*This post was originally published on February 28, 2022.
As Black History Month comes to an end, I leave you with a valuable resource to help continue your journey to support Black-owned wineries. If you are new here, you may not know that my goal in the world of wine is to not only make wine fun and approachable, but to also highlight diverse (Black, BIPOC, LGBT, minority, and female) owned wineries.
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. And why not join a new wine club?
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.
Black History Month is not just about highlighting Black-owned businesses in February, but also year-round. As any business owner knows, residual/repeat income is KING. Consider joining a black-owned wine club to give ongoing support to that business, not just in February. Or perhaps give someone a wine tasting gift or a wine club membership!
We’re starting with the largest Black-owned wine company in the US. The McBride Sisters has three different club options available with varied offerings of canned wine, bottles and even a wine and book club. Memberships range from $89-$150 per shipment. Perks of joining their club include 10% off orders, discount shipping, pre-release access to special offers, access to their online community, and more. One of their clubs includes shipments that feature a two bottle of wine gift box and one book (all written by women of color) shipped 4 times a year. Perks of joining include giveaways and access to their online community. McBride Sisters Wine Club sign up.
Bodkin Wines features two different wine club options: 12 bottles shipped twice a year for $250 per shipment or six bottles shipped twice a year for $120 per shipment. Perks of joining include 20% off orders. Bodkin Wines Wine Club sign up.
Frichette Winery in the Red Mountain AVA in Washington state features two different club options shipped either quarterly or biannually, starting at $80/shipment. Perks of the base level (Signature Cru) wine club include 15% off orders, priority tickets to events including wine club only parties, access to club exclusive wines, access to the Wine Club Lounge, and free tasting flights when visiting. Reserve Cru wine club perks include 20% off orders, discounted shipping, a private tasting when picking up club wines, and Reserve Cru exclusive events each year. Frichette Winery Wine Club sign up.
Indigené Cellars is the only Black-owned winery in Paso Robles. The Indigené wine club options include either four or six bottles shipped twice a year. Memberships range from $140-$220 per shipment. Wine club perks include discounts starting at 15% off, free wine tastings for the life of your membership, and wine release parties for you and a guest. Indeigene Cellars Wine Club sign up.
Based in Livermore, CA, Longevity Wines offers multiple wine club options. The shipments feature a two bottle wine gift box (or four bottles) shipped quarterly. Perks of joining include 20% off all wine purchases and 10% off all merchandise. Longevity Wines Wine Club sign up.
LVE Wines is a collaboration between John Legend and Raymond Cellars. Two different club options include three wines shipped four times a year. Membership prices range from $150-$175 per shipment. Perks of joining include loyalty points redeemable for wine tastings/events/merchandise, first access to all new special edition LVE releases, 20% savings on wine, 30% reorder savings on club wines, and a special birthday savings, which would be a perfect wine tasting gift as a birthday gift for a loved one or a wine enthusiast. LVE Wines Wine Club sign up.
Okapi Wines has different club options available with either six or 12 bottles shipped twice a year in the spring and fall. Perks of joining include 15% off wine purchases, complimentary tastings for two, entry to Okapi events, and access to limited releases. Okapi Wines Wine Club sign up.
P. Harrell Wines has three different club options available with mix and match selections of either three, six, or 12 bottles in each shipment. Perks of joining include invitations to member only events, generous bottle and case discounts, complimentary shipping on orders of 3 cases or more, and a 10% discount on all non-wine items. P. Harrell Wines Wine Club sign up.
Theopolis has three different club options available all requiring a one year commitment. Selections include three, six or 12 bottles shipped bi-annually. Memberships start at $65/shipment. Perks of joining vary depending on club option chosen and include a 5% – 15% discount twice a year, invitations to exclusive club member events, notifications of winemaker dinners, priority access to limited production wines, and priority alerts to last vintage inventory. Theopolis Vineyards Wine Club sign up.
Sip & Share wine clubs include two options with two, four or six bottles of sweet, dry or both delivered quarterly or monthly. Membership starts at $40 per month. Perks of joining include 10% discount for wine club and all other wine orders, which can help you create the perfect wine tasting gift for someone on a discount. Sip & Share Wines Wine Club sign up.
*This post was originally published on April 15, 2022.
Brianne Cohen, certified sommelier and wine expert, is the principal in a lifestyle brand and business based out of Los Angeles, offering her services as an event producer, wine educator, and wine writer. She was recently asked by Pix to share one of her favorite California Black-owned wineries.
