Meet Gina Cesario | Wine Shop Owner

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gina Cesario and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gina, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I had been a wine buyer and bar manager for four years. I started doing wine pairing dinners from the start and they became very popular. My customers were interested in the wine and I began to sell it directly to them after each wine dinner. My email list grew and after four years building a little following, I realized we need a local wine shop where people can come and taste and ask questions. There are big chain wine shops, but even for me they are intimidating. So, I saw the need and began to prepare to open a retail shop with weekend tastings. It has been extremely well received and even during the difficult times of being a small business owner, I lean on my original concept of bringing wine to the people. Helping them feel like wine knowledge is attainable and making them feel welcome.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Modern Cellar was born out of necessity and passion. There was a need for a small, local shop that can facilitate the wine buying experience to be enjoyable and less intimidating. What makes Modern Cellar different is, there are no quotas to meet, there are no sales teams pressuring you to buy, no hidden agendas, or goals to meet. We simply supply you with quality wine, covering all price points. Everything has been tasted and hand selected to fit a need for the store; making the store well-rounded. The approach is to be inclusive and bring wine to the novice and connoisseur alike. It was not easy to open a retail store during covid. Materials were very expensive and hard to get, along with labor and quality workers. My contractor bailed on me without finishing the job, we were month’s behind schedule. It was extremely stressful and at times I wanted to quit. I would go back to my mission statement and remember my purpose. My father helped to finish the work the contractors left behind, and I officially opened January 2022. The lesson from all that hardship was to not give up and to have faith in your purpose.
Modern Cellar has become a place to find new wines, explore new regions, or simply get your Napa Valley fix. It’s a shop where everyone remembers you, where you can sip on an espresso while you walk the aisles, look at art, create a charcuterie board of handcrafted foods, or simply grab and go!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being born and raised in Orange County, I would have to say the beach is the first thing that comes to mind. I would start the day at a local breakfast shop, near Disneyland in Anaheim, called Atticus Cafe. It’s a pure reflection of So-Cal cuisine, fresh, delicious, and tastes like home. Then I would go get a margarita at Ola in Huntington Beach, then walk on main street for some shopping, and a walk on the pier. I would get a coffee at the HSS Surf Shop, the one with honey and espresso. I would drive along the coast to laguna and shop at the artistic stores and make my way back to Cypress for an Italian meal at Dominic’s Ristorante Italiano, hoping it’s a night with live music and homemade tiramisu!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents are the biggest reason I have been able to follow my dreams. They opened an Italian restaurant when I was a young child. I watched the dedication, commitment and hard work on a daily basis. My mother has an entrepreneurial mentality and spirit. She is a risk taker and dreams big. My father, is a worker and loyal as can be. He can fix, build, create, and invent tangible things. Between the two of them, I was born to see and believe that the world has so much to offer, if you allow yourself to believe. Growing up in the city of Cypress, and around the restaurant, I have built life long relationships with residents, city council members, law enforcement and employees. I have a huge support system behind me, and without that, I do not think I would have the bravery to start my own business. I am extremely thankful and I believe that essence exudes out of my small business.

Website: www.moderncellarwine.com

Instagram: modern.cellar

Yelp: Modern Cellar, Cypress

Other: phone number (714) 669-1138 email: hello@moderncellarwine.com