Starting a Small Business Alongside Motherhood: The Reality Behind Sip & Pour Wine Tours

When people see Sip & Pour Wine Tours, they often see the fun side of things.

The wine tastings.

The beautiful wineries.

The celebrations.

The smiling photos on social media.

What they don't always see is that behind the wheel, behind the emails, behind the website, and behind every social media post is a mum trying to build a business while raising a family.

Starting and growing a small business alongside motherhood has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done, but it has also been one of the hardest.

The Business Started With an Idea

Like many small businesses, Sip & Pour started with a simple idea.

I could see a gap in the market for wine tours that felt fun, relaxed and accessible. I wanted to create an experience where people could explore our beautiful wine regions without needing to organise a large group or worry about who was driving.

What started as an idea quickly became a website, bookings, insurance policies, accreditations, marketing plans and countless hours of work behind the scenes.

I don't think I fully appreciated just how many hats small business owners wear until I became one.

Motherhood Doesn't Pause for Small Business

One of the biggest lessons I've learned is that motherhood and business don't take turns.

They happen at the same time.

Emails get answered while a baby naps.

Social media content gets edited after bedtime.

Bookings are managed while making lunch, folding washing or entertaining little people.

There have been moments where I've been responding to customer enquiries with a baby in my arms and a toddler asking for snacks every two minutes.

It's chaotic, exhausting and sometimes overwhelming.

But it's also incredibly rewarding.

Building a Business During Maternity Leave

Over the past year I've spent much of my time on maternity leave while continuing to run Sip & Pour.

For many people, maternity leave sounds like a break from work.

For small business owners, it often looks very different.

The business still needs attention.

Customers still need responses.

Marketing still needs to happen.

Tours still need to be booked.

There were plenty of days where I questioned whether I could keep everything moving forward while being the mum I wanted to be.

The truth is, some days I managed it well and other days I didn't.

And that's okay.

Celebrating the Wins

As business owners, we can be guilty of focusing only on what still needs to be done.

I've learned the importance of celebrating the wins too.

Over the past few years Sip & Pour has continued to grow, we've welcomed hundreds of guests onto our tours, purchased our own tour vehicle, become finalists in local business awards and won recognition within the wedding industry.

Those achievements are incredibly special.

Not because of the awards themselves, but because they represent years of persistence, learning and showing up even when things felt difficult.

The Reality of Small Business

Social media often shows the highlights.

The truth is that small business comes with uncertainty.

There are quiet periods.

There are cancellations.

There are unexpected expenses.

There are moments where you wonder if all the effort is worth it.

But there are also moments where a guest tells you they had the best day they've had in years.

Or when a customer books again.

Or when a local business reaches out to collaborate.

Those moments remind you why you started.

Why I Keep Going

I keep going because I genuinely love what I do.

I love showcasing our incredible region.

I love helping people celebrate special occasions.

I love creating experiences that bring people together.

And I love showing my daughters what is possible when you back yourself and pursue something you believe in.

Will business and motherhood always feel balanced?

Probably not.

Some weeks business gets more attention.

Some weeks family gets more attention.

Most weeks feel like a constant juggle.

But I've learned that success doesn't always look like having everything perfectly under control.

Sometimes success looks like simply continuing to show up.

And if you're another mum building a business while raising a family, I hope you know you're doing better than you think.

Because behind every small business is a story.

This one just happens to include wine tours, two little girls, plenty of coffee, a supportive family and a dream that continues to grow one step at a time.

— Tiarne

Owner, Sip & Pour Wine Tours