WINERIES, BRANDS OR WINE OWNED AND DISTRIBUTED BY WOMEN, African Americans and Latinos
List compiled with the help of Cuisine Noir Magazine
Rideau Vineyards
Solvang, CA
Owned by Iris Rideau, and located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, Rideau produces wines that highlight Rhône varietals. Tasting room open to the public.
ZWT Favorite: Chateau Du Plantier
Taste Collection Cellars
Houston, TX
Taste Collection Cellars is owned and managed by Chef of Wine Arts Rhonda Russell of Taste by Chef Rhonda LLC. She is the only female African American Chef of Wine Arts in the United States. Her Artisan collection consists of wines representing a mélange from the northern portion of California's Central Valley. Taste Collection Cellars and Chef of Wine Arts Rhonda Russell make and distribute her wines under five labels all inspired from her Southern upbringing in Louisiana with her grandparents she truly adored and looked up to.
Named on four of her labels: Vivian Chardonnay, Raymond Malbec, Isabelle Sparkling Almond Wine, Henry Zinfandel and her very first Vintage That Southern Taste, Syrah Rose. Each Varietal has a story of her life growing up in the South in Louisiana. The wines are carried in selected wine shops, online and Tastings by appointment
Esterlina Vineyards
Philo, CA
This winery is also owned and operated by the Sterling brothers and specializes in Pinot Noir, pulling grapes from both Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Cole Ranch, the smallest AVA in the United States, is solely owned by Esterlina. Tastings on-site by appointment.
ZWT Favorites: Dry Riesling and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Theopolis Vineyard
Theopolis Vineyards is a small lot vineyard and hand-crafted winery located in California’s prestigious Yorkville Highlands of the Anderson Valley. Situated along Highway 128 in southeastern Mendocino County near the border of Sonoma County, the AVA is a highly elevated, rugged interior wine-growing area. Established in 2003, Wine Critic Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points, a spectacular showing for the vintner’s first harvest in 2006.
Charles Wine Company
Charles Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of premium wines representing the rich diversity of the Western States: California (Northern, Central and Southern), Washington and Oregon appellations.
"Our dream started in 2007 with a trip to Temecula Valley Wine Country for wine tasting, which lead me to the cellar with the winemaker/owner doing a barrel tasting. This introduction sparked my interest to purchase my first premium wine kit which began our journey. After a successful bottle I decided to convert my backyard to a Vineyard, growing Cabernet and Zinfandel. The grapes was crushed by hand to produce our first bottle of wine." - Paul Charles, Owner
Read more about Charles Wine Company in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Marke Wine
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Marbue Marke moved to California in 1992 to live with his father. Drawing on joyful evenings he spent getting sips of French wine from his grandfather, Marbue decided to pursue the study of Enology at U.C. Davis. Marbue launched Marke Wine brand in 2014.
ZWT Favorite: 2013 Kusheh Rose
Read more about Marke Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Branwar Wine Distributing Co
Branwar Wine Distributing Co. was established by founder Wayne Luckett and son Warren. Their vision is to introduce South African wines to the U.S. market while creating a new generation of wine connoisseurs. Branwar has become the preeminent distributor of South African wines offering the most diverse portfolio in the market. Today their wine portfolio has expanded to include other regions including the United States, Chile, Argentina, Italy and Spain.
Branwar Wine Distributing Co. serves as an importer and wholesaler for international wine distribution across the Texas market. Their wines are available in upscale restaurants and wine bars across the United States. Branwar Wine is a certified member of the Port of Houston, Houston Minority Supplier Diversity Council, and an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) for the City of Houston. Branwar Wines is also certified as a Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB).
Abbey Creek Vineyard
North Plains, OR
Winemaker Bertony Faustin plants the vines, tends to them, harvests the fruit and makes the wine. He is the heart and soul, the drive that pushes Abbey Creek forward. A transplanted New Yorker, Bertony has found not only his family, but his destiny in Oregon wine country. A physical trainer by trade, Bertony started his wine career like many, somewhat by accident.
Bodkin Wines
Healdsburg, CA
Winemaker Christopher Christensen makes California’s first sparkling sauvignon blanc as well as a still sauvignon blanc. Other varietals include a muscat canelli and a zinfandel that will be released this September.
