A Global Guide to Black-Owned Wine Labels

BY WINE ENTHUSIAST MAGAZINE

6/8/2020

From a family-run Champagne house to a Chicago négociant, Black-owned wine labels abound. Here, a list of companies to seek out from the U.S., France, South Africa and beyond.

To share additional assets to include in this list, please email editor@wineenthusiast.net.

United States

Abbey Creek Vineyard: Oregon’s first Black vineyard owner and winemaker, Bertony Faustin began crafting his wines in 2008. The Willamette Valley bottlings range from Chardonnay to a late-harvest Gewürztraminer.

Bertony Faustin of Abbey Creed Vineyard / Photo by Dan Hawk

Alexis George Wines: Founder George named this Lodi, CA winery after his two children. It produces Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Moscato.

Amour Genéve: To make the world’s first blue wine, Coviello Salines figured out a way to add natural pigmentation from Italian Nebbiolo grapes to fermenting Spanish Verdejo.

Bodkin Wines: Founded by Chris Christensen in 2011, this Sonoma, CA-based winery was the first to create sparkling Sauvignon Blanc in the U.S.

Brown Estate: Bassett and Marcela Brown bought an abandoned Napa Valley ranch in 1980 and turned it into the region’s first Black-owned winery. The label debuted its own line of wines in 2000.

Charles Wine Company: Founded by Paul Charles, De’Ondre Charles and Dr. Cherise Moore in the Sierra foothills of eastern Lodi, Charles Wine specializes in Zinfandel, Symphony, Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.

Charles Woodson Intercept: After a stint in Napa Valley, former NFL star Charles Woodson launched Intercept, which sources grapes from California’s Central Coast.

Corner 103: Named after the location of its downtown Sonoma tasting room, Corner 103 is the brainchild of former financier Lloyd Davis.

Darjean Jones Wines: Owner/Winemaker Dawna Darjean Jones, Ph.D. is behind this California label that sources from well-known vineyards in Napa and Sonoma.

Davidson Wine Co.: Owner Lindsey Williams opened this North Carolina urban winery in 2019. By using sources from around the world, she’s able to produce over a dozen different wines.

Davine Wines: Elena “Davine” Smith owns this label that produces Chardonnay, Moscato and bottled sangria, among others.

Domaine Curry: Ayesha and Sydel Curry, wife and sister of NBA star Stephen Curry, debuted their new label with the 2016 vintage. They currently produce a Cabernet Sauvignon and a Sauvignon Blanc.

Earl Stevens Selections: Rap veteran Earl Stevens, also known as E-40, founded his own wine line in 2013. He is also behind the Tequila line, E. Cuarenta.

ENAT Winery: Located in East Oakland, Herb Houston and Debbie Gebeyehu started ENAT in 1999. The winery specializes in tej, a traditional Ethiopian honey wine.

Esrever Wines: Jasmine Dunn, Tyshemia Ladson, and Ashanti Middleton founded their New York wine label in 2018. It currently offers a Pinot Grigio/Moscato white blend.

Eunice Chiweshe Goldstein Winery: Actor/Writer Eunice Chiweshe Goldstein added Oregon’s first Black female winery owner to her resumé in 2018. The brand currently bottles a Blanc de Blanc and a Pinot Noir.

FLO Wine: Musician Marcus Johnson expanded his musical publishing business with wine in 2012. The line’s offerings include a red blend, Chardonnay and Moscato.

Fog Crest Vineyard: This Russian River Valley-based winery was founded by Rosalind Manoogian with husband, James in 1997. They focus on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

Free Range Flower Winery: Founders Aaliyah Nitoto and Sam Prestianni source local, organic flowers for this Oakland, CA-based winery. Small-batch offerings include lavender and rose wines.

Frichette Winery: Shae Frichette is co-owner of this winery in Washington’s Red Mountain appellation. Seven varieties go into the line with an annual production of 2,000 cases.

Indigené Cellars: Raymond Smith is behind this family-run Carmel Valley, CA, winery established in 2008.

J. Moss Wines: James and Janet Moss founded their small family winery in 2000. They source from their own small Napa Valley vineyard, as well as other notable sites in the region.

Jenny Dawn Cellars: In 2016, Jennifer MacDonald, owner/winemaker, established the first urban winery in Wichita, Kansas. With grapes from both California and Kansas, she is the state’s first African-American winemaker.

La Fête du Rosé: Founder Donae Burston’s previous career included working with luxury wine brands. His rosé label, produced at Saint-Tropez’s Domaine Bertaud Belieu, launched across the U.S. in 2019.

Le Loup Gris: Partners James Pendergrass, Pete Coticchia and Michael Jeter launched this California label in 2014, and named it after the grey wolves that once roamed the Napa Valley.

