5 Black-Owned Wines You Should Be Sipping Right Now
During ESSENCE Festival, there was a "sea of blackness," as Yvonne Orji excitedly pointed out. And with that, there was also (obviously) events for and by us. One that stood out for me was the Black Wine Experience, hosted by the Hue Society's founder and sommelier Tahiira Habiba, a wine tasting where "assimilation is not required."
As someone whose taste buds have grown to enjoy the taste of fermented grapes with day old pizza or Chinese (whatever's available), I've been dying to level up on my knowledge when it comes to pairing, swirling, sipping, and all of the other seemingly pretentious things you may have seen a wine lover do. (Don't judge! The mere fact that wine is even a preference is personal growth.) Not only did the Hue Society wine tasting come with the knowledge but they came with an amazing selection of black-owned and/or imported wines.
And because I'm not one for keeping secrets, I'm going to spill all the tea (er, wine?) -- name-dropping each of the vendors featured at this event (because a good friend always puts others on), plus a handful of suggested tips on how to wind down and let go of the social pressures that are sometimes associated with drinking wine.
As someone who overthinks and analyzes as much as my brain will allow ("Am I doing this right?" is my favorite question even when I can't be wrong), I decided to get Tahiira's take on the top five things that are most imperative when getting to know your wine.
It's Personal
"There are no real hard rules except to drink what you like. It's good to know [the] basics but at the end of the day, wine is a personal experience. Everyone starts with sweet wine, the problem is the lack of education and staying stuck there."
Uncork Different Possibilities
"Be open to trying new and different wines. How will you know what you like if you drink the same thing over and over? So when I say, 'Drink what you like,' I mean, 'After you've tried a few things and you circle back to the one you like,' NOT stick to the same thing."
Sip Up
"The only real way to learn about wine is to drink it. Every grape is different, every place is different, every winemaker has a different style and technique; so a Chardonnay from Sonoma by [this] winemaker might not taste like the Chardonnay from Napa by [that] winemaker. It's good to take notes so you can start to see the differences. Drinking trains your palate and opens up your scent memory (olfactory glands) so you start to learn more and more the more you drink."
To that effect, one of the vendors pointed out to me that Rose is a blend of grapes...not a grape itself (like other types of wine). A Rose can consist of Pinot Noir grapes and Chardonnay grapes or any other combination of grapes.
Just Ask
"Don't be afraid to ask questions! Not a single person knows EVERYTHING about wine and a good sommelier or expert is happy to share their knowledge without making you feel dumb. If you run into a snob, just ignore them, and try to get whatever knowledge you can from the presentation, anyway. There is a point to the swirling, etc just ask and don't be afraid because the person next to you has [that] question too!"
FYI, that swirling thing she mentioned? If I recall correctly, that allows you to get a better whiff of the different aromas in the wine. Not only is wine personal, but scientific too, which was never my forte so I won't get to lying to you on how it works. I believe there are also some other benefits of the swirl.
The Motto
"This is my personal motto, wine is about memories! It should be enjoyed and not this nerve racking, anxious experience. Hue Society has the motto 'Assimilation Not Required,' meaning we don't have to enjoy wine the way someone else does. If you want to drink moscato, have at it, but do it because it's an educated choice that you're making with your dollars, not because it's the only thing being offered to you."
From their lips to yours, each brand describes what they brought to the table in their own words, leaving us thirsty as ever:
McBride Sisters Collection
Their Selection: Brut Rosé
Check out their collection of wines here, and learn more about the sisters' monthly and quarterly wine clubs here.
Sip & Share
Their Selection: White Sangria
Their Pairing:
"White Sangria is a medium sweet, made in California. It's light bodied. Crisp, peach and citrus aromas with flavors of apricot on the palate. It pairs well with seafood, salad, aged cheddar, goat, asiago and gouda cheeses."
Maison Noir Wines
Their Selection: Love Drunk Rosé
Seatpocket Wines
Their Selection: Rhythm Rosé
Their Pairing:
"An easy drinking 2016 Rosé of Grenache from the Central Coast of California. It is light and fruit forward with characteristics of candied strawberries. It's the perfect pairing for light summer salads (especially Mediterranean, Waldorf, and fruit salads), and a classic cheese board."
