The Big Sip

One of the most raw and unfiltered conversations yet featuring three phenomenal black business owners in the Napa Valley:

James Moss of J.Moss wines

Darryl Bell of 816 BBQ, Stateline Road

Charles "Buster" Davis of Buster's Southern BBQ

In Episode 11 of The Big Sip we dive into honest conversations around what it means to be successful, especially as a black business owner. What are the challenges that come with that success and the tightrope many of us, especially those in the black community, often have to teeter without falling.

Join the conversation as we get to hear from three generations of individuals dive into what they've had to overcome just to get to a level playing field and the pressures of what it means to have to be extraordinary just to be viewed as an equal. Prior to being able to dream and plan their success, each of them first had to plan and address how to overcome their blackness, the economic and social inequities that exist and how the person on the opposite end would react when approached with a request and ask for capital to invest in a new business venture. Throughout the trials and tribulations, one thing stands true: one must always persevere and persist.

Show your support by staying in the know and sipping from their cup:

J. Moss Wines: https://jmosswines.com/

Buster's Southern BBQ: http://www.busterssouthernbbq.com/

Darryl Bell: https://stateline-road.com/

Growing up in Southern California, Jessica Koga would have never guessed she'd end up as a winemaker in Napa Valley. After graduating high school she headed to UC Davis with the intention of becoming a veterinarian, but that quickly took a turn after being exposed to the world of wine.

Upon graduating from UC Davis, she started working at Schramsberg, and after a few years decided to broaden her horizons by working harvests in New Zealand and New York. Eventually finding herself back in California, she returned to Schramsberg in 2015 as the Associate Winemaker, focusing on the red wine program for Davies Vineyards, their sister winery in St.Helena. Jessica's passion and commitment to educating the next generation of vintners led her to working with the FFA students involved in the viticulture program at St.Helena High. As one of the few Asian-American woman winemakers in the industry, she hopes to continue the conversation and commitment on diversifying wine so that it becomes accessible to all, and he best talent is sustained and retained.

#gettingsipdone

Follow along and sip from her cup via her IG page: @winechik

In Episode 8 of The Big Sip, I am so honored to have sat down with Diana Hawkins, winemaker for Responsible Hedonist. After realizing that happiness doesn't need to be sacrificed at the expense of financial security (and that you really CAN love what you do!), Diana quit her corporate job to pursue a career as a sommelier in Chicago. She's worked at James Beard award winning and Michelin starred restaurants, guiding all sorts of palates and curious mind through her experience as a Wine Director.

In 2017, she moved to Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue her Master's in Wine Science from the University of Auckland, boots strapped and ready to dive into the exploration and fascination of terror. A true gem and champion for transparency in the industry, Diana is currently an assistant winemaker while also focusing her efforts and passion into developing her own wine brand, Responsible Hedonist! In addition to currently writing and publishing her own thesis as a wonderful contribution to the science world and continuing conversations (see, a true badass!), Diana plans to document her experience as a winemaker in her new business venture, Responsible Hedonist, by utilizing transparency as the vehicle to empowering other women and BIPOC individuals discovering their love and passion for wine and the realization they too, can unlock their dreams.

Pour yourself a glass and #sipwithus as we explore a wineful and mindful conversation from Diana's cup! Stay up-to-date with her by following her on Instagram @vinenoir, and support her wine brand by visiting @responsiblehedonistwines

Born and raised in St.Helena, CA and with 3 generations of family working in the agriculture industry of Napa Valley, Sam was destined to make wine! After rising through the ranks with Pine Ridge and taking a trip to Oregon in the early 2000's, Sam migrated and planted his roots in Willamette Valley in the summer of 2016.

Through his hustle and dedication he's been able to expand and establish Parra Wine Co while utilizing his networking skills to gain and sustain the buy-in of prominent growers throughout Oregon, who share the same passion for cultivating stellar single-vineyard wines. While Oregon is home to various Pinot Noir producers, Sam's love lies in crafting beautiful Tempranillo's, Syrah's and very soon Albariño's!

Honoring the sacrifices and dedication towards a craft pioneered by many before him, Sam recognizes the importance of giving back and spreading the wealth of knowledge. It is his commitment to leading and bringing others up with him that ultimately presented an opportunity for him to co-chair the non-profit organization, Ahivoy. Ahivoy, which translates to "there I go" is dedicated to mentoring and educating vineyard stewards looking to advance in the industry, in turn welcoming higher retention and a new wave of thinkers, changemakers, and doers!

Stay up to date with Sam and Ahivoy Oregon by joining his mailing list at www.parrawineco.com and following him on Instagram @parrawineco & @ahivoyoregon

Uprooting their life from the Big Apple after graduating from the CIA with a dual bachelor's degree in Culinary Science and Applied Food Studies, Darwin Acosta's journey to wine country is an inspiration for anyone out there looking to take a chance on themselves. This phenomenal human is one of the first scholarship recipients of The Roots Fund's "Rooted In Napa" scholarship, providing Black, Indigenous, and LatinX individuals with a secure pathway towards their advancement and opportunities in the wine industry. What does it really mean though when companies say they want to prioritize amplifying diversity in the wine industry? #SipWithUs to learn all about the #magicmoments that ultimately led to a new chapter in Darwin's lie, the community and acceptance found during one of the most challenging years that ultimately led to them planting their roots in Napa Valley, and the current programs and organizations dedicated to turning one's dream into a reality. 

