Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashley Robles.
Hi Ashley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I started exploring wine after I graduated from college (Go ‘Canes!) and quickly became infatuated with it. I started out drinking sweet whites and ‘upgraded my grapes’ to the driest of reds I could find.
Fast forward a few years down the road, and I discovered Traveling Vineyard; a direct sales company for, get this, WINE. I thought it was magical and was a faithful wine guide for about 2 years. I loved the idea of getting a discount for wines and getting paid to share wine with people. But I eventually outgrew the setup and wanted to expand my wine world beyond the ‘only available online’ wines. There’s something about being able to go to a wine store and physically walk the aisles to browse. It could just be me, but I get a weird high from it.
Now, I continue to post about the wines I’m drinking and help people make decisions about what wines they should try or gift. I’ve met a lot of cool people in the IG wine world who I actually consider a friend ( shout out @TrillWineWife and @VinylsAndVinos ). On top of that, I’ve combined my love of wine with my first love, music, and have started the process of opening a wine and music lounge/bar called NOTES!
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?
In the social aspect of Instagram, there were definitely struggles in fighting the stereotypes and algorithms! The Black wine community has been approached by wine companies who want to offer us free wine to post in our stories and feed about their wine. Those same companies have paid out actual money to non-Black, mainly White, influencers instead. When comparing apples to apples, the engagement that I had on my page largely outweighed those getting the paid opportunities. So, I took a step back and got tired of playing the social media game. Now, you’ll see a mix of wine and life posts on my feed. I like it better that way.
And there are definitely struggles with opening up Notes! Finding the right location, the funding, the permits and the restrictions; there is a lot to handle. But I’m taking my time and doing it correctly; my way. I look forward to sharing more updates about Notes as things progress!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
As Notes comes to life, I want people to understand the thought and passion behind it. I chose the name Notes because it relates to wine notes and music notes (so punny, I know).
I’m going to blend wine and music into this absolutely chill and inviting atmosphere. Any level of wine drinker can walk in and have a great time. I’ll have some wines I created, some insanely affordable bottles, and a few top-tier bottles for my bougie boos. Notes is more than just a bar or just a lounge. It’s an atmosphere; it’s a vibe. It’s the kind of place where you arrive at 11am and don’t leave until 11pm. Or come for a lunch, or stop by for a late date night since you finally got a babysitter for once! Have some beer, have some wine, munch on a charcuterie board. I’ll have live music when I can, but I’ll ALWAYS have music playing in some shape or form. Karaoke nights will definitely be a thing. Notes isn’t your typical upscale and reserved wine bar. And I’m proud of that and hope people realize they don’t have to be shy or timid to come in for a glass of wine.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Oof, favorite childhood memory, let’s see…pretty much anytime my whole family gets together, it’s a memory. My family is from Louisiana, so I remember taking rides out there all the time. But a specific memory I have that makes me laugh is when we went to Disneyworld one summer, and my birthday was during our stay there. My mom couldn’t make the trip, but we still went. They sang happy birthday to me, and I blew out the candles. And right after, I remember someone telling me someone was at the door. I got SO excited, I thought it was my mom! Nope, everyone was in on the joke and played a trick on me!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ashleythewinosaur.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/ashleythewinosaur
