When asked to describe the current state of black women’s representation in the wine industry, Robin and Andréa McBride know exactly how to respond. The sisters, cofounders and winemakers of the California-based McBride Sisters Wine Collection, immediately point to a wine industry magazine“In one shot, it’s a very good representation of the lack of diversity in the industry,” says Andréa.
“Women of color have more of a challenge—number one because nobody expects them to know much about wine,” says Mac McDonald, president of the Association of African-American Vintners . “But we’re not about getting together and just drinking. We’re about education.” “Many women and minorities working in entry-level positions in hospitality cannot afford to invest $10,000 to $15,000, which is the range of current costs of for-profit wine education programs,” James, the corporate beverage director for Gracious Hospitality, toldat higher rates than their white or male counterparts, notes Julia Coney, a freelance wine writer, consultant and an instructor for Wine Empowered. This is true when she’s just playing the role of consumer, too.
Despite stereotypes that paint white women as the primary wine consumers, black women are influential wine buyers. “That means that dollars are being left on the table when [they aren’t] thought of during product development or considered when developing marketing messages,” says Cheryl Grace, a consumer engagement exec at Nielsen.
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