Meet five Black wine enthusiasts who are trailblazers among the most distinguished in the industry.
Travel Noire reported that Wine Enthusiast released its “40 Under 40 Tastemakers of 2021,” which included these tasteful men and women.
1. Phillippe André, 37
André is a second-generation sommelier and restaurateur. He developed a passion for hospitality and wine education while growing up around fine dining.
In 2018, he was appointed to be a U.S. ambassador for Charles Heidsieck Champagne. His duties included relaunching the historic brand’s reputation.
He currently serves as the wine director at Oceanique restaurant, where he manages a 32-year-old cellar with a 1,200-plus selection.
2. Tiquette Bramlett
Bramlett is considered the first Black woman appointed to run a winery in a major U.S. wine region.
She founded Our Legacy Harvested in 2020 during the summer riots, where she provides education and resources.
3. Isis Daniel, 26
Daniel, a millennial sommelier and consultant, debuted on Instagram with her #TastingThursday videos, where she’d taste wines and learn about them with her followers.
She started integrating brands into her videos during the pandemic. Daniel now has more than 120,000 viewers on TikTok.
4. Kelly Mitchell, 38
Mitchell works as a mentor to aspiring wine professionals through Wine Unify, an organization dedicated to racial and ethnic diversity in wine.
While there, she launched Kelly Selects, a wine club partnership with online retailer Wired For Wine. The club delivers handpicked, food-friendly bottles with tasting notes and pairing ideas.
A portion of sales is donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund to support racial justice.
5. Shankia Hillocks, 31
Hillocks’ mission is to make wine, food, travel, and wellness more accessible and equitable, according to Wine Enthusiast.
She currently works as a strategic planner with E. & J. Gallo as the company’s influencer marketing manager. She’s also a freelance social media marketing and consultation professional.