Brown Estate
Napa, CA
Located in Napa Valley, the sibling team of Coral, David and Deneen Brown make wines that include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Tastings available off-site in Yountville.
ZWT Favorite: Mickey's Block Zinfandel and Chaos Theory.
Earl Stevens Selections
California
Rapper E-40 or Earl Stevens is a wine connoisseur who decided to make his own label of wine. Earl Stevens Selections has three offers: mangoscato, red blend (cabernet and zinfandel) and moscato.
eco.love Wines
San Francisco, CA
Sisters Andrea and Robin McBride are the owners of eco.love wines which are made in New Zealand at the first carboNZero Cert™ winery in the world. They produce three varietals – Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Noir and their vision is to create wines that enrich a celebration of life, beauty, and optimism, for the betterment of humankind. eco.love Wines are all about being accessible, beautiful, sustainable, and tasty.
ZWT Favorite: Sauvignon Blanc
Read more about eco.love in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Everett Ridge Winery
Healdsburg, CA
Beautiful winery and tasting room located in Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County). Owned and operated by four brothers, Eric, Steve, Chris and Craig Sterling. Diablita Wines is a separate label also produced by Everett Ridge. Tasting room open to the public.
ZWT Favorites: Diablita Red and White
Flo Brands
Silver Spring, MD
Founded by jazz artist Marcus Johnson, FLO Wine, part of FLO Brands, produces and sells two types of wine – a Chardonnay and a Red Blend. The wine is bottled in northern California and created using grapes from the best appellations around the state.
Heritage Link Brands
Los Angeles, CA
Owned by husband and wife team Khary and Selena Cuffe, Heritage Link Brands works with vintners from across Africa with the majority of their relationships in the continent’s most developed market, South Africa.
Read more about Heritage Link Brands in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Highberry Wines
Cape Province, South Africa
An internationally renowned wine connoisseur and wine columnist, Jabulani Ntshangase developed a keen interest in the wine industry in the late 1970's while studying towards his business degree on a United Nations Scholarship at the Baruch College in Manhattan, New York. This interest started when he was employed as a clerk in an upmarket Manhattan Wine Shop.
Read more about Jabulani Ntshangase in Cuisine Noir magazine.
House of Mandela Wines
South Africa
(Distributed by Heritage Links Brands)
Nelson Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter have launched a premium wine label with fine wines that capture the essence of the South African’s viticulture that is truly becoming an industry rival worldwide.
Read more about the House of Mandela Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Indigenè Cellars
Paso Robles, CA
Raymond Smith is the owner and winemaker for Indigenè with the winery based in Carmel Valley, Monterey County. The Riesling (I=mb2) is fruit-forward and pleasing, the Cabernet Sauvignon, complex.
J Moss Wines
Napa, CA
J Moss is a small family owned wine producer who creates high quality, hand crafted lots of Cabernet Sauvignon from the appellations of Napa Valley.
L’Objet Noir
Healdsburg, CA
Dan Glover is the winemaker behind this brand. The 2008 L’Objet Noir, Pinot Noir is from the well known Bacicalupi Vineyard located in the storied Russian River Valley.
Read more about Longevity Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Longevity Wines
Livermore, CA
Winemaker Phil Long enjoys the challenge of bigger wines, but approaches each varietal with the same dedication. The tasting room is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm. Favorites in the barrels will always include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Debruvee (the signature Rhone Style blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Petite Sirah), and Philosophy (Bordeaux style blend), and Chardonnay among others.
Read more about Longevity Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Maison Ilan
Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
Maison Ilan is owned by San Francisco Bay Area native Ray Walker and is a micro-négociant winery, sourcing small lots of pinot noir fruit from the Côte de Nuits region in Burgundy, dedicated to exceptional Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. The winery is located in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France.
M’Mudi
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Husband and wife team, Diale and Malmsey Rangaka, left their professional careers behind to build a family business around developing a world-class wine tourism business in South Africa.
