Meet The Founders of Mela
Mela is a wine brand founded on friendship and the desire to diversify the white, male–dominated wine industry.
From left: Mela founders Chelsea Walden and Erica Estrada. Photography by Aubrie Pick; Styling by Bianca Sotelo; Wardrobe by Laura Hollabaugh; Location: The Bungalow Kitchen
A lot can happen at book club. Especially when there’s wine involved.
When best friends and book-club attendees Erica Estrada, Ryann Casey, Chelsea Walden, and Kyndal Easter settled in one March 2021 evening with their latest read and a glass of their favorite libation, however, they realized that they had more than literature to discuss.
“We decided to do a virtual wine club tasting we had heard about,” Chelsea starts. “We were drinking the wine and we were expecting it to be better than it was … I don’t know who said it, but we were like, we can do this. Why don’t we make our own wine?”
What started as a playful idea turned into a deeper conversation — fueled by their second glass, Ryann laughs.
It was Kyndal who finally stated that developing their own wine brand was something the close-knit group of friends was capable of.
“Everyone got quiet for a second,” Chelsea continues.
A series of texts and calls followed over the course of several weeks, and a business strategy was formulated. The result? The four are now the co-founders of Mela, their very own wine brand based out of Napa Valley.
“We did it,” Chelsea says. “ A year later, we got to our goal somehow.”
Photography by Aubrie Pick; Styling by Bianca Sotelo; Location: The Bungalow Kitchen
But the road from book club to Mela’s May 2022 launch wasn’t necessarily an easy one.
“The Mela team has made it a point to celebrate all of the wins, both large and high,” Erica says. “We’d be remiss if we didn’t discuss the challenges or trials, as well! There have been a lot of learning curves and we’ll continue to have them.”
The first challenge came from each of the co-founders having a successful and demanding career outside of the wine industry. Erica is a luxury event planner, Kyndal is a school principal, Chelsea is a physical therapist, and Ryann is a criminal defense attorney. Outside of work, there are family and personal lives to balance, as well.
Where would running a new business on top of deepening their understanding and appreciation of wine fit in?
After weeks of business talk following book club, the four friends found themselves face to face for a yearly trip they refer to as their retreat. When it came to discussing the future of their company — entrepreneurs, take note — they temporarily put number-crunching and ideating to the side to focus on their friendship.
“We had this really beautiful night where we talked about how entering a business together can be very taxing, especially when it’s with friends,” Ryann explains. “And so we recognized that. But we did this little exercise where we complimented each other. We went around, and each person said to the other one thing you really appreciated about that person.”
Why did they prioritize their connection with one another first?
“We wanted to work on making sure that the foundation of our friendship was primary,” Ryann concludes. “ And then we were like, let’s build a business.”
Photography by Aubrie Pick; Styling by Bianca Sotelo; Wardrobe by Laura Hollabaugh; Location: The Bungalow Kitchen
“We wanted to work on making sure that the foundation of our friendship was primary. And then we were like, let’s build a business.”
- Ryann Casey
“The very origin of our brand began because of our efforts to stay connected during a time in our world where we were forced to isolate and quarantine. It was wine that kept us close — to check in, to laugh, to cry, to heal,” says Kyndal.
Taking the time to connect is at the heart of everything Mela stands for. The name itself is short for “melanin.” The group says that it “honors our shades of brown.” They also point out that in other languages, including Sanskit and Hebrew, “Mela” means “to gather” and “to be full.”
The co-founders know a thing or two about gathering. They met freshman year at the University of Southern California — the first day of school according to some, the second day according to others in a debate that’s gone on for years. Each describes becoming uniquely close from the start.
“From riding our beach cruisers around campus, attending every home football game and late night study sessions paired with takeout from our favorite Thai food spot, we were inseparable,” Kyndal says.
When hanging out together on a daily basis just wasn’t enough, they moved in with one another.
“Senior year, we all decided to live downtown together,” Chelsea recalls. “And we got an apartment for the four of us even though we could barely afford it. We were like, we’ll get a two-bedroom apartment and squeeze four of us into it. We somehow made it work.”
Making it work side-by-side was an ongoing theme throughout their studies. But when graduation came around, like so many college friends, they went different directions. Their busy careers and moves to different cities naturally affected their ability to spend as much time with one another. Nonetheless, they maintained their bond.
“Prior to 2020, we would plan trips throughout the year to stay connected,” Erica explains.
When COVID-19 entered the picture, it completely changed the pace.
“When all of that came to a screeching halt during the pandemic, we agreed to pick up our book club again and read primarily Black, female authors,” Erica says. “During our weekly meetings to discuss the book and catch up on life, we’d often have a glass of wine and a meal inspired by something relating to the book.”
The rest is now history. And the rekindled closeness they discovered is something they want everyone to experience.
“It was during a walk down memory lane on Zoom, between sips of cabernet and fits of laughter, that we realized the act of friends coming together should always be paired with a good glass of wine to drink and toast to. It was then that Mela was born,” says Kyndal.