L’Objet Noir: Winemaker Dan Glover is behind this Sonoma-based label. Grapes for the line’s Pinot Noir are sourced from the renown Bacigalupi Vineyard.

Phil Long, Longevity Wines / Photo by Ron Essex

Longevity Wines: Founded in 2008 by Phil Long, also president of the Association of African American Vintners, this Livermore Valley, CA, winery produces Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay bottlings.

Love Cork Screw: After 17 years in the industry, négociant Chrishon Lampley established her own wine brand in 2013. The label’s various offerings are available throughout the Chicago area.

LVE Collection: Musician John Legend teamed up with Napa Valley’s Raymond Vineyard in 2015 to create the LVE wine label.

L’Tonya Renee Red Blend: Actor Tonya Renée Banks launched her own wine label in 2018. The company’s red blend is made in partnership with Livermore Valley’s Longevity Wines.

Markell-Bani: Lifelong friends Gregory Markell Lawrence and Sean Bani Yisrael are behind this label based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The two wines are crafted from Concord and Niagara grapes grown in Pennsylvania.

Maison Noir Wines: Sommelier and winemaker André Hueston Mack launched his Willamette Valley, OR, brand in 2007. In addition to bottles, Maison Noir Wines includes an online shop with wine-inspired T-shirts.

McBride Sisters: Not only do Andréa and Robin McBride runs this wine label that sources from California and New Zealand, they also created the SHE CAN professional development scholarship fund for women in the wine industry.

Michael Rose Cellars: Just north of Paso Robles, CA lies this San Miguel winery that produces small-lot, estate-grown wines. The range includes Syrah, Chenin Blanc, Alicante Bouschet and other varieties.

MYX Fusions: Musician Nikki Minaj created this line of sangrias and flavored Moscatos, which launched in 2013.

Okapi Wines: Dan and Kim Johnson turned a Napa Valley walnut orchard into Jungle Love Vineyard in 2006. Today, it produces rosé, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, among others.

Ole’ Orleans Wines: New Orleans native Kim Lewis established her label in 2018 from local Louisiana vineyards. It offers semi-sweet and dry white wines.

P. Harrell Wines: San Francisco native Paula Harrell founded her Sonoma County label in 2015. The line includes a Riesling, a Zinfandel, and an Aglianico and Syrah rosé.

Sapiens: Co-founder Tolu Obikunle was inspired to create a range of non-alcoholic wines because she often sought alcohol-free options while networking with colleagues on Wall Street. Sapiens offers a Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo blend, and a sparkling rosé, both with 0% abv (alcohol by volume).

Shoe Crazy Wine: Founder Gwen Hurt, along with daughter Brittny, are behind this Virginia label. They work with vineyards in California, Washington and Bordeaux.

Simply Love Wines: This Chicago-based brand is the dream of Barbara Jackson. She created the label in 2013, with grapes from Napa Valley.

Sip & Share Wines: With grapes from Lodi, California, Owner Nicole Kearney crafts her vegan wines in Indiana. After experimenting with sangrias, she unveiled her Seven Words Wine Collection in 2019.

Sosabe Wines: Cape Verdean Nuias DePina worked at Raymond Vineyards before starting his own Napa Valley label in 2003.

Stoney Wines: Established in 2019, Winemaker Donna Stoney is Oregon’s first Black female winemaker. A portion of sales proceeds is donated to support programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Stover Oaks Vineyard & Winery: In 2004, Lou and Jan Garcia took over this El Dorado, CA, estate. They source grapes from their own five-acre vineyard as well as other sites throughout California.

Stuyvesant Champagne: Named after Bedford-Stuyvesant, the Brooklyn, NY, neighborhood, Marvina Robinson debuted her Champagne brand in 2020. The label’s vineyards are in Champagne’s Marne Valley, the Ardre Valley and the Aisne.

Taste Collection Cellars: Owner Rhonda Russell bases her brand in Houston with wines from Lodi, CA.

Theopolis Vineyards: Attorney Theodora Lee founded her five-acre Mendocino County, CA, vineyard in 2003. She’s received widespread acclaim for her Petite Sirah bottlings.

Tympany Vineyards: Louis Jordan harvested his first Sonoma County vintage in 2006. He currently specializes in Cabernet Sauvignon.

Vina Sympatica: Founder Sherrijon Gaspard is behind this line of red, white and violet sparkling wines made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Colombard.

Virgo Cellars: Winemaker Stefanie Jackson established this Oakland, CA-based urban winery in 2007. She sources her grapes from throughout California.

Vision Cellars: Owner Edward Lee “Mac” McDonald established this Sonoma County label in 1995. He is also notable the founder of the Association of African American Vintners.

