Diversity and inclusion matter - not only in wine but in life. Diversity, representation, and inclusion are key tenets of humanity all necessary to ensure we, as people, have a place and a purpose in this world. There are many ways in which you can support diversity and inclusion. My favorite way is to find and support black-owned wineries.
With 11,000 wineries in the U.S., there aren’t too many diverse options to choose from. According to Wine & Spirits Magazine, less than 1% of wineries are black-owned, which significantly limits representation and inclusion within the wine industry.
I am an advocate in doing my part to create space for diversity and inclusion in the wine industry, particularly for black, BIPOC, and underrepresented communities. Bringing awareness to finding and supporting black-owned wineries has been important to me since I first started offering wine education and tasting experiences, and I’m eager to see more people discover the amazing, diverse wineries owned by underrepresented groups.
When I am given a wine sampling opportunity, interview request, or a press trip invitation, I confirm that the PR firm has invited BIPOC wine professionals, using Julia Coney’s Black Wine Professionals website as a resource for finding those professionals.
