Collaborations and Creativity: A Conversation with Emily Otterman and Amy LaBelle

In this episode, I am joined by Emily Otterman and Amy LaBelle. We talk about how a winemaker and an artist are collaborating in a unique way. 

We also hear from Amy as she tells her story of navigating Covid in the hospitality industry, and how it changed Emily's plans for sharing her art. 

We talk about gratitude, grace, creativity, and the power of resiliency in togetherness. 

About Emily 

Creating something that preserves and celebrates what people value most is what Emily strives to accomplish. She often incorporates meaningful photographs of people, places or things into the artwork she creates, loves using the medium of ‘encaustic’  (beautiful beeswax and damar resin) and a blowtorch!

A lifelong artist with Canadian roots, Emily left Toronto and settled in New Hampshire after stars aligned She and her husband live in Merrimack with their two great almost-adult-and-ready-to-fly-the-coop children. 

Emily has operated a studio in Canada, worked in the arts for decades, experimented with many mediums and has years of experience creating custom artwork. She’s a lifelong learner, annually participating in workshops and continually refining her skills.

She’s a proud card-carrying SBT VIP member and loves supporting and being supported by this growing community.

Website

About Amy 

Amy LaBelle is the founder and winemaker at LaBelle Winery. Formerly a corporate attorney practicing in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, her lifelong interest in wine led her to open LaBelle Winery to pursue her passion for winemaking.

With LaBelle Winery developing into a destination winery, Amy has slowly seen her dream realized: to focus full-time on making world-class wine in New Hampshire. Building LaBelle Winery has taught Amy so much, and she’s evolved from the many lessons learned along the way. She’s emerged as a strong leader and mentor, a certified winemaker, farmer, producer of farm-to-table food, innovative entrepreneur and philanthropist.

Amy is serious about her mission to provide customers with the very best culinary and wine experience, as her philosophy is to treat guests of LaBelle Winery like family. Her ultimate vision is to give back to the community through charitable giving in ways that are fulfilling, impactful and meaningful, and to grow her business exponentially so that she can contribute more.

Love of learning, dedication, integrity, love of craft, innovation and passion is her formula for success. Every day matters and Amy tries never to waste her days. Amy’s paramount success is being able to grow LaBelle Winery with her husband, Cesar Arboleda, while also balancing life with their two sons.

Amy is also the founder of Empowering Angels, a charitable organization that empowers girls and young women to embrace the possibility of entrepreneurship. The program provides education in basic business skills and strategies and through providing women role models by which these aspiring young entrepreneurs can model their behavior.

Amy lives with her husband, and co-owner of LaBelle Winery, Cesar Arboleda, and their two sons, Jackson Alejandro Arboleda and Lucas Cesar Arboleda.

Website

Information on Derry location