In the past weeks, we’ve watched and participated as people across the globe have stood up to protest the generational effects of systemic racism against Black people and the unacceptable police violence that cut short the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and countless others.
We want to say unequivocally: Black Lives Matter.
Aervana believes enjoying good wine & food together helps strengthen community, and within that community, racism, inequality, and violence have no place. We have been using our voices within our communities and educating ourselves so that we as a company can support the movement now and in the future. While we're working on further long-term actions, our team has put together some resources for our Aervana family to get started with, including Black-owned businesses within our industry to support.
Change can start by educating ourselves and making a conscious effort to support Black-owned businesses and creators. We hope to be continuing these conversations over good wine & food for years to come. As a starting point, we’ve assembled this list of Black-owned wine businesses across the US to highlight and guide where you can send your support and use your dollars.
Black-Owned Wine Businesses by Region:
While this list is by no means comprehensive, we hope that it can be one entry point in your continued support of Black-owned wine businesses and a step towards discovering your next favorite label.
Northwest
Frichette Winery, frichettewinery.com/
Located in Washington's famed Red Mountain AVA, Shae Frichette is the co-owner of Frichette Winery alongside her husband. The winery specializes in Bordeaux-style wines and currently offers online sales as well as multiple Wine Club memberships, or you can pay them a visit in person.
Abbey Creek Vineyard, abbeycreekvineyard.com/
Bertony Faustin started making his own wines in 2008 and shortly became an essential part of the fabric of Oregon winemaking as the first Black vineyard owner and winemaker in the state. You can visit Abbey Creek Vineyard in the Willamette Valley or make an order at their online store.
Stoney Wines, stoneywines.co/
Donna Stoney became Oregon's first Black female winemaker when she established Stoney Wines in 2019. When you shop online and support Stoney Wines, a portion of the proceeds also goes to support programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
California
Charles Wine Company, charleswineco.com/who-we-are
Based in Lodi, CA, Charles Wine Company is founded by Paul Charles, De'Ondre Charles, and Dr. Cherise Moore. The label specializes in Zinfandel, Symphony, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir.
Free Range Flower Winery, freerangeflowerwinery.com/
The Founders of Free Range Flower Winery, Aaliyah Nitoto and Sam Prestianni, rather than using grapes, source local, organic flowers to make the selections at their Oakland-based winery.
Brown Estate, brownestate.com/
The story of Napa Valley's first Black-owned winery starts in 1980 when Bassett and Marcela Brown bought an abandoned Napa Valley ranch, rehabilitating the land and planting grapes. In 2000, the family-owned estate debuted its first three vintages and their success has been growing ever since.
Vision Cellars, visioncellars.com/
Edward Lee "Mac" McDonald is the owner of the Sonoma County-based label Vision Cellars, as well as the founder of the Association of African American Vintners.
Midwest
Jenny Dawn Cellars, jennydawncellars.com/
Jennifer MacDonald is the winemaker owner of Jenny Dawn Cellars, an urban winery in Wichita, Kansas. The state's first African-American winemaker, you can support MacDonald and her family business by shopping at their online store.
Simply Love Wines, simplylovewines.com/
Barbara Jackson's Chicago-based brand believes in the power of shared experiences over wine and the capacity for those experiences to center people in love with their friends and family. The Simply Love online wine shop currently lists a code for 20% off when you purchase three bottles or more!
Love Cork Screw, lovecorkscrew.com/
Also based in Chicago, Love Cork Screw is the result of owner Chrishon Lampley's 17-years experience in the industry and tireless commitment to excellence. A negociant, Lampley is the owner of LCS Entertainment and launched the first six varietals of her own label Love Cork Screw in 2013.
Markell-Bani, markellbaniwines.com/
Gregory Markell Lawrence and Sean Bani Yisrael are Cincinnati natives, the home base of the wine label started by the two lifelong friends. The two launched Markell-Bani with the express purpose of creating a spirits brand that would serve the interest of an underrepresented African-American community in wine.
South/Southeast
Taste Collection Cellars, tastecollectioncellars.com/
Rhonda Russell is the owner of this Houston-based brand and the only African-American woman in the U.S. to carry the title of Executive Chef of Wine Arts.
Ole' Orleans Wines, oleorleans.com/
"A tribute to Historic New Orleans," Ole' Orleans Wines brims with local pride, sourcing grapes for their semi-sweet and dry white wines from local Louisiana vineyards. Owner Kim Lewis is a New Orleans native, launching her Ole' Orleans Wine label in 2018.
Davidson Wine Co., davidsonwineco.com/
Lawyer turned winemaker Lindsey Williams is the owner of the first urban winery in Davidson, North Carolina. Stop by and enjoy a Bistro meal and an atmosphere steeped in local history while you sip on one of Williams' creations.
Northeast
ZAFA Wines, zafawines.com/
The owner of this Vermont-based winery, Krista Scruggs, is a true vanguard in the wine industry. Producing both wine and cider, Scruggs' wild-fermented, unfined and unfiltered process is both uniquely sustainable and delicious.
Stuyvesant Champagne, stuyvesantchampagne.com/
Owner Marvina Robinson named her Champagne label after home, the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY where she grew up. Now a (nearly) lifetime love of Champagne has culminated in the 2020 launch of Robinson's Champagne label, sourcing from the Marne Valley, Ardre Valley, and the Aisne of France's Champagne region to create a Rose and Grand Reserve Brut.
Resources to Find More Black-Owned Food & Wine Businesses:
The list above only covers a tiny portion of the businesses and Black business owners shaping the food & wine industry in the United States. Here are a few further resources to help you find & support other Black-owned businesses in your area.
A database of businesses and services that allows you to filter your search by location, The Intentionalist organizes its information based on what community you are hoping to support. Selecting the "Black-Owned" filter makes it easy to find Black-owned businesses from bakeries to bars in your neighborhood.
EatOkra is an app that makes it simple to find local, Black-owned restaurants in your area and then treat yourself to some fantastic food. Available for both Android and iPhone.