Many of us have a deep passion and love for wine. We like the feeling of drinking wine, visiting a wine country, and hearing the stories behind the wine. However, the wine industry, like our larger society, suffers from inclusion and diversity issues. There are a few amount of black-owned wineries or wines created by black winemakers in the United States. Only a few black wine specialists are in positions of authority in wine sales and marketing. This is a multi-layered challenge that will require time and effort to demolish.
According to Bloomberg, Black-owned wineries accounted for barely 0.1% of the total wine sector in the United States in 2020. According to News-Press, just 0.06% of wineries were Black-owned in 2021, and a 2019 poll of wine-industry experts revealed that only 2% of the participants declared themselves Black or African.
While the industry works to diversify, we can support these black-owned wineries and vineyards by purchasing from them. Sure, the wines thrive independently, but the dedication to establishing diversity in this industry is important. For this reason, take a moment to embark on a delightful journey of discovery as we unveil five exceptional black-owned wineries. They showcase the artistry and flavors of diverse winemaking.
This guide explores the famous black-owned wineries all around the world.
Abbey Creek Vineyard
Bertony Faustin, Oregon’s first black winemaker, created his first wine label in 2008. The winery, Abby Creek Vineyard, is named after a creek that flows along the vineyard. Abbey Creek offers a range of famous wines such as Chardonnay, Rosé of Pinot Noir, and even Cabernet Sauvignon (a variety uncommon in Oregon). These wines pair well with many events, whether they are ready-to-drink Chardonnay and Rosé or cellar savers like Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Theopolis Vineyard
Theopolis Vineyard’s award-winning Black winemaker, Theodora R. Lee, is also known as Theo-Patra, Queen of the Vineyards. She’s a daring Anderson Valley winemaker by way of a San Francisco courtroom. Theodora was a trial lawyer until she “decided she needed a drink.” She’s been marketing wine since 2014, and winebusiness.com chose her as the 2020 Wine Industry Leader.
Theopolis is well-known for its Petite Sirah and Rosé of Petite Sirah (both of which we like). Drive around the Mendocino Coast and you could find yourself among their events or picking up a bottle at their tasting room. We promise you’ll return for more.
Wade Cellars
Dwyane Wade may be most known for his basketball talents, which helped him win three NBA titles throughout his career. But he has a secret knack that many of his followers overlook: he’s an expert on wine. His international experiences and passion for grapes inspired him to create his own wine line, which includes red, white, and rosé options cultivated and bottled in Napa Valley. You’ll find them all at Wade Cellars.
Frichette Winery
Frichette Winery, located in Washington State’s Red Mountain AVA (American Viticultural Area), was founded by Greg and Shae Frichette when they opted to swap out their Southern California occupations for a more balanced and family-oriented lifestyle. Their first vintage was released in 2011, and by 2013, the couple’s family company had grown to include the development of their first tasting facility. The family now produces about 2000 cases of wine each year under the Frichette and Sashay labels, including Syrah, Cabernet, Zinfandel, Malbec, Merlot, and Semillon.
Best Rosé Winery
Robin and Andréa McBride launched the now greatest Black-owned winery firm in the United States in 2005, inspiring the wine industry. Their Black Girl Magic Rosé is created from pinot noir harvested in California’s cold Santa Lucia Highlands. The sisters also established the She Can Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to closing the gender and racial gap in leadership roles in male-dominated businesses.
L’Objet Noir
This winery was founded and is owned by winemaker, Danny Glover and is located in Healdsburg, Ca. Glover started out in the music industry but says he was drawn to winemaking specifically from Pinot Noir. After experiencing many other wineries and perfecting his process, Glover has created his own luxury wine brand with L’Objet wines. He describes the company’s process for producing its wines as “only pursuing the finest vineyards and fruit,” therefore making the quality of the product speak for itself. Try their L’Objet Noir Pinot Noir wines, as well as the L’Objet Blanc and L’Objet Cuvée now.
P. Harrell Wines
P. Harrell Wines was founded by entrepreneur, Paula J. Harrell. While pursuing one of her multiple degrees, she studied abroad in Madrid and discovered her passion for wine. She then dedicated herself to learning everything about wine, purchasing a timeshare in Napa Valley and immersing herself in wineries, classes, and blending sessions. Paula’s creations pay homage to her family’s legacy, emphasizing community, friendship, cultural heritage, and family connections with a portfolio of three wines and plans for additional releases.
How to Plan the Best Wine-Tasting Trip for Black-Owned Wineries
Planning a wine vacation (also known as a wine-tasting tour) is difficult. Choosing the best route for your wine trip is not only tedious, but with so much information available online, it may be difficult to know where to begin.Before you set a budget or choose an area, you must determine how much time you can devote to the ideal wine travel experience. You might only have a week or two off if you work full-time. The length of your vacation will also be a key factor in choosing your budget.
Hiring a city guide will ease both the planning procedure and your experience while out wine sampling. Whether you plunge in head first for a strong wine vacation or choose a day tour for a fast visit to the wine regions, you can’t go wrong—at least not as long as a glass of wine ends up in your hand!
If this doesn’t entice you to visit any of these black-owned vineyards, we are not sure what will! By supporting these labels, we can help to promote equality, inclusion, and diversity in the wine industry.
