A Guide to 150+ Black-Owned Wineries in the US and Abroad

Have you ever wondered how many wine producers there are in the world? Reports say that as of 2022, that number is around 65,000. According to 2023 figures, more than 11,500 of those wineries are in the United States.

Wine Institute statistics show that for 2021, U.S. wine sales totaled $78.4 billion. California — #1 wine producer in the United States producing more than 80% of all U.S. wine, home to nearly half of all U.S. wineries, and 4^th largest producer of the world’s wine after Italy, Spain, and France — was responsible for $45.6 billion of those sales.

Have you ever wondered how many Black-owned wineries there are in the world?

I asked myself the same question. To try to answer that, I need to take you back to 2003. I don’t recall exactly how I ran across the article, but the piece was about a group of three Black winemakers in Northern California. I found the article to be very interesting and eye-opening. After reading it, I made a vow to somehow get up to Napa one day to visit them.

The trio of winemakers mentioned in the article — Vance Sharp III of Sharp Cellars, Dr. Ernest Bates of Black Coyote Winery, and Edward Lee “Mac” McDonald of Vision Cellars — founded the Association of African American Vintners, or AAAV (Triple A-V as members call it) in 2002, thus becoming the organization’s first members. Fast forward 20 years and AAAV has seen its ranks increase to over 200 members across several categories of membership, with much of that growth coming in the last three years.

Per AAAV stats on LinkedIn:

• 35% of Black-owned wine businesses have operated for six years or more
• 46% of Black wine entrepreneurs hold at least one wine certification
• 50% of Black wine entrepreneurs hold jobs outside of the wine industry
• 88% of Black wine entrepreneurs are self-funded, or funded by family and friends

When I reached out to AAAV, they responded with a bushel of information. Phil Long, founder and winemaker of Longevity Wines, and president of AAAV, says, “Less than 1% of American winemakers are Black. AAAV leaders are aware of approximately 70 Black-owned wine brands in the U.S. (this includes both wineries and brands that outsource and oversee the actual winemaking). Approximately one third of the brands we know of are woman-owned.”

“Membership in the Association of African American Vintners has grown by more than 500% since June 2020,” according to Long. He adds, “A flood of donations has enabled the once tiny organization to fund several scholarship programs and start an educational webinar series with Wine Enthusiast. Leaders also have created a AAAV store that is now one of the largest collections of Black-owned wine brands online.”

Regarding those scholarships, Long explains, “In 2021, AAAV awarded 36 scholarships with a total value of approximately $46,000 to help pave the path into the wine industry for people of color and increase diversity. Recipients are using the scholarships to study enology, viticulture and wine business and to earn wine industry certifications such as WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) levels 1-4.”

Even with all that said, Long stated in a Visit California article, “We are just now beginning to create awareness that Black-owned wineries even exist.” (Full disclosure: Until I read that article in 2003 about the creation of AAAV, I didn’t know Black-owned wineries existed, either.)

It took 19 years, but I kept my vow to visit some of the AAAV member wineries. What I learned from the owners and winemakers on that trip, and what I experienced tasting the award-winning fruit of their labor, made it clear that I needed to throw out almost everything I thought I knew about wine and start over. That eventually led me to embark on an ongoing quest, the results of which you are now reading.

Now you might be asking yourself: Why aren’t there more Black-owned wineries? Why can’t I find wines from African-American vintners in my local restaurant or store? Why don’t I see more Black winemakers, producers, and enthusiasts shown in marketing campaigns? Why do so few African-American vintners have their own vineyards? All good questions. I won’t address them here, but the Emerald Palate article “Where Are All the Black-Owned Wineries?” does dive into them. (Great article, by the way.)

The wineries in this post are divided into three sections: 1) Black-owned wineries in California, 2) Black-owned wineries in the United States outside of California, and 3) Black-owned wineries around the world outside of the United States. Each winery is either a fully Black-owned or co-owned wine brand, and/or has a Black winemaker.

I cannot say this is the most definitive list of Black-owned wineries out there, or the most complete – there are some that I am not yet familiar with. But this roll call is what I have come up with so far in my research. It will continue to grow as I find more of them and learn more about them. If you know of any that are not on this list, please contact me.

Here, then, is a list of Black-owned wineries and vintners in California, the United States, and around the world.

Black-Owned Wineries in California

Below is a list of Black-owned wineries in California. (Some of these wineries are featured in my article “7 Amazing Black-Owned Wineries You Should Visit in California“.)