MORENO BHLV®
MORENO BHLV® Award Winning California Sparkling Wine is the creation of Luins and Maureen Williams of Premier Label Water Co; pioneers and innovators of custom label bottled water since 1992. PLWC was the first to apply Swarovski Elements to a beverage bottle; that package won the 2007 Glass Package Institute of America “Clear Choice Award” for the non alcoholic category. It was at the urging of their Las Vegas Casino and California customers that they expanded their line to include a California Sparkling Wine adorned with Swarovski Elements, MORENO BHLV “The Beverage of Celebration”.
Mouton Noir
Harlem, NY
Mouton wines are unique and distinctive garage wines produced by Andre H. Mack. Founded in 2004, Mouton Noir began producing wines for New York City restaurants and released their first label, Mouton Noir Wines’ Montgomery Place in 2008.
Read more about Mouton Noir in Cuisine Noir magazine.
MYX Fusion Moscato
New York
MYX Fusions Moscato is co-owned by Nicki Minaj, one of today’s most influential female recording artists, and entertainment industry magnate, Mona Scott-Young. MYX Fusions Moscato combines the excitement of fruit-infused sparkling wine with the infinite drinkability of full-flavored beer. MYX is currently available in 3 exciting flavors – Peach, Coconut and Original Moscato.
Nombe
San Francisco, CA
Gil Payne, a San Francisco sake sommelier, wants us to know two things: Good sake is not supposed to be served hot and sake bombs aren’t cool either. Payne owns Nombe, the acclaimed izakaya-style Japanese restaurant with his wife in the Mission District.
Read more about Nombe in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Nyarai Cellars
Jordan, Ontario – Canada
Winemaker Steve Byfield is the owner of Nyarai Cellar, one of the small yet growing collection of vintner-directed virtual operations within the Niagara region.
Read more about Nyarai Cellars in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Paul Charles Wines
Los Angeles, CA
Charles Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of premium winesrepresenting the rich diversity of the Western States: California (Northern, Central and Southern), Washington and Oregon appellations. The company and winemaker Paul Charles make and distribute wines under three labels: Paul Charles Series, Cherise Sparkling Riesling and Symphony that are carried in selected wine shops, hotels and online.
Read more about Charles Wine Company in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Mouton Noir
Harlem, NY
Mouton wines are unique and distinctive garage wines produced by Andre H. Mack. Founded in 2004, Mouton Noir began producing wines for New York City restaurants and released their first label, Mouton Noir Wines’ Montgomery Place in 2008.
Nyarai Cellars
Jordan, Ontario – Canada
Winemaker Steve Byfield is the owner of Nyarai Cellar, one of the small yet growing collection of vintner-directed virtual operations within the Niagara region.
Running Tigers Wine
Sacramento, CA
Winemaker and owner Daniel Bryant is also a member of the Association of African American Vintners and his Syrah is full of fruit and spice. Daniel also operates A Color of Grape Wine Tours and Education.
Seven Sisters
Morgenster, Brackenfell, South Africa
(Distributed by Heritage Link Brands)
The Brutus family of seven biological sisters started this business in the wine industry. Their wines are sold in 41 states as well as on American Airline’s international flights.
Sharp Cellars
Sonoma, CA
Vance Sharp is the owner of Sharp Cellars, located in Sonoma County. The Zinfandel is wildly popular with a hint of residual sugar, and the Pinot Noir is also a standout.
Simply Vino
Los Angeles, CA
Simply Vino’s Vina Sympatica™ is a bubbly blend of super fruit and wine and as its name suggests, quite simply “a likeable wine.” The concept is a play on the traditional wine spritzer – cool, classic, light and enjoyable.
Sosabe Cellers
St. Helena, CA
Sosabe Cellars is a boutique family owned winery located in St. Helena. Founders Nuias and Sabino de Pina have a long lineage in Napa Valley, dating back to the 1930s when their grandfather and great uncle emigrated from Cape Verde Island and settled in California. Sosabe Cellars wines are sold in many restuarants and stores throughout California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and also by direct shipments to many reciprocal states.
Truvee Wines (Just added)
San Francisco, CA
Marrying 10 plus years of experience in the wine industry as négociants, and creators of eco.love Wines from New Zealand, Andrea and Robin McBride have crafted another authentic, but affordable luxury wine, this time from select vineyards within the Central Coast of California. Their vision for Truvée is to make delicious wines everyone can enjoy and inspire people "to find" what matters most to them.
