Happy Black History Month! When I first moved to Virginia in 2015, there was not much (visible) Black representation in the wine space. I moved back to Virginia in 2024 to learn more about wine. Soon after my move, I read an article featuring the research of Sydney Love, a wine writer and current history PhD candidate. Her research as a fellow heavily featured Monticello (Jefferson’s Plantation/ Heritage site) and shows the connection between enslaved people and winemaking. As she so eloquently stated: “Wine is also our inheritance… We’ve been making it for a very long time.”
I love all things Virginia wine and I am always going to elevated Black vintners and wine labels. Here are three wine produced in Virginia from Black vintners that I keep drinking (and try to keep in my house at all times):
- Love Echo:
Love Echo is a project out of Common Wealth Crush’s (CWC) incubator program. More on CWC in a forthcoming post. Jadhé Marley is the founder of Anything But Vinifera (ABV) which provides education and highlights hybrid and other non- Vitis Vinifera grapes.
The Sparkling Red is a delicious, light, effervescent red that is perfect for a late spring or summer day. It’s made of 60% Niagara and 40% Concord, both Vitus Lambrusca (native North American grapes). It’s made in a pet-nat style and gives flavors of strawberry, raspberry, and pomegranate.
Drinking this wine reminds me that we should all be living and enjoying life on our own terms.
What I’m listening to while drinking this: Pa’ Que Retozen – Tego Calderon
- The Parallax Project:
The Parallax Project was founded by Reggie Leonard and Lance Lemon, both well known in the Virginia wine scene. Lance co-owns an awesome wine bar in Richmond called Penny’s, and Reggie co-founded Oenoverse, an initiative dedicated to making a more inclusive wine industry in Virginia.
Parallax’s first release was in 2024 (the 2023 vintage), featuring their two wines: What’s This (white blend) and What’s That (red blend). Both wines feature the same grape varieties, albeit in different blends. The 2024 vintage consists of: Tannat, Vidal Blanc, Petit Manseng, and Chardonel. I was lucky enough to do a vertical tasting at Ethos Wine Shop before moving out of Charlottesville in 2025 and let me tell you, these wines are delicious. The 2024 What’s This has notes of cooked apricot, pineapple and blossom with a round body and mouth watering acidity. What’s That is a light-bodied, chillable red with notes of black cherry, plum, and raspberry. I’ve stocked up on my collection to drink year-round, and look forward to introducing my friends to these at cookouts all summer long. Stock up on it here.
What I’m listening to while drinking this: You – Lucy Pearl
- Novella:
I first tasting Novella’s Petit Manseng at Two Up, Wine Down Festival 2025 *read about the wine festival here* This Petit Manseng is that girl, I am obsessed with it. The wine gives flavors of just ripe pineapple and mango, a bit of honeycomb, with floral notes, as well as a round body and dry finish. The balance of all of the aforementioned components of the wine leads to you wanting more; it’s sensual and simply delicious.
Novella was started by Karl Kuhn, a Black sommelier, as well as Jen Anderson, also a sommelier. These two have years of industry experience on the consumer side of wine and have worked previous harvests. Their winemaking is superb and I’m looking forward to their Cab Franc rose release.
What I’m listening to while drinking this: Qué Pasaría… – Rauw Alejandro and Bad Bunny
Honorable Mentions
I would be remiss if I did not mention Black-owned brands and/or winemakers out of Virginia that I’m looking forward to exploring more in 2026.
- Hedon State Wines – especially the Vidal Blanc (we love a hybrid grape)
- Kendell Anderson – winemaker at Bull Run and Old Farm Winery at Hartland
- Fifty Leven Wines
- Delaplane Cellars
Happy drinking and reach out under the comments or on Instagram if you want to talk more about all things wine or agave spirit related!
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