Melissa Monti Saunders MW, Communal Brands & Wine Queen

Role: CEO & Founder
Location: Craryville & NYC, NY

My Background:
I have been in the wine industry since 2005 and via a curvy path! The CliffNotes version is that I practiced law at a firm specializing in alcohol beverage regulation. This experience led to my following my passions, namely wine, business and sustainability (not in order of importance!). I started Communal Brands, a producer, importer and distributor of eco-conscious wines in 2009.

In 2021, I became a Master of Wine/Wine Queen (because that's how my children refer to the credential). I aim to use my knowledge and expertise to educate, raise awareness and bring to the market, wines with objectively high sustainability credentials. I focus on reducing packaging for wine because it holds the greatest potential for positive environmental impact.

My Top Three Challenges to Wellbeing:
Getting sufficient rest. Sufficient down time. And saying no to things!

I am divorced and my kids are with me the majority of the time. That makes my day 24/7 if I let that happen. Traveling frequently and contending with time zones also makes for very long days. In this business, we do have to be “on” a lot and this takes its toll on my battery.
As I am getting older (and wiser) I am learning that “No” is my best friend. Whether it’s no to a trip or an event or a meeting, it’s the only way to preserve my precious energy. I will always prioritize my children and I am learning that without “putting on my own oxygen mask” first, I am no good to anyone!

 My Three Things to Maintain Wellbeing:
Running. Bodywork (such as acupuncture, massage and reiki), and psychotherapy and business coaching.

1. I have been running since I was in my 20s. I found that it really does help to get me back on track. I find it very meditative! I try and run most days whenever I can, but it is most effective in the morning as it is a great way to kick start my day. I also think I was born with the trait of discipline. I was a competitive figure skater from the time I was 7 years old. I would train before and after school and set my own alarm so I could be at the rink by 5:30 am!

2. I love psychotherapy because it is an effective way to get to the root of many of the issues that are keeping me stuck. It’s been an effective tool for learning about myself and what makes me tick versus what I think I am supposed to be based on external conditioning. It comes down to being aligned with my true self. This may sound fluffy, but for me, this is pivotal to my well-being because knowing myself, what I love and what I don’t, and acting in accordance with this is where I find a true sense of inner peace.

3. My business coach is a great complement to my therapist. She is quite unique in that she refers to herself as a “quantum business coach.” She uses human design and astrology to really understand who her clients are. From there, we can better understand how to operate and engage with others in business as effectively as possible. For example, we recently had a team-building retreat and my coach conducted human design readings on everyone. It was fascinating! 

I want everyone on my team to be working where they feel most aligned. When we are aligned with who we truly are, we are in our genius and this is where magic happens. It’s also the key to avoiding burn out in my opinion. People don’t necessarily burn out because they are working too hard. More often than not, the burn out stems from being drained because we’re working out of alignment.

What I Drink When I'm Not Drinking Alcohol:
Coffee and water, preferably with bubbles.

What People May be Surprised to Know About Me:
My fascination with Tarot. It is another beautiful tool for cutting through all the bullshit. Reading tarot is a great way to tap into your own intuition, which can often get masked and buried by outside forces. I started by having Tarot done on me about five years ago and it really resonated. After time, I was drawn to certain decks and started to read for myself and recently others.
I always find that when I give myself the time and space to tap into my inner voice, the answers are always there. Spending some time with a deck helps me to surface this inner knowing, which is everything!

One Thing I'm Looking Forward To:
I always look forward to quality time with my kids. They keep things real!

My Weirdest Wellness Hack
Not having a wellness hack!?😂

What Inspires You?
Being totally honest, much of my inspiration has come from companies outside the wine industry. Why? Because in my experience, in wine, sustainability commitments have typically been fragmented and address a piece of the puzzle, but not the full picture in a way that has the most potential for positive impact. It is also a very traditional industry, and tradition and innovation do not always go hand in hand.
I have long admired Patagonia for its authentic commitment and I think they have set a very high bar across most consumer goods industries and so this is my benchmark. That said, we are an agricultural-based industry that is being directly impacted by the effects of climate change vintage after vintage. This is driving more radical, meaningful change and this is refreshing!

A Quote I Love:
”And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” -Anaïs Nin

You can connect with Melissa online at Instagram @melissamontisaunders and @communalbrands