Of the more than 11,600 wineries currently operating in the U.S. today, less than 1% are Black owned, according to the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV). There’s no denying that the approximately 100 Black-owned wineries in the U.S. are a dismal figure compared to the greater whole.
Still, the work being done to change that can’t be discounted. Since 2020’s call for more diversity and inclusion across the wine industry, increased visibility has brought many Black-owned brands more recognition, retail space and inclusion on restaurant wine lists across the country.
“The needle has shifted forward a bit,” says Phil Long, president of AAAV and the founder of Longevity Wines, a winery based in the Livermore Valley of California. “Unfortunately, momentum is not perpetual like any other energy. We need a constant source of energy to keep moving forward, and finding that constant source has been a challenge.”
Investments and partnerships with more prominent brands and corporations have helped the cause, resulting in the emergence of a handful of new Black-owned brands. Meanwhile, due to expanded distribution and marketing, some wines, like Napa’s Brown Estate, have become household names.
The popularity of a few Black-owned wine brands is helping drive consumer curiosity for others.
“Those of us in the industry who are visible and accessible are slowly fueling a swell in interest,” Long says. “The good news is the more of us there are, the more growth happens exponentially. So, we have to keep going to help the wine economy.”
To help draw attention to this small but growing cohort, we’ve rounded up nine of the most influential Black-owned wines currently on the market. These picks include a wide range of producers, from recognizable brands on the retail shelf to producers that have made significant strides diversifying the industry as a whole. Check them out below.
Napa, California
Founded by siblings Deneen, David and Coral Brown, Brown Estate is recognized as the first Black-owned estate winery in Napa Valley. Using land purchased by their parents in 1980, the trio built a reputation for high-quality wines, particularly with their Zinfandel, leading Brown Estate to be considered a pioneer in the industry since its founding in 1996.
However, their prominence and praise go far beyond what’s in the bottle. “When I think of influence, I think of how they’ve made their way on menus across the country, how they have the scale and distribution necessary to become a household name, and how they’ve dialed in their product categories,” says Sarah Pierre, owner of 3 Parks Wine, in Atlanta, which sells Brown Estate among several other Black-owned wines. “They’re leaders that show up in community with their customers.”
Yorkville, California
Established in California’s Yorkville Highlands, part of Mendocino, in 2003 by Theodora R. Lee, Theopolis Vineyards is one of first U.S. wineries to be helmed by a Black woman. A Texas lawyer-turned-winemaker, Lee has created one of the leading Black-owned wine brands thanks to her commitment to crafting impeccable bottles.
“The wine scene has become more competitive, and wine sales seem to be slowing,” Lee once said. “However, I do see more diverse wine drinkers and more Black sommeliers, wine educators, etc., which is a major transformation.”
While many of Theopolis Vineyards’ wines have won awards, the winery, which makes 2,500 cases annually, is most known for its critically acclaimed Petite Sirah, which Wine Enthusiast Writer-at-Large Jim Gordon called “one of the top expressions of the variety.”
Sonoma, California
Sonoma County’s first black-owned winery was founded by Mac McDonald, in 1995. Its commitment to quality and traditional winemaking has brought the winery much acclaim over the years, particularly with its award-winning Pinot Noir.
Now in his eighties, McDonald’s push for diversity and inclusion has helped pave the way for other Black-owned wines. He launched the AAAV in 2002 to provide community, support, education and resources for Black winemakers, brand owners and professionals interested in joining the industry. He also has mentored a number of celebrated winemakers.
“I remember being aware of Brown Estate, but then Mac McDonald began to show up in the press,” Long says. “That opened up a new world because these people looked like me and were making great wine.”
Napa, California
Since founding the McBride Sisters Collection in 2016, siblings Robin and Andrea McBride, have quickly built one of the largest Black-owned wine companies in the U.S. Their bottled and canned wines—made with a mixture of California and New Zealand grapes—are sold in 37 of the 50 States. Meanwhile, its fan base includes Kelis, E40 and Patti LaBelle and its Black Girl Magic label became the wine of choice on Alaska Airlines in 2023. Last year, they even bought their first vineyard, which is located in Napa.