1. Altipiano Vineyard (Escondido)*
2. Alexis George Wines (Lodi)
3. Amoy Wines (Vallejo)
4. Angwin Estates Vineyards (Napa)
5. Ayaba Wines (Oakland)
6. Baker Family Wines (Sacramento) – Owned by MLB great Dusty Baker
7. Bass Note Sangria (Daly City)
8. Bee D’Vine (Sonoma)
9. Bodkin Wines (Healdsburg) – Known for creating America’s first Sauvignon Blanc with bubbles
10. Brown Estate (Napa)
11. Center Cork (Fresno)
12. Charles Wine Company (Los Angeles)
13. Charles Woodson’s Intercept (Paso Robles) – NFL legend Charles Woodson’s brand
14. CoCo Noir Wine Shop & Bar (Oakland) – Sells other BIPOC wine brands
15. Corner 103 (Sonoma)*
16. Darjean Jones Wines (Napa)
17. Earl Stevens Selections – Rapper E-40’s label
18. ENAT Winery (Oakland) – Producers of traditional Ethiopian honey wine
19. Flowers Family Vineyard (Napa)
20. Fog Crest Vineyards (Sebastopol)*
21. Free Range Flower Winery (Livermore)* – Owner Aaliyah Nitoto makes wine from flowers
22. Generational Wealth Wines (Los Angeles)
23. Heritage Link Brands (Culver City) – Reseller of wines from South Africa
24. Housley Napa Valley (Napa) – Owned by Adam Housley and actress Tamera Mowry-Housley
25. Indigené Cellars (Paso Robles)*
26. Moss Wines (Napa)
27. Klinker Brick Winery (Lodi)*
28. Kwaya Cellars (Frey Vineyards) (Redwood Valley)
29. Legend Vintage Exclusive (LVE) (St. Helena) – Singer/songwriter/producer John Legend’s brand
30. L’Objet Wines (Healdsburg)
31. Longevity Wines (Livermore)*
32. Longmire Cellars (Bakersfield)
33. McBride Sisters (Oakland)* – The largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S.
34. McCarter Cellars (Sonoma)*
35. McClain Cellars (Laguna Beach, Irvine, Solvang)
36. Mellowood Vineyard (Fair Play)
37. Michael Lavelle Wines (Napa)
38. Michael Rose Cellars (San Miguel)
39. Oceano Wines (San Luis Obispo)
40. Okapi Vineyards (Napa)*
41. P. Harrell Wines (Oakland)*
42. Rideau Vineyard (Solvang)* – Started by Iris Duplantier Rideau, first Black/Creole woman winery owner in the U.S.
43. Sapere Aude Wines (Venice)
44. SaSy Wines (San Diego)
45. Sosabe Cellars (Napa Valley)
46. Stephen Hemmert Wines (Antelope Valley)
47. Stoudemire Wines – NBA star Amar’e Stoudemire’s brand
48. The Smith
49. Theopolis Vineyards (Yorkville)*
50. Thomas T Thomas Vineyards (Philo)*
51. Tympany Vineyards (Healdsburg)
52. Uncorqed Selection (Westlake Village)
53. Viarae (Healdsburg) – Actress/writer/producer Issa Rae’s brand
54. Vice Wine, The (Los Angeles)
55. Vinture Wine Co. (California)
56. Virgo Cellars (Oakland)
57. Vision Cellars (Windsor)*
58. Wachira Wines and Karibu by Wachira (Alameda)*
59. Wade Cellars (Napa) – Owned by NBA star Dwayne Wade
60. Ward Four Wines (Sonoma)
61. Wine Noire, The (Berkeley) (Import, export, distribution)

Black-Owned Wineries in the United States

Below is a list of Black-owned wineries in the United States. (Black-owned wineries and winemakers in California are listed above.)