Read more about the Truvée and the McBride Sisters in Cuisine Noir magazine.
The Vegan Vine
Los Angeles, CA
Retired basketball star John Salley has embraced his vegan lifestyle and love for wine by partnering up with Clos LaChance Winery for his first foray into the wine industry. Winesare sold online and at select retail locations.
Read more about The Vegan Vine in Cuisine Noir Magazine.
TwentyFour Wines
Napa, CA
Charles Woodson discovered his appreciation for wine in 1998 when he arrived in Napa with the Oakland Raiders for training camp. The TwentyFour vineyard is farmed with the same artisanship, precision and delicate care that is at the core of the winemaking philosophy.
Vanilla Puddin
Napa Valley, CA
Fun, elegant, stylish and approachable are just a few words to describe the 2012 Vanilla Puddin Chardonnay from Napa Valley, CA. Created in conjunction with Gabrielle Union and JaM Cellars, Vanilla Puddin Chardonnay has characteristics of pears, light French oak, white chocolate with dollops of vanilla, the perfect wine to make any day a special occasion.
Wisdom Oak Vineyards
North Garden, VA
Jerry Bias owns and operates this winery in Virginia – that’s right, it’s not in California. They make a range of vitis vinifera, but also some vitis labrusca varietals. Tasting room open to the public.
Read more about Wisdom Oak Winery in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Vision Cellars
Windsor, CA
Owner and winemaker Mac MacDonald has become an icon of African American winemaking. He is co-founder of the Association of African American Vintners and produces several Pinot Noir wines from various vineyards in California.
XIX Wine
Los Angeles, CA
XIX was created in partnership with NFL superstar Keyshawn Johnson and is a custom creation from the Echo West Vineyards in Northwest Oregon and made with 100 cabernet sauvignon grapes.
List compiled with the help of Cuisine Noir Magazine
Rideau Vineyards
Solvang, CA
Owned by Iris Rideau, and located in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara County, Rideau produces wines that highlight Rhône varietals. Tasting room open to the public.
ZWT Favorite: Chateau Du Plantier
Taste Collection Cellars
Houston, TX
Taste Collection Cellars is owned and managed by Chef of Wine Arts Rhonda Russell of Taste by Chef Rhonda LLC. She is the only female African American Chef of Wine Arts in the United States. Her Artisan collection consists of wines representing a mélange from the northern portion of California's Central Valley. Taste Collection Cellars and Chef of Wine Arts Rhonda Russell make and distribute her wines under five labels all inspired from her Southern upbringing in Louisiana with her grandparents she truly adored and looked up to.
Named on four of her labels: Vivian Chardonnay, Raymond Malbec, Isabelle Sparkling Almond Wine, Henry Zinfandel and her very first Vintage That Southern Taste, Syrah Rose. Each Varietal has a story of her life growing up in the South in Louisiana. The wines are carried in selected wine shops, online and Tastings by appointment
Esterlina Vineyards
Philo, CA
This winery is also owned and operated by the Sterling brothers and specializes in Pinot Noir, pulling grapes from both Mendocino and Sonoma counties. Cole Ranch, the smallest AVA in the United States, is solely owned by Esterlina. Tastings on-site by appointment.
ZWT Favorites: Dry Riesling and Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
Theopolis Vineyard
Theopolis Vineyards is a small lot vineyard and hand-crafted winery located in California’s prestigious Yorkville Highlands of the Anderson Valley. Situated along Highway 128 in southeastern Mendocino County near the border of Sonoma County, the AVA is a highly elevated, rugged interior wine-growing area. Established in 2003, Wine Critic Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points, a spectacular showing for the vintner’s first harvest in 2006.
Charles Wine Company
Charles Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of premium wines representing the rich diversity of the Western States: California (Northern, Central and Southern), Washington and Oregon appellations.