Wade Cellars: NBA star Dwayne Wade partners with Napa Valley’s Pahlmeyer wines for this label established in 2015. The three-bottle line includes a red blend, a rosé and a white wine.

Wachira Wines: Kenyan-American Dr. Christine Wachira founded this Alameda, CA, urban winery in 2019. Also serving as the winemaker, Wachira sources from throughout California.

Wandering Wines: Headquartered in Coconut Grove, FL, Wandering Wines’ line includes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and others from Maule Valley, Chile. Co-founder Mathias Kiwanuka is the grandson of Uganda’s first prime minister, and was a 2006 first-round NFL draft pick and played nine seasons with the New York Giants.

Wifey Brands: Veneto-grown Raposo grapes star in Wifey Sparkling Rosé, which launched in October 2019.

Zafa Wines: Vigneronne Krista Scruggs, a Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 honoree, produces bottles from biodynamic hybrid varieties, coferments with cider apples, and uses grapes from both Vermont and Texas.

France

Armand de Brignac: Hip hop legend Jay-Z, also known as Shawn Carter, is behind this brand, made in partnership with the Cattier family in Chigny-les-Roses, Champagne.

Cheurlin Champagne: NBA star Isiah Thomas partnered with Thomas Cheurlin to bring this Champagne to the U.S. market in 2017.

La Fete du Rosé: Founder and CEO Donae Burston launched this rosé from St. Tropez in 2019 with the goal to reach multicultural drinkers. Burston makes donations on behalf of La Fete to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and Color of Change.

Marie Césaire: The sister-and-brother team Marie-Inés and Jaïro Romell founded this Champagne house in 2015. The sparkling wines are produced from grapes grown in Écueil.

Germany

Edelheiss Wine: Founders Rodney E. Foster and Reemt Peters produce these organic German wines. The line includes a fortified red wine and two sparkling wines.

Italy

Il Palazzone: New Yorker Richard Parsons bought this Tuscan estate in 2000. He visits Italy for harvest and blending, including the label’s Brunello di Montalcino.

Kenya

Saikeri Estate: Farming two hours outside of Nairobi, in the Great Rift Valley, Winemaker Mukami Mwarania is one of few vintners in Kenya.

How BLACC is Changing the Game in South Africa

South Africa

Adama Wines: A part of the Bosman Adama Group, this majority Black-owned wine company is also 30% owned by women.

Aslina Wines: Established by South Africa’s first Black female winemaker, Ntsiki Biyela, Aslina offers varietal red and white wines as well as a Bordeaux-style red blend called Umsasane, or The Martiarch.

Bayede: Offers a vast array of wines that are sourced from throughout the Cape Winelands, including Stellenbosch, Robertson, Franschhoek and Paarl.

Blouvlei Wines: At this brand from Mont du Toit Cellar, employees have ownership stake and a direct interest in the sale of the wines.

Botébo Wines: Located in Jacobsdal, Botébo is a nearly 120-acre farm, approximately 44 of which are under vine and produce a range of selections.

Cape Dreams: This brand strives to make an impact through dedication to a variety of notable projects and initiatives, including the Biodiversity Wine Initiative and WIETA accreditation.

Carmen Stevens Wines: Established winemaker Carmen Stevens has launched her own line of wines thanks to the support of angel funding through Naked Wines.

Compagniesdrift: This Black empowerment business is jointly owned by the Myburgh Family Trust and the Meerlust Workers Trust, which is comprised of 72 people with long-standing relationships to three long-established local wine farms.

Doornkraal Wines: The Doornkraal farm features small-scale wine production that utilizes traditional methods like high-density planting and non-mechanical cultivation.

Earthbound: Produced in Papkuilsfontein, outside Darling on the Cape West Coast, the portfolio of wines is organically produced in line with Fairtrade principles.

Epicuriean Wine: Established by four friends with a passion for wine, this brand sources grapes from various vineyards across the Cape, particularly in Stellenbosch for red grapes and Elgin for white grapes.

Fairvalley: Established by the Fairvalley Farm Workers Association, which currently boasts more than 60 member families of the organization, the Fairtrade-certified brand produces a quality value-minded range of red and white wines.

Five’s Reserve: This range of wines is a co-owned by Van Loveren Family Vineyard and its Employee Trust, with 100% of the grapes sourced from the company’s empowerment initiative, De Goree.

House of Mandela: With lineage and legacy to Madiba, through imagery, name and presentation, the House of Mandela wines strive to tell stories of the rainbow nation and offer a bridge between past, present and future.

Imvula Wines: Established by Siyabonga Mvula, Imvula is a 100% Black-owned South African wine brand that offers a range of wines sourced from the Robertson district of the Western Cape.

Inkosi Wines: A brand from Mayime Winery and the Mayime Promary Agricultural Cooperative in the Eastern Cape, the Inkosi line, named after the Xhosa/Zulu word for “the Chief,” features Chardonnay and Pinotage.

