Q&A With the Rosé Water Team
A couple weeks ago I had the chance to get connected with a team member from Rosé Water, which is an awesome brand with a great product that I’m current obsessed with! It only has two ingredients: rosé and sparkling water…and it’s SO good! I also had my dad and fiancé try it and they both loved it, so it’s not another girly drink, it’s just a good drink! Also, how genius to mix wine and sparking water together, those are literally 2 of my favorite go to refreshments.
I sent the team some questions to share more about the brand with you guys, and honestly for my own benefit because I am always fascinated by success stories from independent, hard-working folks in this industry! It’s such an inspirational story about staying true to your vision, check it out:
How did Rosé Wine Water get started?
According to co-founder, Amy Kuchar, “It all started one day at the pool. We packed our cooler with sparkling water and a few bottles of our favorite rosé. We started blending the two right there, poolside. The result was light, refreshing, low-alcohol, low-calorie, and it tasted great!”
What was the biggest challenge in getting started?
In the very early stages of developing Rosé Water, there was some dissension in the sales channel that it needed additional ingredients (i.e. - added fruit flavors) to make it more appealing to consumers. We never bought into that, decided to keep it simple and pure, and launched it anyway. The results have clearly spoken for themselves - simple is better.
How did the founders (or overall team) learn about wine, product development and distribution at the beginning of the journey?
The husband and wife founders had no initial intention of getting into the global wine import and brand creation business but Rob Kuchar (co-founder) essentially got started while working for a local Budweiser distributor, almost 22 years ago. One thing led to another and a few years later, during a business trip that allowed him to tour the vineyards of California, he realized that it was the folks in the fields, wearing flannel shirts and getting their hands dirty, that were the most important people in what many consider a high-brow or uppity industry. Those were the ones he wanted to work for, helping them get the fruits of their craft to market. Fifteen brands and over fifty different labels later, it is safe to say the rest is history.
What would you say is Rosé Water’s biggest differentiator? Definitely its simplicity. Rosé Water contains two ingredients, wine and water, literally nothing else. No aded flavors or mysto-booze like you find in canned seltzers, no sugar like you find in standard, bottled wines. And it's non-GMO, vegan, gluten free and has very low sulfites. Clean, simple, and incredibly refreshing.
What’s unique about the wine industry/audience in Virginia? Virginia is a unique wine market unto itself because there are so many wine enthusiasts. And we’re not talking wine snobs but people that seem more interested in trying products that push the boundaries a bit. There are some outstanding wineries in Virginia, which also helps fuel the open-mindedness, but from the mountains to the coast it seems to be a market that appreciates innovation. We couldn’t be happier to have established a strong distribution footprint and retail availability there.
What is your advice for someone wanting to start a business in the wine/cocktail industry? Whether you are making wine or developing brands, always explore, learn, listen, and try everything. Don’t get caught up in the ego of the industry or your own head, and be willing to zig when all the others are zagging. Create strong relationships and always do right by those that help you along the way because nobody can do it alone. It’s a fascinating business and full of fascinating people, so have fun, be smart, be kind, and you will succeed.
What is next for Rosé Water in the next few days/months/years? Surprise! Wine Water Sauvignon Blanc is slowing being rolled out to select markets. It'll have the same standard features of Rosé Water like 4.9% alcohol, 69 calories, zero sugar, and will only contain two ingredients, but it appeals to the white wine drinker. We also have plans to expand the Wine Water category to include Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay varietals in the very near future. Stay tuned!