"Our dream started in 2007 with a trip to Temecula Valley Wine Country for wine tasting, which lead me to the cellar with the winemaker/owner doing a barrel tasting. This introduction sparked my interest to purchase my first premium wine kit which began our journey. After a successful bottle I decided to convert my backyard to a Vineyard, growing Cabernet and Zinfandel. The grapes was crushed by hand to produce our first bottle of wine." - Paul Charles, Owner
Read more about Charles Wine Company in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Marke Wine
Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, West Africa, Marbue Marke moved to California in 1992 to live with his father. Drawing on joyful evenings he spent getting sips of French wine from his grandfather, Marbue decided to pursue the study of Enology at U.C. Davis. Marbue launched Marke Wine brand in 2014.
ZWT Favorite: 2013 Kusheh Rose
Read more about Marke Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Branwar Wine Distributing Co
Branwar Wine Distributing Co. was established by founder Wayne Luckett and son Warren. Their vision is to introduce South African wines to the U.S. market while creating a new generation of wine connoisseurs. Branwar has become the preeminent distributor of South African wines offering the most diverse portfolio in the market. Today their wine portfolio has expanded to include other regions including the United States, Chile, Argentina, Italy and Spain.
Branwar Wine Distributing Co. serves as an importer and wholesaler for international wine distribution across the Texas market. Their wines are available in upscale restaurants and wine bars across the United States. Branwar Wine is a certified member of the Port of Houston, Houston Minority Supplier Diversity Council, and an MBE (Minority Business Enterprise) for the City of Houston. Branwar Wines is also certified as a Texas Historically Underutilized Business (HUB).
Abbey Creek Vineyard
North Plains, OR
Winemaker Bertony Faustin plants the vines, tends to them, harvests the fruit and makes the wine. He is the heart and soul, the drive that pushes Abbey Creek forward. A transplanted New Yorker, Bertony has found not only his family, but his destiny in Oregon wine country. A physical trainer by trade, Bertony started his wine career like many, somewhat by accident.
Bodkin Wines
Healdsburg, CA
Winemaker Christopher Christensen makes California’s first sparkling sauvignon blanc as well as a still sauvignon blanc. Other varietals include a muscat canelli and a zinfandel that will be released this September.
Brown Estate
Napa, CA
Located in Napa Valley, the sibling team of Coral, David and Deneen Brown make wines that include Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay. Tastings available off-site in Yountville.
ZWT Favorite: Mickey's Block Zinfandel and Chaos Theory.
Earl Stevens Selections
California
Rapper E-40 or Earl Stevens is a wine connoisseur who decided to make his own label of wine. Earl Stevens Selections has three offers: mangoscato, red blend (cabernet and zinfandel) and moscato.
eco.love Wines
San Francisco, CA
Sisters Andrea and Robin McBride are the owners of eco.love wines which are made in New Zealand at the first carboNZero Cert™ winery in the world. They produce three varietals – Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Pinot Noir and their vision is to create wines that enrich a celebration of life, beauty, and optimism, for the betterment of humankind. eco.love Wines are all about being accessible, beautiful, sustainable, and tasty.
ZWT Favorite: Sauvignon Blanc
Read more about eco.love in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Everett Ridge Winery
Healdsburg, CA
Beautiful winery and tasting room located in Dry Creek Valley (Sonoma County). Owned and operated by four brothers, Eric, Steve, Chris and Craig Sterling. Diablita Wines is a separate label also produced by Everett Ridge. Tasting room open to the public.
ZWT Favorites: Diablita Red and White
Flo Brands
Silver Spring, MD
Founded by jazz artist Marcus Johnson, FLO Wine, part of FLO Brands, produces and sells two types of wine – a Chardonnay and a Red Blend. The wine is bottled in northern California and created using grapes from the best appellations around the state.
Heritage Link Brands
Los Angeles, CA
Owned by husband and wife team Khary and Selena Cuffe, Heritage Link Brands works with vintners from across Africa with the majority of their relationships in the continent’s most developed market, South Africa.
Read more about Heritage Link Brands in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Highberry Wines
Cape Province, South Africa
An internationally renowned wine connoisseur and wine columnist, Jabulani Ntshangase developed a keen interest in the wine industry in the late 1970's while studying towards his business degree on a United Nations Scholarship at the Baruch College in Manhattan, New York. This interest started when he was employed as a clerk in an upmarket Manhattan Wine Shop.
