How One Woman-Owned Wine Business Doubled Down on Sustainability

As the founder of Organic Wine Exchange, Ann Rabin Arnold has created a space where consumers can learn about vineyards that farm without synthetic chemicals and discover bottles they cannot usually find in grocery stores. She was inspired to start the business after searching for organic wine for herself and her family and realizing how limited the options were. Her work has always been rooted in education, access, and supporting growers who care for the land.

Main Street Goes Green, an initiative powered by The Center, supports small businesses, contractors, and local governments in introducing environmentally conscious practices into their daily operations. The Main Street Goes Green Accelerator provides funding and guidance that helps small business owners lower expenses and create a long-term sustainability plan. Ann joined the accelerator to refine how her business operates.

“We were already using recycled packaging and shipping materials,” said Ann. “I started to wonder what else we could be doing that I had not thought of.”

Through the program, Ann began assessing how heat, energy use, and unexpected outages could affect her inventory and day-to-day operations. Living in a region with high temperatures made her especially interested in updates like a solar generator and energy efficient lighting.

“The one-on-one guidance helped me sort through everything I needed,” said Ann. “I came away with a clearer plan and resources I never would have found on my own.” With that direction, she was able to prioritize practical changes and move forward with confidence.

As she looks ahead, Ann hopes her customers see that Organic Wine Exchange reflects the values behind the wines she curates. She believes that supporting sustainable vineyards also means running a business that reduces its own impact. The accelerator reinforced this commitment and encouraged her to keep building on the progress she had already made.

Interested in joining the next Main Street Goes Green Accelerator in early 2026? Sign up for updates by joining The Center’s email list here.

The Main Street Goes Green Accelerator is powered by The Center by Lendistry in partnership with The Little Big Project, with generous support from the California Office of the Small Business Advocate, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco’s 2024 AHEAD Grant, Pacific Premier Bank, and First Citizens Bank.