When you stroll through Mojave Flea Trading Post or Market Market to reach either of Palm Springs Bottle Shop’s (PSBS) two locations, you might think you’ve stumbled upon a Yayoi Kusama installation: Everywhere you turn, you see colorful dots.
But the spots aren’t purely for looks. “Over 80 percent of our products come from brands that are owned by women, people of color, and LGBTQ+ identifying people,” says PSBS co-owner Chris White. “We wanted to create a way for us to signify who the makers were.”
photo courtesy palm springs bottle shop
White and his three fellow founders devised a color-coding system for the wine, pantry items, snacks, and gifts: A yellow dot denotes women-owned brands, green indicates makers of color, and bright pink points to LGBTQ+ ownership. A red dot has multiple meanings: The brand can be owned by or employ people with disabilities, or it donates to organizations making positive social or environmental change. Many owners fit multiple criteria — that’s where the pointillism effect sets in.
And because PSBS focuses on small-batch and natural wines, whichever bottle you pick up, you’ll know you’re getting a great drink with great values.
