The idea of Cara Vita began long before it became a bottle. It started for me in a small Bronx kitchen filled with loud laughter, warm Italian bread, and my grandfather’s homemade wine resting in big green glass jugs. Those early rituals were never about drinking. They were about belonging and feeling joy woven into everyday life.

My grandparents came to America with little more than tradition, heart, and work ethic. They held tightly to their Italian roots while embracing the dream of what was possible here. Their values shaped everything: work hard, stay humble, gather often, and always make room at the table.

As my life moved from the Bronx to Broadway and eventually to the screen, the idea of creating a wine of my own quietly followed me. Not as a novelty, but as a way to honor where I came from. I named the brand Cara Vita after my Nonna, a name that beautifully means both “Dear Life” and “Cara’s Life.” It reflects the full, messy, joyful experience of living: family, ambition, motherhood, chaos, and celebration, all held together with love.