1. Abbey Creek Vineyards (Oregon)
2. Amour Genève (New York) – Developers of the world’s first naturally blue wine
3. Boyd Cru Wines (Maryland)
4. Chapelton Vineyards (Texas)
5. Cheramie Wine (Texas)
6. Cheurlin Champagne (Illinois) – Owned by NBA star Isaiah Thomas
7. Chosen Family Wines (Oregon)
8. Coronado Vineyards (Arizona)
9. Cyrenity Sips Winery (Pennsylvania)
10. Davidson Wine Company (North Carolina)
11. DaVine Wines (Illinois)
12. Delaplane Cellars (Virginia)
13. Dossier (Washington)
14. Dotson-Cervantes Wines (Texas)
15. Edelheiss (Virginia)
16. Eunice Chiweshe Goldstein Winery (Oregon)
17. FLO Wine (Washington, D.C.) See also Marcus Johnson
18. Franklin Vines (Texas)
19. Frichette Winery (Washington)
20. Fifty Leven Collection (Virginia)
21. Gotham Winery (New York)
22. Guilty Grape, The (Texas)
23. Ikavina Wine and Spirits (Washington, DC)
24. J-Harden Wines – NBA star James Harden’s brand
25. Jenny Dawn Cellars (Kansas)
26. Kai-Simone Winery (Texas)
27. Kalchē Wine Cooperative (Vermont)
28. LaShelle’ Wines (Washington)
29. Love Cork Screw (Illinois)
30. Lovelee Wine (New Jersey)
31. Maison Noir Wines (Oregon)
32. Mark & Val Wines (Pennsylvania)
33. Markell-Bani (Ohio)
34. McCollum Heritage 91 (Oregon)
35. Meadows Estate Vineyard & Winery (Oregon)
36. Melanated Wine (North Carolina)
37. Mermosa (Florida)
38. Mitchell & Mitchell Wines (Pennsylvania)
39. Mr. Biggs Wines (New York)
40. Montfleur Duvin (Maryland)
41. MYX Fusions (West Virginia) – Co-owned by rapper Nikki Minaj
42. Olé Orleans Wines (Louisiana)
43. Onyx Zealot (North Carolina) – Distributor of wine and beer
44. Opulence Wines (Michigan)
45. Philosophy Winery & Vineyard (Maryland)
46. Pur Noire Urban Wineries (Texas)
47. ROCO Winery (Oregon)
48. Seven Springs Farm and Vineyard (North Carolina)
49. Shoe Crazy Wine (Virginia)
50. Simply Love Wines (Illinois)
51. Sip & Share Wines (Indiana)
52. Smokey Robinson Wines (Pennsylvania) – Yes, that Smokey Robinson
53. Stoney Wines (Oregon)
54. Stover Oaks Winery (Ohio)
55. Stuyvesant Champagne (New York)
56. Sweet Vines Farm Winery (Virginia)
57. Taste Collection Cellars (Texas)
58. Towns Wine Co. (Massachusetts)
59. Vette’s Vineyards (Ohio) – Wine Inculturated. Tastings only. Vette’s Vineyards coming soon
60. Wifey Brands (Florida)
61. Wine Vibes Micro Winery and Bistro (Texas)
62. Wondry Cocktail Wine (Texas)
63. Zafa Wines (Vermont)

Black-Owned Wineries Around the World

Below is a list of Black-owned wineries around the world outside of the United States

1. Adama Wines (South Africa)
2. Southern Treasure (Produced by Akkedisberg Boerdery at Raka Wines) (South Africa)
3. Amile Wines (South Africa)
4. Armand de Brignac (UK) – Owned by mogul Shawn ‘Jay-Z’ Carter and LVMH
5. Aslina Wines (South Africa)
6. Ayana Wine (South Africa)
7. Bayede! (South Africa)
8. Billionaires Row (France)
9. Birthmark of Africa Wines (South Africa)
10. Blouvlei Wynes (Mont du Toit) (South Africa)
11. Bonnievale Wines (South Africa)
12. Botébo Wines (South Africa)
13. Bridge of Hope Wines, The (South Africa)
14. Brothers in Vines (China, South Africa, United States)
15. Brunia Wines (South Africa)
16. Carmen Stevens (South Africa)
17. Compagniesdrift (South Africa)
18. De Ladegourdie Wines (South Africa)
19. Dorrance Wines (South Africa)
20. Elethu (South Africa)
21. Epicurean (South Africa)
22. Fairvalley (South Africa)
23. Five’s Reserve (Van Loveren) (South Africa)
24. Highberry (South Africa)
25. House of BNG (South Africa)
26. House of D’Licacy (South Africa)
27. House of Hlela Royal Wines (South Africa)
28. House of La RicMal (South Africa)
29. House of Mandela (South Africa)
30. IBest Wines (South Africa)
31. Imvula Wines (South Africa)
32. J9 Wine (South Africa)
33. J-Shed Wines (UK, Australia)
34. Khayelitsha’s Finest Wines (South Africa)
35. Kleine Rust (Stellenrust) (South Africa)
36. Koni Wines (South Africa)
37. Koopmanskloof (South Africa)
38. Kumusha Wines (South Africa)
39. La Fête Rosé (St. Tropez, France)
40. Lathithá Wines (South Africa)
41. Lavo Wines (South Africa)
42. Le Fût Wines (South Africa)
43. Le Kool Champagne (France) – Kool & the Gang founder Robert “Kool” Bell’s brand
44. Lelie van Saron Wines (South Africa)
45. Libby’s Pride Wines (South Africa)
46. Lucmo Wines (South Africa)
47. Lyons Wine (Italy)
48. M’Hudi Wines (South Africa)
49. Mama Afrika Wines (South Africa)
50. Marie Césaire (Guadeloupe and Martinique)
51. Mayime Winery (South Africa)
52. Mosi Wines & Spirits (South Africa)
53. Mzansi Craft Wine/Khulu Fine Wines (South Africa)
54. Nice Beverage Company (South Africa)
55. Nyarai Cellars (Freelton, Ontario, Canada)
56. PaardenKloof Estate (South Africa)
57. Pheli Wines (South Africa)
58. Poker Hill (Somerbosch Wines) (South Africa)
59. Porte Noire (London, England, United Kingdom) – Co-owned by actor/DJ Idris Elba
60. Randela Wine (South Africa)
61. Redamancy Vineyards (South Africa)
62. Responsible Hedonist (Aotearoa (New Zealand))
63. Rockbelt Ridge (South Africa)
64. SJ Wines (South Africa)
65. Ses’fikile Wines (South Africa)
66. Seven Sisters (South Africa)
67. Silkbush Mountain Vineyards (South Africa)
68. Siwela Wines (South Africa)
69. Solms-Delta Wine Estate (South Africa)
70. Son of the Soil Wines (South Africa)
71. Stellar Organic Winery (South Africa)
72. Sun Goddess Wines (Italy) – Mary J. Blige in partnership with Marco Fantinel
73. Tesselaarsdal (South Africa)
74. Thembi Wines (South Africa)
75. Thokozani (Diemersfontein) (South Africa)
76. Township Winery, The (South Africa)
77. Truevines Wines (South Africa)
78. Tumbaga Fine Wines (South Africa)
79. Women in Wine (South Africa)