J9 Wines: Founded by Janine Petersen, one of the youngest Black wine-company owners in the country, J9 sources wine from winemakers across the Western Cape.

Koni Wines: Founded by Koni Maliehe in 2015 to impact the lives of South Africans through job creation and a sustainable legacy for future generations, the line currently features varietal red wines and blends.

Koopmanskloof: Set in the Bottelary Hills subregion of Stellenbosch, this Fairtrade-certified brand invests in numerous programs that promote social, economic and environmental development.

Kumusha Wines: Created and crafted by sommelier Tinashe Nyamudoka, Kumusha, which translates to “your home, roots or origin” in the Zimbabwean Shona language, features a white and red blend sourced from the Breedekloof Valley.

La RicMal: Originally from KwaZulu-Natal, father and son team of Malcolm and Ricardo Green lead this WIETA- and Flocert-certified brand that focuses on local job creation, social upliftment and long-term sustainability.

Land of Hope: A partnership between the Land of Hope Trust and Radford Dale, the brand’s portfolio features a range of white and red wines that benefit the trust and member families through high-quality education and skills development.

Lathithá Wines: Founded by Sheila Hlanjwa, this Stellenbosch-based Black Economic Empowerment initiative supported by Hoopenburg Wine Estate focuses on red and rosé production.

Libby’s Pride: After years spent working in the wine industry, founder Elizabeth “Libby” Petersen began Libby’s Price Wines offers a range of varietal red and white wines, as well as a signature red blend.

Liz Ogumbo Wines: Kenya-born musician and fashion designer Liz Ogumbo’s namesake range includes a Pinotage, Chenin Blanc-Chardonnay blend, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.

M’Hudi: From the Setswana word mohudi, which means harvester, the Rangaka family runs this Stellenbosch-based wine brand that includes red, white and sparkling selections.

Magna Carta Wines: This Franschhoek-based natural wine brand from winemaker Mphumelei Ndlangisa offers unique, small-production selections with equally intriguing label design.

Mosi Wines: A native of Zimbabwe, owner and winemaker Joseph T. Dhafana named his brand, which includes a Chenin Blanc and Syrah, after the village he grew up in.

PaardenKloof: One of the first South African Black-owned wine estates to cultivate their own vineyards, the brand features single-vineyard, single-varietal wines from Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc.

Paul Roos Wine: Produced by Paul Roos Farming, the Roos family empowerment project at Ruse en Vrede near Stellenbosch, the Paul Roos line features both a red and white blend that benefits education programs on the farm.

Sena Wines: Comprised of a red, white and rosé selection, this line of de-alcoholized wines are crafted by founder and winemaker Ziyanda Tutu.

Davidson Wine Co. / Photo by Jenny Renee

Ses’Fikile: Founded 15 years ago by a group of women through an empowerment deal with Flagstone Winery, today, the brand is crafted by a team of winemakers and a viticulturist in the Stellenbosch district of the Cape Winelands.

Seven Sisters: Driven by the passion of the seven sisters of the Brutus family, this label features an equal lineup of varietal-labeled red and white wines.

Siwela Wines: Established in the Western Cape by Siwela Sweetness Masoga, the brand lineup includes a red, rosé and sparkling wine from grapes sourced throughout the Stellenbosch district.

Solms-Delta: This historic Franschhoek winery, with a vast portfolio of entry to reserve-level wines, is now 50% owned by the workers and residents of the farm.

Son of the Soil Wines: The third generation of wine-industry workers in his family, Founder and Director Denzel Swarts launched this range of three wines, a Chenin Blanc, Pinotage and Méthode Cap Classique (MCC) sparkling wine, in 2018.

Tesselaarsdal Wines: After 15 years in the wine business, Owner Berene Sauls was provided the opportunity to launch her own brand with the assistance of Hamilton Russell Vineyards and its team. The brand currently focuses on Pinot Noir from the Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge.

The Bridge of Hope Wines: Founded by Rosemary Mosia, this family business produces three different collections: The Classic Collection. Premium Collection and Reserve Collection.

Thembi Wines: Established in 2009 as a joint venture between Thembi Tobie and Boland Vineyard International, but now exclusively owned by Tobie since 2012, the Fairtrade-certified brand includes four varietal wines, two white and two red.

Thokozani: Organized and overseen by Managing Director Denise Stubbs, this progressive Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) initiative boasts 85 staff shareholders that represents 80% ownership of the wine brand and its portfolio of wine offerings.

Women in Wine: Founded in 2006 and the first Black-owned wine company controlled and managed entirely by women, the brand only sources wine from farms that comply with socio-economic legislation with specific reference to ethical and environmental practices and Black economic empowerment.