Exploring Life & Business with Amy Atwood of Amy Atwood Selections

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Atwood.

Hi Amy, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I started out in the beverage business working as a bartender in Australia. After many years working various roles in hospitality, wine became my primary interest so I shifted to working for a wine wholesaler, once I returned to the U.S. in 2002.
I started Amy Atwood Selections in 2009 because I wanted to work with wines I love and winemakers I respect.
We are a California based importer and wholesaler. After many years of working for other wine wholesalers and importers, my focus had shifted towards smaller production wineries, making wines more naturally. This means organic or sustainable farming, and little to zero intervention in the winery. And most importantly, the wines have to bring joy and be delicious to drink

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Some years have been smoother than others! In the beginning, like most small businesses, I did everything myself.
Also, I do not come from family money, nor could I get a bank loan, so money was very tight and I had to hustle hard every single day.
And in 2009, natural wine was not well-known, even in the wine trade, so there was quite a bit of education to be done, as well as overcoming misunderstandings about what natural wine even meant.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Amy Atwood Selections?
We are a California based wine importer and wholesaler, established in 2009.
My focus was always natural wine from day one. And that continues to be true. However, over the years, I became very interested in supporting not just the wines, but also finding winemakers whose beliefs are aligned.
So we have a significant selection of women, LGBTQ and BIPOC wienmakers in our portfolio.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
The biggest risk was starting the company at all. Since it was on a very tight budget and I had no backup financial source.
And focusing on natural wine, at a time when it was not understood or widely accepted.
So yes, risk taking is part of opening your own business, within reason.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amyatwood.com
• Instagram: amyatwoodselections