When breaking out a new wine, one might consider the grape variety, the region from which it hails or if the bottle is chilled to the right temperature. But we’d argue it’s equally as important to consider who is working behind the scenes to bring the bottle to you. It’s become increasingly obvious that there’s a disparity between the number of wine labels owned by minority groups versus those owned by non-BIPOC groups, so we’re bringing you the best Black-owned wine labels to add some diversity to your collection.
There are many reasons for inequality in the wine world. They notably include the American Homestead Act of 1862, which doled out cheap land parcels exclusively to white recipients. By the time the act was repealed in 1976, 270 million acres had been transferred to 1.6 million people. We’re still living with the act’s consequences: In 2002, statistics showed that white people owned 98% of private U.S. agricultural land.
As awareness of these inequities rises, many oenophiles are turning to Black-owned wine labels in an effort to counter the narrative and support minority businesses. These winemakers are finally having their moment: From the McBride Sisters’ well-known wine labels, including Black Girl Magic, to new films about Black winemakers, the profile of Black-owned wine operations has never been higher. Also helpful are initiatives like the Buy Black movement and spaces like Black Girls Wine Society and the Blacks in Wine Symposium, not to mention the rise of organizations that support Black drinks professionals.
How Many Black-Owned Wines Are There?
According to Bloomberg, only 0.1% of the entire wine industry in the U.S. in 2020 was Black-owned. In 2021, News-Press reported that only .06% of wineries were Black-owned and a 2019 survey of wine-industry professionals found that only 2% of respondents identified as Black or African.
Where to Buy Black-Owned Wine
While many wine shops and online retailers sell some of these wines, we encourage you to buy from Black-owned wine shops, online distribution centers like Shoe Crazy Wine or directly from the wineries themselves, if possible.
Beyond wines, there are also many Black-owned distilleries, Black-owned breweries and Black food and beverage producers making truly impressive products.
Now, it’s more important than ever to support Black-owned winemakers across the globe. From a family-run Champagne house to a Chicago négociant, we break down some of our favorite Black-owned wine companies.
To share additional retailers to include in this list, please email editor@wineenthusiast.net.
Black-Owned Wine Labels to Know by Region
United States
Explore by State:
California
Alexis George Wines: Founder George named this Lodi, CA winery after his two children. It produces Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Merlot and a red blend.
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. You’ll also find Zinfandel, Muscat Canelli, a white dessert wine made from late-harvest Sauvignon Blanc and more.
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 Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
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.
Charles Woodson Intercept: After a stint in Napa Valley, former NFL star Charles Woodson launched Intercept, which sources grapes from California’s Central Coast.
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, Sauvignon Blanc and recently debuted the “Gentlemen’s Cut,” a Bordeaux varietal blend.
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.
FLO Wine: Musician Marcus Johnson expanded his musical publishing business with wine in 2012. The line’s offerings include a Chardonnay, Cabernet Sauvignon and rosé.
Fog Crest Vineyard: This Russian River Valley-based winery was founded by Rosalind Manoogian with her 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 marigold wines.
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.
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 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 renowned Bacigalupi Vineyard.
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, among others.
LVE Collection: Musician John Legend teamed up with Napa Valley’s Raymond Vineyard in 2015 to create the LVE wine label.
McBride Sisters: Perhaps best known for their Black Girl Magic wines, the McBride Sisters also produce SHE CAN canned wines and their signature McBridge Sisters Collection. Andréa and Robin McBride source from California and New Zealand, and also created the SHE CAN Fund professional development scholarship fund for women in the wine industry.
McClain Cellars: With locations in Laguna Beach, Irvine and Solvang, Jason and Sofia McClain’s rock and roll tastingroom-cum-lounge offers cheekily-named wines with a laid-back vibe.
Michael Rose Cellars: Just north of Paso Robles, CA lies this San Miguel winery that produces small-lot, estate-grown wines. The range includes Grenache, Merlot, Malbec and other varieties.
MYX Fusions: Musician Nikki Minaj created this line of sangrias, light Chardonays 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 and Sauvignon Blanc, among others.
