#BuyBlackWine For Black History Month

With an estimated 80,000 wineries worldwide, the US is 4th in the world in wine production. However, often absent from the narrative are the independently run, Black-owned wineries with roots dating back as far as the early 1940’s with John June Lewis, Sr. of Virginia. A 3-day virtual event during Black History Month will cover an array of topics about diversity in the wine industry and will highlight some of the world’s most esteemed winemakers of African descent.

Urban Connoisseurs is partnering with Uncorked & Cultured, a lifestyle media platform, to host the inaugural 2021 International Winemakers Summit (IWS) February 19-21, 2021

Sessions will educate consumers on topics such as Wine Trends; Terroir and The Difference; The Diverse Aromas and Flavors in Wine; and so much more. Twelve

Black award-winning winemakers from around the world will be highlighted.

Featured winemakers across the African diaspora, include:

1 Chris Christensen – Bodkin Wines (Sonoma, CA)

2 Phil Long – Longevity Wines (Livermore Valley, CA)

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3 Theodora Lee – Theopolis Vineyards (Yorkville, CA)

4 Marie-Inès Romelle – Marie Césaire Champagne (Champagne, FR)

5 Raymond Smith – Indigené Cellars (Paso Robles, CA)

6 Cheramie Law – Cheramie Wines (TX)

7 James Moss – J Moss Wines (Napa Valley, CA)

8 Tinashe Nyamudoka – Kumusha Wines (Breedekloof Valley, SA)

9 Steve Byfield – Nyarai Cellars (Niagara, CN)

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10 Nicole Kearney – Sip and Share Wines (IN)

11 Shae Frichette – Frichette Winery (Red Mountain, WA)

12 Dan Glover – L’Objet Wines (Healdsburg, CA)

“I’m so excited to celebrate 12 Black winemakers, to honor them for their contributions in the wine industry and being the face of possibilities for the next generation of Black winemakers. There are over 10,000 wineries in the US. Winemakers of African descent represent less than 1% of this industry,” said IWS and The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund founder, Marcia Jones. “With the increase of wine sales last year, I feel it’s time to celebrate Black professionals across all industries, and my goal for Black History Month and beyond is to encourage consumers to support Black winemakers.”

In addition to supporting winemakers of color, the International Winemakers Summit will host a virtual brunch with three award-winning chefs, Chef Jerome Brown, author of Carolina Soul, and competitor on Extreme Chef and the Food Network; Chef Sabrina Tinsley, co-owner of Osteria La Spiga and Iron Chef contender against Bobby Flay; and Ricky Simpson, Jr., chef to the Atlanta Hawks and 8th Place winner of the World Food Competition. 

In addition, Uncorked & Cultured will host weekly interview segments of wine industry professionals, distributors, wine shops, and wine reviews from winemakers of African descent.

An upcoming Urban Connoisseurs Wine Club is planned to offer members the opportunity to receive quarterly shipments of four varieties of wines from four different Black winemakers.

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Visit Website:

https://www.internationalwinemakerssummit.com/