Wine novices and connoisseurs are about to get educated.

Ancient wine production originated in Old World France thousands of years ago, perhaps as far back as 8000 BC. Today, over 80,000 wineries are scattered across the globe and the United States ranks 4th in the world in production.

Yet, diversity remains an industry-wide issue and the history of Black-owned wineries has been largely unexplored.

Urban Connoisseurs wants to change that. They are hosting the inaugural 2021 International Winemakers Summit (IWS), in conjunction with Uncorked & Cultured. The virtual 3-day event takes place Feb. 19-21, 2021. It will be hosted by premier sommeliers, in conversation with 12 winemakers of African descent worldwide.

Featured winemakers for the event include:

Chris Christensen – Bodkin Wines (Sonoma, CA)

Phil Long – Longevity Wines (Livermore Valley, CA)

Theodora Lee – Theopolis Vineyards (Yorkville, CA)

Marie-Inès Romelle – Marie Césaire Champagne (Champagne, FR)

Raymond Smith – Indigené Cellars (Paso Robles, CA)

Cheramie Law – Cheramie Wines (TX)

James Moss – J Moss Wines (Napa Valley, CA)

Tinashe Nyamudoka – Kumusha Wines (Breedekloof Valley, SA)

Steve Byfield – Nyarai Cellars (Niagara, CN)

Nicole Kearney – Sip and Share Wines (IN)

Shae Frichette – Frichette Winery (Red Mountain, WA)

Dan Glover – L’Objet Wines (Healdsburg, CA)

Among the topics slated for discussion are wine trends, terroir and the difference, and the diverse aromas and flavors in wine. A virtual brunch is also part of the festivities with award-winning chefs Chef Jerome Brown, author of Carolina Soul; Chef Sabrina Tinsley, co-owner of Osteria La Spiga; and Ricky Simpson, Jr., chef to the Atlanta Hawks scheduled to appear.

“I’m so excited to celebrate 12 Black winemakers, to honor them for their contributions in the wine industry and being the face of possibilities for the next generation of Black winemakers. There are over 10,000 wineries in the US. Winemakers of African descent represent less than 1% of this industry,” said IWS and The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund founder, Marcia Jones in a statement. “With the increase of wine sales last year, I feel it’s time to celebrate Black professionals across all industries, and my goal for Black History Month and beyond is to encourage consumers to support Black winemakers.”

For more information about the event, visit the website.