*This wine is exclusively sold at events until August 1, 2018. However, Seatpocket offers other selections and is in the process of producing more.
Aslina Wines
Their Selection: Chardonnay
Check out her more extensive selections of wines by clicking here.
Boone Selections Importer
Their Selection: Pink Flow Rosé
Their Pairing:
"Flow Rosé is a blend of Carignan, Merlot and Syrah with intense fruity aromas of wild strawberry, ripe red apple, peach, rose petal, and lavender. Gorgeous pomegranate, tobacco, and blueberries on the palate. Round and smooth with a crisp refreshing finish. This is a different type of rosé full of personality and extremely easy to drink. Rose all day, all year! Pair with spicy Ethiopian and Thai cuisine, pork, salmon, veggies and Saturday night with the girls!"
Featured image by Getty Images
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Motor City native, Atlanta living. Sagittarius. Writer. Sexpert. Into all things magical, mystical, and unknown. I'll try anything at least once but you knew that the moment I revealed that I was a Sag.
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Sheila Rashid's Androgynous Approach To Unisex Clothing Is A Lesson In Embracing Individuality
The ItGirl 100 List is a celebration of 100 Black women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table.
For Sheila Rashid, it all started with some free-hand drawings and a few strokes of paint.
The Chicago-based clothing designer and creative director of Sheila Rashid Brand recalls using her spare time in high school to hand paint designs on t-shirts and distressed hoodies, distributing them to classmates as walking billboards for her art.
Rashid sought to pursue fashion design at Columbia College in Chicago but eventually took the self-taught route to build upon her knack for crafting one-of-a-kind, androgynous pieces.
Courtesy
Thanks to the mentorship of local designers taking her under their wings, Rashid was able to gain valuable experience in putting together collections and creating patterns; equipping her with them with the necessary skills to pursue her own collections.
After two years of living in New York, Rashid returned home to the Chi and uncovered the unique flair she could offer the city. “I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world,” she tells xoNecole. “That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
For the Midwest native, inspiration comes from her time around creative peers and the city’s notorious winters — known to be a main character in many Chicagoans stories. “It's a different perspective and mindset when I'm making stuff because of the weather here,” she explains. “When we get summer, it’s ‘Summertime Chi’ — it's amazing. It's beautiful. Still, I find myself always making clothes that cater to the winter.”
"I moved to New York after that because I wanted to be in the fashion capital world. That's when I really got a leg up. I found myself when I moved back to Chicago after moving to New York.”
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Many designers have a signature aesthetic or theme in their creations. In Rashid’s design story, dancing between the lines of femininity and masculinity is how she’s been able to distinguish herself within the industry. Her androgynous clothing has garnered the eye of celebrities like Zendaya, Chance the Rapper, WNBA star Sydney Colson, and more — showing her range and approach to designs with inclusivity in mind.
“I think I do reflect my own style,” she says. “When I do make pieces, I'm very tomboyish, androgynous. My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes.” From denim to overalls, and color-drenched outerwear, Rashid has mastered the structure of statement pieces that tell a story.
“Each collection, I never know what's going to be the thing I'm going to focus on. I try to reflect my own style and have fun with the storytelling,” she shares. “I look at it more like it's my art in this small way of expressing myself, so it's not that calculated.”
"My work is unisex because I feel like everybody can wear it. I cater to everybody and that's how I try to approach my clothes."
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Still, if you were able to add up all the moments within Rashid’s 20-year career in design, one theme that has multiplied her into becoming an “ItGirl” is her confidence to take up space within the fashion industry as a queer, Black woman. “Being an ItGirl is about being yourself, loving what you do, finding your niche, and mastering that,” she says.
No matter where you are on your ItGirl journey, Rashid says to always remain persistent and never hesitate to share your art with the world. “Don’t give up. Even if it's something small, finish it and don't be afraid to put it out,” she says, “It's about tackling your own fear of feeling like you have to please everybody, but just please yourself, and that's good enough.”
To learn more about the ItGirl 100 List, view the full list here.
Featured image Courtesy