The 9 Best Wines From Black-Owned Wineries Of 2023
Fill up your wine rack with these selections.
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There's nothing quite like sipping on a crisp glass of rosé in the summer heat, or basking in the warmth of a light Pinot Noir on a crisp fall evening as the sun sets. It gives off a vibe of "ahhhh," and we are here for it.
Looking for new bottlings to pad 0ut your collection? Many of this year's most exciting sips are coming out of Black-owned wineries. From rich and classic reds to crisp and fresh whites—not to mention a few experimental wines that'll have tongues wagging—these are the bottles to scoop up ASAP.
Our top picks
How many Black-owned wineries are there?
Just about one-tenth of one percent of all the wineries in the U.S. are Black owned, which translates to less than 100 operations. Supporting these wineries, however—whether through buying their wines, donating funds, or all of the above—is a great way to help nurture diversity in the wine space.
We're fans of the Association of African American Vintners, which was founded in 2002 to grow and foster Black wine makers and winery owners. You can donate to it here. Wine Enthusiast also has a great guide to Black-owned wine labels across the globe; so does VinePair, which breaks down Black-owned drinks businesses by state.
Ordering booze right to your home? Drizly allows consumers search for Black-owned labels. There's also BlackOak Wine Club, which supports and highlights Black-owned wine brands.
How we chose these products
We looked for flavor-packed wines from a wide range of Black-owned wineries, many of which have nabbed prestigious wine awards. We also chose to include some not-so-traditional wines coming out of Black-owned wineries, including a naturally blue wine (yes, really!) and some really popular flower-based wines. Now, go forth and drink!
Theopolis Vineyards 2019 Estate Grown Petite Sirah
Theopolis Vineyards is a small California vineyard founded in 2003 and is most known for its Petite Sirah.
The bottling has won countless awards: gold at the 2021 San Francisco International Wine Competition, the 2022 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, and the Los Angeles Invitational Wine And Spirits Challenge and a score of 94 from Wine Enthusiast and grapelive.com. "There's a hint of earthy reduction in the aroma at first, but powerful, focused, vivid flavors take over on the palate," wine critic Jim Gordon wrote.
The first and current vintage of this Chardonnay both earned 88 points from Wine Enthusiast, so it has consistency on its side.
"This is a classic California Chardonnay—clean and crisp with just the right amount of oaky richness," Phil Long, founder/winemaker at Longevity Wines, said.
The bubbly Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc from Bodkin Wines is one of the winery's most popular and talked-about wines. It won a gold medal with a 93-point score at the Sunset Mag International Wine Competition, and winemaker Chris Christensen was called the "Sauvignon Blanc Savant" by Food & Wine. Sipping on this wine, you'll pick up notes of pineapple, guava, and citrus.
This popular rosé "would jive with picnic fare or any lean meat off the grill," according to wine critic Keith Bevers of VinePair, who gave it a score of 88. It is on the dry side, with aromas of raspberry and orange blossom and a refreshing acidity, making it a perfect pair for grilled fish dishes. We can see why it also took home gold with a score of 93 at the Monterey International Wine Competition 2021.
First of all, the branding of this wine (and all the wines from Maison Noir) is so cool. The brand was founded by sommelier André Hueston Mack in 2007, who was awarded Best Young Sommelier in America by the food and wine society Chaine des Rotisseurs. Its Horseshoes & Handgrenades bottling is a blend of grapes from Oregon and Washington. In the end, you get a very full-bodied and complex sip full of warmth and red fruit.
This big red does have a big price tag, but it's worth it. The Brown Estate 2017 Big Dam Cab made with 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon from the Brown Estate property and spends 20 months aging in new French oak. The nose starts with dark red berries, which gives way to notes of caramel and green apple as it lingers in the glass. It's complex, to say the least. And you can age it for another 10 years or so, according to Brown Estate, for an even more nuanced sip.
This Riesling from P. Harrell Wines is unexpected for its pleasant dryness. Notes of pear, apple, oak, and citrus would go well with some rich, creamy cheese and silky charcuterie. It won gold at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition and double gold at the Orange County Fair Wine Competition.
"Amour Geneve is the world’s first naturally blue wine developed through the separation of anthocyanin and molecular gastronomy," Coviello Salinés, owner of Amour Genève, said. Skins are removed from the grapes and the pH is modified from acidic to alkaline to get the color. The bottling has aromas of citrus fruit and spring rain on flowers, with flavors of white peach, grapefruit, and passionfruit.
This pack of floral delights is popular. It's been out of stock since February of last year, but fret not: The brand is taking preorders. This set comes with four different wines from Free Range Flower Winery, all made with different flowers.
The lavender wine is "crisp and bold, effervescent," winemaker and founder Aaliyah Nitoto said. The rose hibiscus is "a luxurious electric ruby-red blend of rose and hibiscus flowers, fruit-forward when chilled, and a bit spicy when swirled," she continued, adding that it won a silver medal at the Sunset International Wine Competition. Meanwhile, the marigold is "vibrant, juicy, and polished with an enlivening, herbal finish," and the rose petal wine has aromas of "wild roses, strawberry, and autumn leaves" with "white pepper overtones and a silky, warm finish."
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