Read more about Jabulani Ntshangase in Cuisine Noir magazine.
House of Mandela Wines
South Africa
(Distributed by Heritage Links Brands)
Nelson Mandela’s daughter and granddaughter have launched a premium wine label with fine wines that capture the essence of the South African’s viticulture that is truly becoming an industry rival worldwide.
Read more about the House of Mandela Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Indigenè Cellars
Paso Robles, CA
Raymond Smith is the owner and winemaker for Indigenè with the winery based in Carmel Valley, Monterey County. The Riesling (I=mb2) is fruit-forward and pleasing, the Cabernet Sauvignon, complex.
J Moss Wines
Napa, CA
J Moss is a small family owned wine producer who creates high quality, hand crafted lots of Cabernet Sauvignon from the appellations of Napa Valley.
L’Objet Noir
Healdsburg, CA
Dan Glover is the winemaker behind this brand. The 2008 L’Objet Noir, Pinot Noir is from the well known Bacicalupi Vineyard located in the storied Russian River Valley.
Read more about Longevity Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Longevity Wines
Livermore, CA
Winemaker Phil Long enjoys the challenge of bigger wines, but approaches each varietal with the same dedication. The tasting room is open every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm. Favorites in the barrels will always include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Debruvee (the signature Rhone Style blend of Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Petite Sirah), and Philosophy (Bordeaux style blend), and Chardonnay among others.
Read more about Longevity Wines in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Maison Ilan
Nuits-Saint-Georges, France
Maison Ilan is owned by San Francisco Bay Area native Ray Walker and is a micro-négociant winery, sourcing small lots of pinot noir fruit from the Côte de Nuits region in Burgundy, dedicated to exceptional Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. The winery is located in Nuits-Saint-Georges, France.
M’Mudi
Stellenbosch, South Africa
Husband and wife team, Diale and Malmsey Rangaka, left their professional careers behind to build a family business around developing a world-class wine tourism business in South Africa.
MORENO BHLV®
MORENO BHLV® Award Winning California Sparkling Wine is the creation of Luins and Maureen Williams of Premier Label Water Co; pioneers and innovators of custom label bottled water since 1992. PLWC was the first to apply Swarovski Elements to a beverage bottle; that package won the 2007 Glass Package Institute of America “Clear Choice Award” for the non alcoholic category. It was at the urging of their Las Vegas Casino and California customers that they expanded their line to include a California Sparkling Wine adorned with Swarovski Elements, MORENO BHLV “The Beverage of Celebration”.
Mouton Noir
Harlem, NY
Mouton wines are unique and distinctive garage wines produced by Andre H. Mack. Founded in 2004, Mouton Noir began producing wines for New York City restaurants and released their first label, Mouton Noir Wines’ Montgomery Place in 2008.
Read more about Mouton Noir in Cuisine Noir magazine.
MYX Fusion Moscato
New York
MYX Fusions Moscato is co-owned by Nicki Minaj, one of today’s most influential female recording artists, and entertainment industry magnate, Mona Scott-Young. MYX Fusions Moscato combines the excitement of fruit-infused sparkling wine with the infinite drinkability of full-flavored beer. MYX is currently available in 3 exciting flavors – Peach, Coconut and Original Moscato.
Nombe
San Francisco, CA
Gil Payne, a San Francisco sake sommelier, wants us to know two things: Good sake is not supposed to be served hot and sake bombs aren’t cool either. Payne owns Nombe, the acclaimed izakaya-style Japanese restaurant with his wife in the Mission District.
Read more about Nombe in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Nyarai Cellars
Jordan, Ontario – Canada
Winemaker Steve Byfield is the owner of Nyarai Cellar, one of the small yet growing collection of vintner-directed virtual operations within the Niagara region.
Read more about Nyarai Cellars in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Paul Charles Wines
Los Angeles, CA
Charles Wine Company is family-owned and managed with a portfolio of premium winesrepresenting the rich diversity of the Western States: California (Northern, Central and Southern), Washington and Oregon appellations. The company and winemaker Paul Charles make and distribute wines under three labels: Paul Charles Series, Cherise Sparkling Riesling and Symphony that are carried in selected wine shops, hotels and online.