Mela founders Ryann Casey, Chelsea Walden (in blue), Erica Estrada (in white) and Kyndal Easter. Photography by Aubrie Pick; Wardrobe by Laura Hollabaugh; Location: The Bungalow Kitchen
Beyond leisurely gatherings, however, there is a driving force that pushes the group to learn, work hard, and excel — no surprise from a group of such successful individuals.
“One of our missions is this emphasis on being able to follow your passions,” Ryann states.”What’s also important to us is encouraging people to not put their passions and things that they want to do outside of their natural careers behind them.”
Pursuing a passion outside of their regular 9-to-5 has come with occasional words of criticism, however.
“It’s interesting to hear people's assumptions when they hear we have started a wine label. Some make us laugh, while others sting,” Erica says. “We use any discouraging conversations or opinions to fuel our passion to succeed.”
“There’s really not that many women-owned, Black-owned, women-of-color-owned wine brands. You just don’t see it as often. So we were like, maybe there’s a space for us and maybe we can build on that as well.”
-Chelsea Walden
“Wine wasn’t the background that we started with,” Chelsea confirms. “We want to keep learning more, especially as we expand our product.”
Part of the learning curve was coming up with Mela’s first blends. This required keeping an open mind and testing wines that they hadn’t originally gravitated towards (loving Zinfandel was the biggest surprise). After sitting down and tasting through varietals, they struck the perfect balance with the brand’s first two vintages: California White and California Red.
“The red blend is composed of four varietals: Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Malbec, and Syrah,” Erica explains. She describes the medium-to-full bodied red’s flavor as a mixture of red and black fruits, toasted vanilla, and spice.
Photography by Aubrie Pick; Styling by Anna I Raben
“The white blend is composed of five varietals: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Grigio, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier, and Riesling,” she continues. This light blend with a dry finish tastes of apples, peaches, and juicy pears.
After their launch, Mela received excellent ratings from The Tasting Panel. Their California White came in at 93, while the California Red scored a 90 and was listed as one of the Publisher’s Picks.
As each friend has different dietary restrictions — some are meat eaters, others abstain — it was important to create wines that would pair with everything from cheese boards and vegetable pasta to grilled salmon and roasted chicken.
Deciding on their first blends and building upon their wine knowledge has been a challenge they all seem ready and willing to take on. But so is under-representation. As Black women in what is still considered a predominantly white, male-driven industry, they realized early on that, as Ryann puts it “... we’re drinking the wine. But we’re not making the wine. And we’re not selling the wine.”
“There’s really not that many women-owned, Black-owned, women-of-color-owned wine brands,” Chelsea says. “You just don’t see it as often. So we were like, maybe there’s a space for us and maybe we can build on that as well.”
After researching which producers they wanted to work with, they met Napa-Valley-based winemakers who recognized the problem of under-representation and were excited to be a part of much-needed industry change. Creating a relationship with such professionals was key, Kyndal points out.
“As four black women new to the wine industry, we have experienced firsthand how instrumental it is to build connections and relationships in order to make a name for ourselves and ultimately have a seat at the table,” she says.
Photography by Aubrie Pick; Styling by Bianca Sotelo; Location: The Bungalow Kitchen
“They say people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. There’s no question
that the women I have had the privilege of
calling friends, now turned business
partners, are for life.”
-Kyndal Easter
Partnering with experts in the field as well as working with financial and legal professionals familiar with the food and wine industry has been a boon to the group over the past year. Utilizing their own resources — the group is proudly self-funded — and calling on the connections they have made in the professional realm have also been vital. But their unique personalities and natural talents are what brought Mela to life.
The friends point out Chelsea’s calm demeanor, ability to identify long-term goals with actionable steps, and her love of learning; Erica’s eye for details and beauty, as well as her natural ability to connect people and manage large teams; Ryann’s legal expertise, courageous spirit, critical eye and drive to succeed; and Kyndal’s rapport in the education community, as well as her stellar leadership and communication skills. These are the qualities that have contributed to Mela’s successful start.
Now that they have the launch behind them, is there any time to sit back and rest?
“I think that’s what we’re working on,” Ryann laughs, explaining that the group has to be careful to set agendas for their business meetings before they turn into late-night, hours-long conversations.
If any group of women can strike the perfect balance, though, it’s this one.
“They say people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. There’s no question that the women I have had the privilege of calling friends, now turned business partners, are for life,” Kyndal says.
Cheers to that.
Photography by Aubrie Pick; Styling by Bianca Sotelo; Wardrobe by Laura Hollabaugh; Location: The Bungalow Kitchen
ACTION STEP
The founders of Mela would love for you to learn about and support is the Association of African American Vintners. “The Association of African American Vintners is a 501(c)(6) non-profit founded in 2002 to provide a support network for African American vintners and wine industry professionals, ensure the availability of wine education, and access to career enhancement opportunities, while bringing wine country lifestyles and fine wine to consumers.” Celebrating their 20th year of existence, the Mela team has already felt the support and camaraderie from its members.
Thank you to the generous creative team behind this project: Kimberly Zerkel (writing), Aubrie Pick (photography), Laura Hollabaugh (wardrobe styling), Timothy Evans (photography assist), Bianca Sotelo (prop styling), Anna I Raben (prop styling), Ashley Bias (make-up), The Bungalow Kitchen (location), Blue Ceiling (prop rental)