Sipping a glass of delicious wine can be a most satisfying experience. However, during the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown regular wine drinkers increased their average number of wine drinking occasions, reports beveragedaily.com. In October 2019, regular wine drinkers reported consuming wind on average 9.3 times a month; whereas during March 2020 lockdowns this rose to 9.7.
The good side of this upsurge is that several African American winemakers are benefiting. According to Statista.com, in 2020 there were over 10,000 wineries in the US. Winemakers of African descent make up less than 1% of winemakers and wineries worldwide. While this number is not considerable, what is remarkable is that the Black businesspersons are striking their mark in the vineyards.
Consumption is a treat, but if you’re also interested in the business of wine, check out The Urban Connoisseurs’ inaugural International Winemakers Summit (IWS). This is an opportunity for attendees to virtually meet and learn about the diverse population of winemakers of African descent from around the world, and to gain knowledge about the various varietals produced by these winemakers. IWS offers attendees further acknowledgment of how diverse the wine industry is and growing.
Registered attendees of IWS will have an opportunity to get to learn about these winemakers, their wine journey, the various varietals they have in the portfolio.
Discussions will include topics such as: Wine Trends; Terroir and The Difference; A Wine for Every Palate; Sweet vs. Dry Wine; Rosé; The Diverse Aromas and Flavors in Wine; Age Appropriate (Aging Wine); and more.
MEET THE WINEMAKERS
 Chris Christensen – Bodkin Wines  Phil Long – Longevity Wines |  Shae Frichette – Frichette Winery  Theodora Lee – Theopolis Vineyards |  Dan Glover – L’Objet Wines  Marie-Inès Romelle – Marie Cesaire Champagne |
 Nicole Kearney – Sip & Share Wines  James Moss – J Moss Wines |  Raymond Smith – Indigené Cellars  Tinashe Nyamudoka – Kumusha Wines |  Cheramie Law – Cheramie Wines  Steve Byfield – Nyarai Cellars |
Moderators will engage participants with some amazing Sommeliers from around the country to create informative and memorable conversations with and about these African American winemakers.
For more information and to register visit https://www.internationalwinemakerssummit.com/
