There are thousands of wineries in America, but only about .001 percent, or less than a couple dozen, are owned by African-Americans. The global wine industry generates more than $290 billion in sales every year. Whether you are a wine lover, a connoisseur, or you're just looking to get your buzz on, you will love these six Black-owned wine brands:
#1 - Esterlina Vineyards - this California winery is owned by the Sterling family who have been making wine for generations. For thirty years they have been growing grapes, making wine and bottling it by hand.
#2 - Bee D' Vine - Bee d’Vine is a product made by The Honey Wine Company, based in San Francisco, California. Founder Ayele Solomon, an environmentalist, got the inspiration for his honey wine as a way to make trees more valuable. Flowering trees provide nectar and pollen for bees. His honey wine supports bee farming in California and in Ethiopia's Kafa rainforest.
#3 - Mouton Noir - this Oregon-based wine company is owned by André Hueston Mack who left his job at Citicorp Investment Services to pursue his dream of becoming a winemaker. He works with world-renowned restaurants to create his wines and has been featured in major publications, such as Food and Wine, Wine & Spirits Magazine, and The New York Times.
#4 - Heritage Link Brands - based in Los Angeles, California, this company has its roots in South Africa and is now the largest marketer of black-produced wine from Africa in the U.S. Their award‐winning wines are available online, and in stores and restaurants across the nation.
#5 - Maison Noir Wines - inspired by punk and hip-hop music, the wines are unique and distinctive garage wines, sourcing the best fruit possible in the Willamette Valley region of Oregon to produce wine which show the individuality of their respective sites and terrors.
#6 - Rival Wine - this Napa Valley winery was started by entrepreneur Daniel Darden and his brother James in Napa, California. They introduced their first vintage in 2007.