Sarah Pierre, 3 Parks Wine Shop

Title: Owner

Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Years in Industry:
I have been in the food and wine industry for 23 years. I started working in a restaurant in high school on the weekends and continued to do the same while I was in college. I have always had an obsession with food, but what I realized early on while working in restaurants, was that I also had the gift of gab. I was able to talk to any and everyone, and I really enjoyed it. I loved sharing stories with guests, meeting new people, and learning about food. Promptly after graduating from Georgia State University, I did what many college grads do - I backpacked across Europe. I was fortunate enough to do this because I worked in restaurants. My last semester in college was an unpaid internship, with a class that only met once a week. This allowed me to work a few doubles a week in one of Atlanta’s hottest restaurants at the time. I saved every penny I made in order to cover the cost of the trip, my one bedroom apartment, and 4 month’s worth of bills. Navigating that continent with a Rick Steves book on Europe and a few mapquest printouts, I was convinced that the only way to true happiness was to experience the world.

Fast forward through many more trips to Europe, a move to NYC, and a brief stint at one of Danny Meyer’s restaurants, I ended up back in Atlanta managing a fine dining restaurant that left me with the confidence I needed to know I could do anything I wanted to do in the hospitality industry. 3 Parks Wine Shop was established in 2013 and the rest was history.

My Top Three Challenges to Wellness:

1. My number one challenge is time management. I am the QUEEN of overcommitment. While I wish the underlying cause of this challenge was the inability to say no, sadly that’s not the case. I say no to many opportunities and events, but still find myself with more committed hours than in the days of the week. I have yet to master blocking off the appropriate amount of time on the calendar needed to work and rest. Overcommitting means overworking. There is nothing glamorous about overworking, even if it’s three wine dinners in one week, it’s still work.

2. Three wine dinners in one week, one or two social engagements with friends, and an evening at home with a nice bottle of wine all sounds like a booze filled week. That’s because it is. Drinking wine as frequently as we do is an occupational hazard. It’s one that has to be personally monitored and controlled. Professionals in the alcohol industry have to be very cognizant of their consumption, myself included. Our work hard/play hard behavior can be a bit frightening at times. It is common practice for a sommelier to have gone to a dinner party of 6 the night before and post a photo of the 14 bottles of aged barolo and grand cru burgundy consumed as if that’s something to brag about. It’s dangerous and it’s toxic, but it consistently gets applauded. I’m definitely guilty of this. Can you imagine owning a wine store?

3. Whew. Wine, being the “luxury” product that it is, gets a pass when it comes to overconsumption. And don’t get me started on natural wine (which is what I primarily sell)…because now, under the guise of “clean wine” you can drink copious amounts of zero intervention wine headache free. I don’t spend enough time with friends and loved ones. This will change soon as I’m working on prioritizing more me-time. Consistent me time.

How I Keep It Together to Stay Well:
I workout consistently to keep myself healthy and level headed. I’ve always been athletic and prioritized working out, but it wasn't until about 9 years ago that I made it a lifestyle. It’s who I am now. Love is a strong word when talking about working out, but it’s safe to say that I pretty much love it. Lol. It’s part of my almost-daily routine and I wouldn’t have it any other way. It also keeps me from staying out late or drinking more than I should. I’m an early riser, and I always start my day with a good sweat. Anything from running on the Atlanta Beltline and Peloton cycling, to strength training, HIIT, and a nice long walk listening to a podcast. To be quite honest, while I do spend much of my time focusing on my business and the community, I’ll always put self-care at the top of the list. In order to run a business, manage people, and have any sort of a social life, it’s important I put my life vest on first.

I still travel as much as possible, which brings me the same pure happiness now as it did in college. Additionally, I use my faith to keep me centered. Knowing that there is a big future ahead for me keeps me motivated and energized to maintain my wellbeing.

What Inspires Me:
Women leaders. Other entrepreneurs. Thought leaders. Community builders. People doing good to help others.

A Quote I Love:
“You can never be overdressed or overeducated” - Oscar Wilde

You can connect with Sarah on Instagram at @sarahpierre1 and @3parkswine on Facebook and online at www.3parkswine.com