Where Can I Buy Wines from Black-Owned Wine Brands?

After reading through this list, you may be asking, “Ok, so where can I buy wines from Black-owned wine brands?” My answer: Visit them in person at their winery or tasting room. This gives you the opportunity to find out first hand just how good their wines are, and, in many cases, meet the owner and/or winemaker. If you can’t make it to their winery or tasting room, the next best thing is to order wines directly through the individual vintner’s website and have the wines shipped to you.

Representation in stores is scant but that is changing. You might have some luck with larger retail liquor outlets like BevMo, Total Wine & More, and on occasion Trader Joe’s. Some online stores such as Wine.com are starting to carry a few Black-owned brands.

It is more difficult to find wines produced by African-American vintners in restaurants. (I haven’t found any yet.) Fortunately, that, too, is changing… slowly. If your favorite restaurant does not stock wines from Black winemakers in their cellar, ask if they would consider carrying them. Be ready to name two or three brands right off the bat if the sommelier asks you for suggestions.

Wine Industry Resources

As you might have guessed, it can be very expensive to get into the wine business. Many of these African American vintners have joined together to provide scholarships for people of color to pursue degrees in various wine industry-related fields:

• The Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) Wine Business Scholarship, and The Charles Woodson & O’Neill Family Wine Scholarship Award, both offered through Sonoma State University, are just two examples.
• The Hue Society is an organization dedicated to “increasing Black, Brown, and Indigenous representation and access in the wine industry.”
• Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has created the Napa Valley Vintners Scholarship through its partnership with UNCF. NVV is also committed to supporting mentoring projects such as The Roots Fund, Bâtonnage, and Wine Unify.

You should also check out Black Vines, Uncorked & Cultured, and Soul of Sonoma for information about wine guides, interviews, publications, and events highlighting African-American vintners.

If you want to dive deeper into the world of Black-owned wineries, winemakers, and entrepreneurs, I recommend reading up on the work of Dr. Monique Bell. Dr. Bell is a marketing professor at California State University, Fresno. She recently conducted the first ever academic study of Black wine entrepreneurs, during which she interviewed over 40 Black “vinovators” and surveyed more than 70 Black wine entrepreneurs. The result is a report titled Terroir Noir: 2020 Study of Black Wine Entrepreneurs (available for $15 on Dr. Bell’s site).

In addition, Dr. Bell is the force behind Wyne Belle, a service that provides wine business consultation, collaboration, and what she calls “vinovation”, a portmanteau of wine and innovation. And in case you’re wondering, Dr. Bell isn’t just involved in the business side of wine, she’s also WSET Level 1 certified.

To any of you who are WSET certified at any level, my hat’s off and my wine glass is raised to you.

I’ll revise this list as more Black winemakers and Black-owned wineries land on my radar. This list was originally published 16 November 2023, last updated 15 January 2024.

* = Wineries I have personally visited and/or ordered (and enjoyed!) wine from.