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Why exactly does wine make us so happy? You know you get that tingling feeling the moment you hear the bottle pop open or the liquid splashing in your glass. Research reported on in Wine Spectator says it has to do with dopamine spikes that happen in the brain when we drink wine. The same report showed that wine can fight certain forms of cancer and have various other health benefits. Science and research aside, you know cupping a goblet of a good vintage, surrounded by friends just warms the soul. The holiday is filled with reasons to get together with loved ones, share stories and reconnect. And there’s nothing quite like a glass of wine to do that over.
If you have a busy social calendar over the holidays, then you probably have several events to which you cannot show up empty-handed. So we’ve compiled a list of some of the most delicious Black-owned wines to unwind with and celebrate over this holiday season.
The Guilty Grape
Guilty Cabernet
Website
The Guilty Grape was founded by twin sisters Nichelle and Nicole. The Chicago natives boldly launched their lifestyle brand, selling a variety of luxury products from diamond wine glasses to candles to (of course) wine, in 2020. With flavor notes of warm spice, plum and blackberry, the Guilty Cabernet is the perfect bottle to pair with grilled meat, pasta or – per the sisters’ recommendation – a bowl of ice cream during a solo wind down.
Opulence Wine
Napa Valley Cabernet
Website
https://www.instagram.com/p/CVLUG1GN7sU/
Opulence is based out of Detroit and was founded by Dr. LaToya Thompson, a mompreneur with a love of wine, self-care, and a passion for combining the two. This holiday season, the Napa Valley Cabernet is the perfect red to pair with your hearty meals. It has flavors of plum, currant and cassis, along with a few herbs – ideal to pair with lamb, beef and meat-based pastas.
Stuyvesant Champagne
Reserve
Website
Stuyvesant Champagne is the passion child of Marvina Robinson, who named the brand after the Brooklyn neighborhood in which she was raised. Grab a bottle of her Reserve for this celebratory season. It’s a really light and bubbly mix of Pinot Noir (20 percent) and Pinot Meunier (80 percent) with notes of fruits and spices. Break it out when it’s time to make a toast or pass it around with hors ‘d’oeuvres.
Amour Genéve
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Created by Coviello Salinés, this Black wine is actually a blue wine and its the bottle to bring if you want to turn heads at the holiday party. Salinés’ father loved the color blue, and so the wine maker made his vintage in honor of his father, adding Italian Nebbiolo grapes and Spanish Verdejo grapes to get the unique hue. It has notes of citrus, peach and grapefruit and is the ideal wine to pair with your charcuterie board.
Darjean Jones Wines
2016 Pathologie®
Website
Dawna Darjeans, the founder of Darjeans wines, grew up in Louisiana but is now making her delicious vintages in Napa Valley. We recommend grabbing a bottle of her 2016 Pathologie® Proprietary Red this holiday season. It’s a daring blend that’s been aged for almost two years in French oak and rested in the bottle for an additional year before its release. The result is a full-body flavor that’s unlike any other red you’ve tried before.
Aslina By Ntsika Biyela
Cap Classique 2016
Website
Ntsika Biyela is the first woman winemaker in South Africa, so when you buy her wines, you’re not just picking up mouth-watering and unique vintages – you’re also supporting a pioneer and champion of female entrepreneurs. Biyela has infused a touch of her Zulu roots in every bottle. If you’re looking for something bright and celebratory for that New Year’s Eve party, grab a bottle of Cap Classique 2016. With flavor notes of green apples and cucumber and a butterscotch/lime aromas, it’s the perfect crisp wine to lighten up a heavy meal, or to simply sip chilled on its own.
Ole‘ Orleans
Circa 2005, Syrah
Website
This wine brand was founded by Kim Lewis, and produces bottles that are a little bit New Orleans, a little bit Creole and a little bit Cajun. Lewis wanted to create a collection of wines as culturally rich and diverse as the city of New Orleans, and it’s clear throughout her selection that she succeeded. We recommend a bottle of the Circa 2005, Syrah. This dark wine is dry and velvety, with notes of fruit and a bit of spice. It’s perfect to have with smoked cheeses and grilled meats.
