“I kind of grew up being the only [Black person] around. By the time I entered the wine industry, I was already comfortable being the only one, and I look at it as a position… Continue reading
“It’s like Audrey Hepburn in the perfect little black dress. It’s not just a black dress—it’s a perfectly-lined black dress, with the perfect strand of pearls, the wrap, the whole thing. It’s not fancy, it’s… Continue reading
“There are several people of color at the advanced level who are sitting for the Masters [Sommelier Exam]. Without the pin [earned upon passing the exam], people are not going to believe the Black sommelier… Continue reading
“When I first started, there weren’t really any Black wine professionals—spotting one was like seeing a unicorn. When you see someone who looks like you, engaging in something that you never thought was for you,… Continue reading
“[Our path to professional paradise] ultimately comes down to passion, and not just for wine. Passion for life, for each other, for journalism, and for the romance and adventure of wine—not so much the liquid… Continue reading
“I began with the desire to create a “First Growth of California.” The plan needed to be clear enough for direction but sufficiently flexible to evolve as we learned. We needed first to identify, capture,… Continue reading
“Greatness is in the eyes and perception of the beholder. I know what I like and I’ve always tried to make the kind of wine I like. So is it great? I can’t say. But… Continue reading