Celebrating Black culture and empowering other Black wine professionals is equally important as wine is to the McBrides. Profits from their canned wines contribute to the sisters’ SHE CAN Fund, an organization that provides women with scholarships, mentorship and community support in the wine industry.
Miami, Florida and San Tropez, France
Known for its outstanding rosé, the La Fête Wine Company began after founder Donae Burston made a trip to Provençe. He fell in love with the region’s wines and, after a 10-year career with LVMH promoting wine and spirits, decided to launch his own luxury label that appealed to wine lovers like himself.
“There just wasn’t a brand speaking to me as a man, or to multicultural consumers,” Burston once said. “Everything was about flowers and pink. Every brand was talking to white women.”
Headquartered in Miami, but produced in San Tropez, La Fête was the fastest growing rosé label in 2021. In 2023, NBA oenophile Chris Paul became a partner in the brand.
Livermore, California
Based in the Livermore Valley region of Northern California, Phil Long launched Longevity Wines alongside his late wife in 2008. Although production is relatively small—about 2,500 cases of wine a year—Longevity has developed a penchant for producing top-tier wines full of complexity and depth.
Among the growing community of Black winemakers and brand owners, Long has become a leader for change and a reliable shoulder for developing and aspiring wine professionals of color to lean on since becoming the president of the AAAV, a position that was passed down to him from his mentor McDonald in 2018.
“I’ve met so many great people who truly love our industry and can inspire the next generation of Black winemakers and wine professionals,” Long says. “We all just need support and exposure, so AAAV is working to make that happen. My goal is still to make great wine, but now I also want to make wine inclusive.”
Napa, California
While basketball legend Dwayne Wade may have made his name as a three-time NBA champion, since his retirement he’s become synonymous with high-quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Chenin Blanc and rosé.
Wade Cellars’s wines received high reviews from critics and wine publications since launching in 2014. Wade Cellars began as a partnership between Wade and Napa Valley vintner Jayson Pahlmeyer, and in the years since, Wade has been open about his personal wine journey and passion for winemaking while using his platform to amplify the brand’s appeal and reach.
Wade has been vocal about the need for more diversity in the wine industry. Through strategic events and partnerships—including joining the board of UC Davis’s Wine Education Program—Wade has opened the door for more cultural engagement with a segment of consumers the greater wine industry has long ignored.
McMinnville, Oregon
The distinctive graphic packaging of Maison Noir Wines makes it an easy grab for the label-influenced drinker, but the quality and care of the wine in the bottle have made the brand a staple in the industry.
Launched in 2007 by renowned sommelier André Heuston Mack, Maison Noir produces a range of wines, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and rosé, among others, with grapes from some of the most coveted vineyards in Oregon.
The former head sommelier at Thomas Keller’s Michelin-starred Per Se and The French Laundry, Mack has used his expertise to create wines appreciated by both connoisseurs and casual drinkers and continues to use his platform to make wine more accessible and understandable for everyone.
Oakland, Oregon
Since gaining ownership of the land that comprises Meadows Estate in 2019, Dexter and Marilyn Meadows have used their winery to showcase the potential of the Umpqua Valley, in Southern Oregon, by producing world-class variations of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Viognier, Tempranillo and Chardonnay, among other varieties.
While their award-winning wines have helped spur interest in the Umpqua Valley, the couple is just as passionate about creating more opportunities for others. They recently met with a group of agriculture students from an HBCU. “These students showed an interest in the farming and care of vines, winemaking and the business side of the industry,” says Marilyn Meadows. “When we think of the future of black-owned wineries, we think of the sky as the limit.”
More Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Coverage
From the Shop
The Best Wine Coolers
A refrigerated wine cooler is the best way to ensure your wine is stored properly, and these attractive units allow you to show off your collection in style.
Published: August 28, 2024