P. Harrell Wines: San Francisco native Paula Harrell founded her Sonoma County label in 2015. The line includes a Riesling, Zinfandel and an Aglianico and Syrah rosé.
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.
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.
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 has 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.
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 the notable 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 line includes a Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon and rosé.
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.
Florida
Mermosa: Florida’s first Black woman-owned wine brand, founded by Desiree Noisette, specializes in sparkling wines. The brand is inspired by Noisette’s ancestor, Celestine Noisette, a Black Haitian woman whose white French husband Philippe Noisette held ownership of her and their children to protect them from slavery. When Philippe died, he left all of his possessions to Celestine and her children, who were all emancipated.
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, 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.
Illinois
Davine Wines: Elena “Davine” Smith owns this label that produces Chardonnay, Riesling, Merlot and more.
Love Cork Screw: After 17 years in the industry, négociant Chrishon Lampley established her own wine brand in 2013. The label’s various offerings include Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and more.
Simply Love Wines: This Chicago-based brand is the dream of Barbara Jackson. She created the label in 2013, with grapes from Napa Valley.
Kansas
Jenny Dawn Cellars: In 2016, owner/winemaker Jennifer MacDonald established the first urban winery in Wichita, Kansas. With grapes from both California and Kansas, she is the state’s first African-American winemaker.
New York
Esrever Wines: Jasmine Dunn, Tyshemia Ladson and Ashanti Middleton founded their New York wine label in 2018. It currently offers a Moscato and sparking white wine blend.
Gotham Winery: Owned by Kwaw Amos, Gotham aims to produce minimal-intervention wines to showcase the grape’s potential, sourcing from the Finger Lakes region, California and beyond.
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).
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. Learn more about Brooklyn’s first black-owned Champagne brand on our podcast.
North Carolina
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 30 different wines.
Ohio
Markell-Bani: Lifelong friends Gregory Markell Lawrence and Sean Bani Yisrael are behind this label based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The three sweet wines are crafted from Concord and Niagara grapes grown in Pennsylvania and Maryland.
Oregon
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 the Pinot Noir Rosé.
Amour Genéve: To make the world’s first blue wine, Coviello Salines figured out a way to add natural pigmentation from Italian Nebbiolo grapes and Spanish Verdejo.
Chosen Family Wines: Former NBA star Channing Frye had an epiphany after tasting some Oregon Pinot years ago. His “passion project” turned into a full-blown obsession by the time he launched Chosen Family Wines with his “chosen family,” Jacob, a business strategist, and Chase, the winemaker and grower.
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 Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Syrah and more.
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.
Meadows Estate Vineyard and Winery: In the Umpqua Valley of Southern Oregon, Meadows Estate, formerly known as MarshAnne Landing, aims to make delicious wines from Bordeaux and Rhone varieties grown on their 17-acre vineyard.
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.
Vermont
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.
Virginia
Fifty Leven: Virginia native Kindra Dionne launched this label in her home state in 2021. The portfolio spans classic Petit Verdot, pear and apple wines and a port-style dessert wine that claims to be reminiscent of crème brulé.
Michael Lavelle Wines: Founded by friends Aaron “Michael” Coad, Terrence “Lavelle” Low, Devin Kennedy and Brandon Crump, this company aims to bring wine to underrepresented communities.
Shoe Crazy Wine: Founder Gwen Hurt, along with daughter Brittny, are behind this Virginia label. They work with vineyards in California, Washington and Bordeaux.
Washington
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.
France
Armand de Brignac: Hip hop legend Jay-Z 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. The wine is produced in partnership with winemakers of Chateau Saint-Maur. 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, a Riesling 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.
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.
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 an ownership stake and 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 with 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.
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 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.
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 white wines.
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, the father and son team of Malcolm and Ricardo Green leads 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 Pride. Libby’s Pride 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 designs.
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.
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 Ultra-Premium Collection.
Thembi Wines: Established in 2009 as a joint venture between Thembi Tobie and Boland Vineyard International, it is 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 represent 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.
This article was updated on March 3, 2023, to include additional producers.
Last Updated: May 8, 2023
