Brand Copy
Serre Vineyards Brand Copy
Serre is a wedding venue and tasting room in Mount Airy, NC. Founded by a husband and wife with a love for NC wine and bringing people together, Serre was created by two people who had loved and lost, and never knew if they could fall head over heels again. But they found and fell for each other. Melissa and Christian’s story is so special, but they weren’t quite sure how to tell it. My task was to get to the heart of the story — to the hearts of Melissa and Christian — to identify the most inspiring parts and give them the words to articulate their passion, their mission, and their love of celebration with the world. I wrote their core brand copy and also had the utterly delightful job of writing Serre’s wine label copy.
Here's what I wrote:
MANIFESTO
We believe life is meant to be celebrated together. Because life is short.
We believe in experiences that inspire and delight. Moments you’ll share with your grandchildren.
We believe in family. The family we’re born into, and the family we choose.
We believe in fresh starts. In new chapters. In saying “yes.” In saying, “I do.” In following the adventure. In seeing where the unexpected might lead us.
We believe in twinkling lights. In decadent wine paired with food truck tacos. In picturesque mountain sunrises, and sunsets.
We believe in getting outside. In dining al fresco. In mornings hiking, afternoons floating down the river, and nights under the stars.
We believe love is a celebration. And we’d love to celebrate with you.
ELEVATOR
Life is worth celebrating. If you allow yourself to be open to the unexpected, you can find joy around every turn. And in any of life’s moments, a reason to celebrate.
Knowing this first hand is what led to our joint labor of love.
One part wedding venue and one part tasting room, we created a space that celebrates joy and togetherness. We created a space out of love.
We are modern design meets Carolina charm; dreamy mountain views meets twinkling lights and farmhouse tables; decadent wine meets laid-back comfort.
We are Serre Vineyards.
BRAND STORY / SERVICES
Unforgettable, joyous, more-than-what-you-ever-imagined wedding experiences. A laid-back tasting room with ample space for sitting and sipping NC’s best wines. Dreamy mountain views, twinkling lights, and farmhouse tables; a setting that is both enchanted, and enchanting. The perfect blend of refined, welcoming, and fun.
Serre (rhymes with “stair”) Vineyards is one part wedding venue and one part tasting room, and a space that celebrates joy and togetherness.
We share our love of celebration with as many people as we can through our tasting room, venue space, wedding packages, and outdoor fun.
Our tasting room will welcome seasoned sommeliers and sipping students alike. We want wine to be approachable and fun. You don’t have to know how to pronounce Beaujolais to enjoy a glass of it with your friends.
North Carolina wine is the East Coast’s best kept secret. The standards for quality are high, and we’re creating an elevated tasting experience to match.
When it comes to celebrating a special event, or that special day, we take delight in creating amazing experiences and ensuring every detail is taken care of.
Because a couple’s special day should be just that; special. We want to take the worry and planning out of it, and leave you to enjoy the good stuff; the butterflies, the elation, the fun.
Serre’s 70 acre grounds with breathtaking scenery, rustic meets modern barn that accommodates up to 200 guests, covered patio seating, custom-built farmhouse tables, luxurious décor, outdoor bar fire pit, and wedding coordinator to help plan it all will make sure your loved ones are not only comfortable; they’ll feel like it’s their special day, too.
The Greenhouse Cottage, luxurious bridal suite, hiking trails, outdoor yoga, fishing, wine by the firepit, and day-of bridal party brunch, our amenities and extra touches are going to make you feel on top of the world. (And on top of the mountain.)
We love this space so much that we were married here ourselves in 2019. And we want to share the incredible experience we had with as many as possible.
Because we believe in magic. Of having all of your loved ones gathered in one place. That’s real magic.
NAME STORY
How we named our je ne sais quoi
Actually, our name was inspired by…our cable guy.
When trying to come up with a name that captured the beauty of our space and feeling we want to invoke, every idea we had led us right to a dead end. Each time we riffed and simultaneously said, “that’s it!”, a quick Google search revealed that name had already been taken.
Then one afternoon, our internet and cable installer said, “I’m going to call your network ‘Greenhouse.’” Not after an actual greenhouse, but because the cottage on the property is literally painted green.
We loved this idea, but also quickly realized that Greenhouse was also taken. Then we had the thought, “what’s the French word for ‘greenhouse’?” Serre.
(And if you’re confused on how to pronounce it, you’re not alone. It rhymes with “stair.”)
Welcome to Serre Vineyards.
THE SERRE STORY
A different kind of modern love story
“There is a saying in Tibetan, ‘Tragedy should be utilized as a source of strength.’
No matter what sort of difficulties, how painful an experience is, if we lose our hope, that’s our real disaster.” ― Dalai Lama XIV
It’s one of life’s funny little tricks that heartbreak is part of the human experience. One we are forced to accept. But another funny little truth is that… If we never felt heartbreak, we’d never fully know joy. If we didn’t go through the bad, the good wouldn’t feel as good. If we never experienced losing someone, we’d never realize how utterly magical it is to find someone.
And that’s why we keep doing this whole “being a human” thing, even through the loss. Because hope keeps us going.
And this is a truth no one holds truer than Melissa and Christian.
The two met in their 40s, each with beloved children from previous marriages. Two people who hadn’t been single since the 1990s found themselves ‘on the market’ again in an age of selfies, Snapchat, and swiping left or right.
The first love of Melissa’s life, and father of her daughter, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at 38 and passed away at the too-soon-age of 45.
After a period of tense arguments and disputes, Christian found himself on the other side of a divorce he hadn’t wanted.
Look at either of these two stories out of context: Misfortune. Disaster. Heartbreak.
But context cannot be ignored. Because these two heartbroken humans held onto hope, and found each other. Two people who never knew if they could fall head over heels again fell hard and fast; and they fell together.
The icing on top? Their kids loved each other, too.
They started a new, ‘blended’ as they call it, family, and were inspired to jump into a new adventure together.
Melissa is forner wedding planner and serial entrepreneur. Christian is an entrepreneur himself and dabbled in beer, wine, and cider making over the years.
After a visit to a North Carolina winery, they realized two things:
- North Carolina wine is amazing.
- There’s a huge opportunity to elevate the NC winery experience.
The idea for Serre was born, and quickly became much more than idea: A wedding venue and tasting room in Mount Airy, NC. A place created out of love. Out of a new beginning. A place to celebrate life.
Melissa and Christian’s favorite part? This is a family endeavor. The kids are along for every step of the journey, and are learning firsthand how businesses are started.
(And yes, Serre is kid-friendly.)
This ‘blended’ family knows how blessed they are to have found one another. They don’t let a day go by without celebrating life, and they’d love to celebrate with you at Serre.
Ready for your own curiosity, strategy, and obsession?
Whether you need a brand voice, manifesto, full website copy, social content, or maybe a tagline for one of those banners planes fly over busy beaches, I’ll help you tell your story in a way that connects you with your audience, and keeps you top of mind and close to heart.
