Our story is a culmination of lived experience and a kindred dream that marks a new chapter for our lives in the Elk Grove community.
Kelly and Nadia met in middle school and graduated high school together in 2006. They both went on to attend Sacramento State and remained positive acquaintances on social media. They lived life, built careers in finance and healthcare, respectively, and reconnected through Nadia's digital community, Nad Wines. Kelly invited Nadia to lead a wine tasting at her dinner party in 2022.
In October of 2023, Kelly randomly texted Nadia to ask if she had ever thought of opening a wine bar. It was by fate that Nadia had already started dreaming up a wine bar concept just a couple months before.
Now as ambitious wives and mothers, they are ready to bring their life experiences, unconventional palates stories to their community.
Meet the Co-Founders
Nadia Mincey
Nadia is the wine lover, storyteller and community builder behind Ever After. After more than 15 years in corporate relationship management, a pandemic-era curiosity about natural wine eventually grew into something much bigger: a desire to create the kind of neighborhood wine bar she wanted to spend time in herself.
With her WSET Level II certification, Nadia leads Ever After’s wine program, marketing and much of the day-to-day hospitality. She believes wine should feel approachable, interesting and a little adventurous—never intimidating.
For Nadia, Ever After has always been about more than what’s in the glass. It’s about creating a place where people can discover something new, stay awhile and feel like they belong.
Kelly Rhodes
Kelly is the numbers, details and behind-the-scenes brain behind Ever After. With an MBA and a background supporting compliance, accounting and operations for her family’s business, she brings the kind of skills that keep a small business moving—even when you don’t always see them at work.
Her love of wine, curiosity to keep learning and desire to be part of the growth and development of Elk Grove ultimately led her to partner in creating Ever After.
Outside of the wine bar, Kelly loves training, riding and showing horses, and she’s our resident country music fan. You’ll find her holding down Sundays at Ever After—usually ready to talk wine, horses and country music.