Read more about Charles Wine Company in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Mouton Noir
Harlem, NY
Mouton wines are unique and distinctive garage wines produced by Andre H. Mack. Founded in 2004, Mouton Noir began producing wines for New York City restaurants and released their first label, Mouton Noir Wines’ Montgomery Place in 2008.
Nyarai Cellars
Jordan, Ontario – Canada
Winemaker Steve Byfield is the owner of Nyarai Cellar, one of the small yet growing collection of vintner-directed virtual operations within the Niagara region.
Running Tigers Wine
Sacramento, CA
Winemaker and owner Daniel Bryant is also a member of the Association of African American Vintners and his Syrah is full of fruit and spice. Daniel also operates A Color of Grape Wine Tours and Education.
Seven Sisters
Morgenster, Brackenfell, South Africa
(Distributed by Heritage Link Brands)
The Brutus family of seven biological sisters started this business in the wine industry. Their wines are sold in 41 states as well as on American Airline’s international flights.
Sharp Cellars
Sonoma, CA
Vance Sharp is the owner of Sharp Cellars, located in Sonoma County. The Zinfandel is wildly popular with a hint of residual sugar, and the Pinot Noir is also a standout.
Simply Vino
Los Angeles, CA
Simply Vino’s Vina Sympatica™ is a bubbly blend of super fruit and wine and as its name suggests, quite simply “a likeable wine.” The concept is a play on the traditional wine spritzer – cool, classic, light and enjoyable.
Sosabe Cellers
St. Helena, CA
Sosabe Cellars is a boutique family owned winery located in St. Helena. Founders Nuias and Sabino de Pina have a long lineage in Napa Valley, dating back to the 1930s when their grandfather and great uncle emigrated from Cape Verde Island and settled in California. Sosabe Cellars wines are sold in many restuarants and stores throughout California, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and also by direct shipments to many reciprocal states.
Truvee Wines (Just added)
San Francisco, CA
Marrying 10 plus years of experience in the wine industry as négociants, and creators of eco.love Wines from New Zealand, Andrea and Robin McBride have crafted another authentic, but affordable luxury wine, this time from select vineyards within the Central Coast of California. Their vision for Truvée is to make delicious wines everyone can enjoy and inspire people "to find" what matters most to them.
Read more about the Truvée and the McBride Sisters in Cuisine Noir magazine.
The Vegan Vine
Los Angeles, CA
Retired basketball star John Salley has embraced his vegan lifestyle and love for wine by partnering up with Clos LaChance Winery for his first foray into the wine industry. Winesare sold online and at select retail locations.
Read more about The Vegan Vine in Cuisine Noir Magazine.
TwentyFour Wines
Napa, CA
Charles Woodson discovered his appreciation for wine in 1998 when he arrived in Napa with the Oakland Raiders for training camp. The TwentyFour vineyard is farmed with the same artisanship, precision and delicate care that is at the core of the winemaking philosophy.
Vanilla Puddin
Napa Valley, CA
Fun, elegant, stylish and approachable are just a few words to describe the 2012 Vanilla Puddin Chardonnay from Napa Valley, CA. Created in conjunction with Gabrielle Union and JaM Cellars, Vanilla Puddin Chardonnay has characteristics of pears, light French oak, white chocolate with dollops of vanilla, the perfect wine to make any day a special occasion.
Wisdom Oak Vineyards
North Garden, VA
Jerry Bias owns and operates this winery in Virginia – that’s right, it’s not in California. They make a range of vitis vinifera, but also some vitis labrusca varietals. Tasting room open to the public.
Read more about Wisdom Oak Winery in Cuisine Noir magazine.
Vision Cellars
Windsor, CA
Owner and winemaker Mac MacDonald has become an icon of African American winemaking. He is co-founder of the Association of African American Vintners and produces several Pinot Noir wines from various vineyards in California.
XIX Wine
Los Angeles, CA
XIX was created in partnership with NFL superstar Keyshawn Johnson and is a custom creation from the Echo West Vineyards in Northwest Oregon and made with 100 cabernet sauvignon grapes.
