Supporting Virginia's Black-Owned Wineries & Breweries

With hundreds of wineries and breweries spread out around the Commonwealth, there are plenty of ways to get a taste of local flavors while visiting Virginia. The state also has a rich wine and beer history and was once home to the nation’s first Black-owned winery, Woburn Winery.

Despite an increasingly diverse demographic of wine and beer consumers, today, less than one percent of the wineries and breweries in the nation are Black-owned. So, on your next trip to a Virginia winery, brewery, or retail store, consider supporting one of these seven pioneering Black-owned wine and beer companies.

Delaplane Cellars

First opening its doors in 2008, Delaplane Cellars was sold in 2019 to its current owners, making it one of a few Black-owned wineries in Virginia. The current owners’ vision is to make wine more accessible for people of diverse backgrounds and provide more “edutainment” opportunities for customers.

The award-winning winery is set within a 30-acre estate and is most known for its Bordeaux-style reds, including its signature Adjacency, a red-wine blend containing Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Merlot, and Tannat. On a recent visit to the winery, I enjoyed a glass of the Adjacency as well as the beautiful views.

The winery offers a membership program wine club which includes several bottles, complimentary tastings, discounts, and access to special events. Delaplane Cellars also plans to continue expanding its wine education programs to help educate the public about winemaking.

Resolution Winery

Petersburg's Resolution Winery is not only a Black-owned winery, but also a woman-owned and veteran-owned business. The small-batch winery specializes in semi-sweet wines and robust reds. 

Fifty Leven

Online wine retailer Fifty Leven is the first Black-owned wine company in Loudoun County, Virginia. The company’s name derives from a Black American colloquialism that means abundance. Kindra Dionne founded the company in early 2021 after noticing that people of color at networking events she attended didn’t drink all of the table wine. After delving deeper into her observations, she discovered that people of color often have a different palate and sensitivity to acid levels and tannins in conventional wine, so she sought to create blends that would appeal to a larger demographic.

Dionne has partnered with veteran Loudoun winemaker Fabbioli Cellars to create a collection of wines that are each dedicated to a period of her life. Two of the wines in the collection are Dulce Zaiya, a dry and slightly sweet wine named after her daughter, and Vibranium, a red dessert wine that symbolizes strength, power, and encouragement.

Shoe Crazy Wine

Richmond-based private label wine and distribution company Shoe Crazy Wine worked with sustainable vineyards in California to develop a collection of blended wines, which are sold in retailers across the mid-Atlantic and southeastern states. Founder Gwen Hurt had a passion for winemaking that she pursued as a hobby initially. After being laid off from a job in 2013 and recovering from a car accident, she created the company, which she runs with her daughter Brittny. She named the company after her other passion—shoes. The company’s products range from the traditional Cabernet Sauvignon to the fruity Naked Strawberry Passion Sangria.

RichWine RVA

Founded in 2019 by Kristen Gardner Beal and Lance Lemon, RichWine is an online wine retailer offering shipping across Virginia. The company is committed to selling only the highest quality wines, many of which are organic, biodynamic, and sustainable wines from Virginia and around the world. Roughly 25 percent of the company’s selection is comprised of American wines, while 75 percent are international labels.

With nearly 350 wine labels in its catalog, the company’s Wine Club subscription program is a convenient option for local wine lovers to discover a variety of wines they would not likely find at traditional retailers. The monthly subscription provides four expert-selected bottles of wine, tasting and pairing notes, and free delivery within Richmond’s city limits. 

In addition to the online offerings, Lance Lemon opened Penny's Wine Shop in Richmond's historic Jackson Ward neighborhood, which carries a curated selection of natural, organic, and low intervention wines, including some from Virginia winemakers. After browsing wines, visitors can open a bottle and pair with small bite plates such as charcuterie, locally sourced breads, and oysters.

Negus Wines

Negus Wines is an Alexandria-based winery that specializes in honey wine. Swing by the tasting room for a unique and sweet sipping experience. Founder Gize Negussie initially opened a brewery, but switched his focus to creating the flavorful Tej, also known as honey wine. Learning from his mother, herself an experienced Tej maker, and implementing methods from his brewing days, Gize created the first honey wine tasting room in the nation. 

Bitter Fruit Brewing Company

This Black-owned craft brew company is the first of its kind in Northern Virginia. Bitter Fruit Brewing Company collaborates to host special events to increase awareness and celebrate Black brewers in the greater DC area. 

Getting hungry? Check out our guide to Black-owned restaurants around Virginia.