We are gettin REAL on Episode 7, spillin knowledge on what it means to stay true to you, owning your work, and acknowledging that the steps we take today will show up, manifest, and have an impact down the line. So get ready for a cup full of Darwin's charismatic and energetic personality as we dive in and de-stem what the future of this industry holds when we create more space, amplify, elevate, and support. There is room for everybody, everywhere and anywhere, and Darwin's new venture as the Viticulture, Enologist, & Hospitality Assist for Burgess Cellars is proof of that. Officially planting their roots in Napa Valley, Darwin hopes to be a positive influence to those around so that they too know it's possible--you just have to find the "YES!"

To support and connect with the people and organizations paving the path and creating access for more diversity in the wine industry follow:

@thehuesociety

@rootsfund

@carltonmccoy

@sippingsocialite

@megs_zobeck

@blackwineprofessionals

@juliaconey

Dis·rupt·or /disˈrəptər/ : "A company or form of technology that causes radical change in an existing industry or market by means of innovation." That's exactly what Christy Serrato, CEO & Founder of Pair Anything, is doing! As a woman of color entrepreneur, Christy's PairAnything platform will be the catalyst for disrupting the gender and racial imbalance in the wine industry, as well as reimagines the wine experience to be more accessible. Knowing that women make up 80% of wine purchase decisions in the U.S., Christy hopes PairAnything will empower the industry to push to cater to the diverse female palate and pocketbook. In addition to pioneering PairAnything (which has excelled due to her success in banking, financial technology, IT security, and Enterprise Software), Christy is also the Director of the non-profit organization Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, the longest-running entrepreneurial program in the Sacramento region. Not only does she educate and mentor aspiring entrepreneurs, she hopes to serve as a positive role model for underrepresented founders--after all, representation matters.

The Big Sip launches its 5th episode and the 1st of 2021 with a true change-maker in the industry, challenging those in the industry around him to question: what does it mean to be a "luxury wine company," when so often that's tied to signifying exclusivity? With roots tracing back to his home-grown country in Iran, Kashy dives in and reflects on how coming from an oppressive country shaped his mindset on recognizing the importance of individuality and inclusivity. Marching to the beat of his own drum, and drawing inspiration from legend punk rock artists and bands, much of his approach to life and his winemaking style is centered around the notion of being unapologetically and authentically yourself.

As an adult he's embraced his experiences in advertising (Google, Microsoft, LiveNation, Universal Music Group, & more) and utilized it as a driving force to continue bridging cultures together, most notably and recently expressed through the beauty and diversity of his wines and the creative, cultural culinary programs at Ashes & Diamonds winery.

On this week’s episode of The Big Sip, we are joined by an incredible woman winemaker, Priyanka French, of Signorello Estate. Born and raised in Mumbai, Priyanka details her first encounter with wine, her immediate love for the industry, and the PowerPoint presentation she created that ultimately led to her parents support of her educational pursuit in wine.

Through her worldly travels she has come to discover the heart of the wine industry lies within the stories, people, and places. As an Indian immigrant woman winemaker, she recognizes the adversity and challenges that underrepresented minorities, people of color, and women often face in this industry. On a mission to change the narrative and bring equity and accessibility to the table, Priyanka sits on the board of two non-profit organizations—WineUnify and Batonnage Forum—dedicated to creating a profoundly meaningful wave of change that uplifts people of color and women looking to pursuit a career in wine.

Hope you’re thirsty because we are spilling some heavy-hitter knowledge on following your dreams, pushing forward despite and the nay-sayers, and embracing new opportunities! Tap in and #SipWithUs

For more information on how you can support Wine Unify and Batonnage Forum, visit the following webpages:

Wine Unify - https://www.wineunify.org/

Batonnage Forum - https://www.batonnageforum.com/mentorship-program-overview

Lydia Richards and Maria Calvert are the dynamic duo determined to lead companies and brands in the wine industry towards reaching and expressing true diversity in wine through their work as PR gurus for a renowned company in the East Coast, and their venture in cofounding Hispanics In Wine--a platform dedicated to showcasing Latin@s in the wine industry from all around the world! Although these two Chingonas originally started their careers in polar opposite industries (Maria started her career in finance and spent 8 years on Wall Street and Lydia started off in the fashion industry), their courage and passion to pivot and pursuit a career in wine is an inspirational journey that reminds us it's never too late to start over. It's never to late to follow your dreams. It's never too late to do more of what fuels you. It's never too late to do what you've always wanted to do. It's never too late to learn something new. It's never too late to take risks, shake up the industry, diversify and amplify, support and educate. More importantly, it's never too late to hope. Sip from their cup to get a taste of the wine industry from their side of the field, and discover why you don't always have to reinvent the wheel to do more of what you love.

George Washington Carver Walker III's journey to Napa is the definition of everything wonderful that can happen when you "shoot your shot." Hailing from Michigan, this inspiring and humble human guides us through the journey that led to his venture out West, and the fruitful opportunities he embraced prior to landing a power position as the Assistant Director of Operations for Wade Cellars. Sip from his cup of wisdom and gain insight on what's currently inspiring him to continue creating, and his ongoing commitment towards building up those around him to equally strive for greatness.