“Theodora Lee was a senior partner and trial lawyer in San Francisco for many years before becoming a winemaker and opening up her winery Theopolis Vineyards in Yorkville Highlands, near the border of Mendocino and Sonoma, in 2003. Working with Petite Sirah may be Lee’s true calling, according to Brianne Cohen, a sommelier and wine educator in Los Angeles. Theopolis’ Petite Sirah comes highly recommended as it is a multi-award winner and has consistently received high scores from critics since its first vintage in 2006. “Serving dried herbal notes and velvety tannins, this exceptional wine has racked up more medals than Theodora can count,” Cohen says.”
Since COVID hit, Brianne has educated and entertained over 6,000 people through her “Virtual Vino” online wine classes, both public and private. Brianne regularly judges at international wine competitions and holds the WSET Diploma certificate, which is one of the most coveted and difficult wine certifications. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and has been quoted in outlets such as Wine Enthusiast, Vinepair, HuffPost, Forbes, and Eating Well. In her virtual and in-person wine experiences, Brianne strives to highlight Black-owned wineries and other diverse owned (BIPOC, LGBT, minority, and female) wineries, chocolatiers, and cheese mongers.
Read the full article, including other pioneering Black-owned wineries and winemakers at the link here.
If you find yourself wine tasting in Los Angeles, 1010 Wine & Events is definitely worth a visit! Inglewood’s first and only wine bar serves up flights, glasses, and bottles of Black-owned wines (and beers), plus a delicious assortment of food options to complete your Los Angeles wine tasting experience.
And by the way, this isn’t your mom’s wine bar. I visited not too long ago and arrived to find a live DJ spinning Biggie, Pac, and old school jams. Pretty much the wine bar of my dreams! Why have we not been wine tasting and listening to hip hop? There is no stuffiness, no pretension, and no judgement like you might expect from a “wine bar”. You walk in and instantly feel welcome and a part of the family. Leslie and LeAnn Jones have curated a vibrant, fun, and dynamic Los Angeles wine tasting experience that is EXACTLY what this city needs.
Sisters Leslie and LeAnn Jones grew up in Inglewood, and found themselves sick of having to leave their neighborhood to find good food and wine for a Los Angeles wine tasting experience. Leslie, a luxury wedding planner, and LeAnn, an attorney, had the perfect background of hospitality and a knowledge of wine that set the foundation for what is now 1010 Wine & Events.
The wine list at 1010 features Black and BIPOC Owned Wines & Beers, including Maison Noir, Charles Woodson Intercept, Camins2Dreams, Theopolis, Aslina, and Black Girl Magic. The food menu is tight and right, with a cheese and charcuterie board, a few starters, and a handful of entrees. We had the house salad, the steamed black mussels, and the pesto linguine and everything was DELICIOUS. Yummy, hearty food to soak up all the good wine. There’s nothing I hate more than going to a wine bar to get my drink on, and they only have olives, nuts, and a cheese plate on the menu!
Another touch that sets them apart is the 1010 Wine Club. For $75 (charged quarterly), you become a member of their wine club and get two curated bottles of wine, 10% off merch, and one free tasting per month. Speaking of merch, their #inglewine tees, hoodies, and tanks would make for an awesome gift for your Angeleno wine friends.
Brianne Cohen, certified sommelier and wine expert, is the principal in a lifestyle brand and business based out of Los Angeles, offering her services as an event producer, wine educator via both online and in-person wine classes, and a wine writer. She recently interviewed television personality and comedian Cedric the Entertainer on his new wine collaboration with Smith-Devereaux Wines.
Since COVID hit, Brianne has educated and entertained over 6,000 people through her “Virtual Vino” online wine classes, both public and private. Brianne regularly judges at international wine competitions and holds the WSET Diploma certificate, which is one of the most coveted and difficult wine certifications. She also holds a Master of Business Administration from Loyola Marymount University and has been quoted in outlets such as Wine Enthusiast, Vinepair, HuffPost, Forbes, and Eating Well.
“One connector with wine and comedy is that they both hit on culture. They are experienced during times of celebration and are best experienced with others. Brianne recently sat down with Cedric to discuss the Zetta wine project collaboration with Smith-Devereaux Wines. One through line with this project is that it’s not just about the wine in the glass. Yes, there’s wine in the glass, and it’s good juice. But there’s so much more” says Brianne Cohen, a Los Angeles-based certified sommelier, wine educator, judge, and writer.
Read the full article and interview with Cedric the Entertainer at the link here.
