Founder: Melanie Masarin
Melanie began her journey to creating Ghia when she started experiencing stomach pains and fogginess, but didn't know why. She came to the conclusion that alcohol and added sugars were contributing to her gut problem and noticed that there was a real hole in the market for a non-alcoholic beverage that was for drinkers and non-drinkers alike. While on a trip to Milan with her friends, Melanie looked around the table and saw people enjoying amazing food with spirit and intention. She realized that she wanted to bring those same elements of togetherness and enjoyment to drinking, but without the alcohol and negative consequences of consumption. Inspired by memories of childhood summers in the Mediterranean, Melanie decided to model her new beverage brand off of aperitivo culture, where bitter, herbal drinks are savored before dinner to prepare the palate.
Ghia is a direct-to-consumer beverage brand selling tonics containing potent botanical extracts which provide the same bitter profile that you would find in a classic Italian Aperitif, without the alcohol and added sugar. While Ghia doesn't seek to directly alter someone's mood, it takes into account the anxiety of our current times and makes sure to include calming plant remedies, such as lemon balm. Melanie also worked with Alison St Pierre, one of her favorite bartenders in NYC with over 20 years of industry experience, to create recipes for the first Ghia Recipe Book. Everything from the packaging, to the brand, to the drink itself, are sustainable, intentional, and meant to make you feel like you're listening to really good music with friends and don't even need a drink.
“I love bringing people together, hosting dinner parties, and creating safe spaces that spark meaningful conversations. Over the last few years I realized that alcohol wasn’t for me and there weren’t many non-alcoholic alternatives on the market that were easily adaptable to people with varying lifestyles.” - Melanie
Sources: Goldman Sachs Alumni News, Hero, Medium, Ghia website, Dieline