-simmered texture of the rice.
Jackson recommends The Sisters Rosé with charcuterie, and the The Sisters Sauvignon Blanc with shellfish, fresh herbs and lemon. As a whole, the wines are very versatile and are also entirely drinkable on their own.
With its plans for more philanthropy and varietals, we’re excited to see the impact The Sisters will make in the U.S. Bubbly fans will be excited to know that there may even be a sparkling wine in the future. The wine is now available in retail stores in New York and New Jersey, and will be expanding nationwide shortly. Learn more at thesisterswine.co.nz.