There’s a lot more to a successful wine business than just growing grapes! Monica Bourgeois and Neal Gernon are experts on that topic. The two wine lovers met while working in the New Orleans hospitality industry.They gained retail experience managing bottle shops before transitioning to wholesale wine distribution, making great California vineyard friends along the way.Together, Monica and Neal identified a void in the wine business. They began to imagine a way to combine special blends, artistic and fun packaging and what they call “great juice at reasonable prices” – which is how Vending Machine Wines was born over a decade ago.When these two locals learned that Louisiana’s only premiere winery, Pontchartrain Vineyards was for sale, their ambition grew. Wandering along St. Tammany Parish roads, we spotted the Wild Bush sign and stopped in for a visit. It was such fun we continued the conversation later in our Louisiana Eats studio resulting in this Tammany Taste Quick Bite! While on the Northshore, stop in for a visit at the Wild Bush Tasting Room just off Hwy 1082 in Bush, Louisiana. The tasting room is open Thursday thru Sunday noon till 4 pm. And don’t miss Jazz in the Vines happening annually in both spring and fall.

To learn more about special offerings and events at the vineyard, visit their website wildbushfarmandvineyard.com.

Big thanks to our sponsor, the St Tammany Parish Tourist Commission.Stay, play, and get away on the Louisiana Northshore! Discover the bounty of the bayou and rich culture from award-winning chefs, soulful mom and pop restaurants, extraordinary bakers, and creative mixologists. Request the FREE Explore the Northshore Visitor Guide today for inspirational stories, custom itineraries, and event information at LouisianaNorthshore.com/Guide

This podcast was produced by Blake Longlanais for Poppy Tooker Broadcasting.