By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
A gathering of Black winemakers, distillers and entrepreneurs in Seattle last weekend highlighted both the legacy and growing presence of Black professionals in an industry where they have long been underrepresented, while creating space for connection, visibility and opportunity.
Held at Osteria la Spiga, the Men, Wine, and Spirits Dinner brought together established and emerging voices in wine and spirits, offering a rare opportunity for Black men in the industry to share their work, build relationships and celebrate a collective identity often missing from the broader wine world.
Unlike a typical industry event, the evening was as much about connection as it was about showcasing products. Attendees moved between conversations, tastings and shared experiences, creating an environment where collaboration took precedence over competition and where relationships were formed in real time. For many, that sense of community and visibility stood out as one of the most meaningful outcomes of the gathering.
Hosted by Marcia Jones, founder and CEO of Urban Connoisseurs, the event also paid tribute to John June Lewis Sr., widely recognized as the first Black winery owner in the United States. This year marks 86 years since Lewis opened Woburn Winery, connecting his legacy to a new generation working to expand access and representation in the industry.
Jones framed the evening as both a celebration of progress and a call to action.
“This isn’t just a dinner. It’s a declaration,” said Jones. “In 1940, John June Lewis, Sr. opened Woburn Winery’s doors as the first Black winery owner in the United States. Eighty-six years later, we’re standing on his shoulders, and we’re just getting started.”
The event featured a diverse lineup of industry professionals, including John Joubert of Black Éden 1912 Bourbon, Dexter Meadows of Meadows Estate Vineyard and Winery, Sean Perryman of 40 Acres Blending Co., Ken Dillon of Footprint Wine Tap and Derek Baljeu of Knights Bridge Winery. Former professional athletes Sidney Rice of Dossier Wine Collective and Channing Frye of Chosen Family Wines also participated, bringing additional visibility to the growing network of Black entrepreneurs in the space.
For many attendees, the evening underscored the importance of community in an industry that has historically been difficult to access.
“I think this is significant because too many times people feel like this is a competition and it is totally not,” said winemaker and former NBA player Channing Frye. “This is a community, a building of a community. Especially when it comes to the Black wine community. We do a good job of supporting each other, and it needs to get better. I think when you look around this room, they are so amazing, not only as people, but as artists, amazing people that want to tell their stories.”
Ken Dillon, owner of Footprint Wine Tap, said visibility plays a critical role in inspiring others to pursue careers in wine and spirits.
“We matter,” said Dillon. “Events like this are important because representation matters. There are a few of us in this industry and to have people that look like me, look like us, do this and make it inspirational, motivating, and encouraging others to perhaps get on board, we are here, we are talented and we love wine.”
Former Seattle Seahawk Sidney Rice said bringing so many voices together in one space was meaningful for both participants and the broader community.
“The impact of events like this is oftentimes overlooked as we are not as big as everyone else in the industry,” said Rice. “It was pretty awesome bringing all these people into the same space and have an opportunity to showcase our wines to others. This is great not only for us, but the Black wine community as well.”
For Derek Baljeu, owner of Knights Bridge Winery, exposure remains one of the biggest barriers for people of color entering the industry.
“When I grew up, I did not know that winemaking was a job and even once I did know, I didn’t know any people of color that were winemakers,” said Baljeu. “This creates a community amongst Black men that have the same interests, that have the same passions, you have to see it, to become it.”
That message extended beyond wine and spirits to the broader culinary experience. Celebrity chef Jerome Brown curated a menu designed to complement the evening, reinforcing the importance of visibility across all aspects of the industry.
“One of the most important things about events like this is the fact that exposure is the key,” said Brown. “As I travel the world, I find that a lot of Black men make some of the most amazing wines that you can ever drink. But without the proper exposure, who would know that.”
The event also supports Urban Connoisseurs’ broader mission to connect communities with the wine and food industry while creating pathways for future generations through initiatives such as the Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund.
For those in attendance, the gathering reinforced that the growth of Black representation in wine and spirits is not just about visibility, but about building infrastructure, opportunity and long-term presence in an industry where access has historically been limited. Events like this serve as both a reflection of progress and a foundation for what comes next.
For Jones, the evening reflected both how far the industry has come and how much work remains.
“The Men, Wine, and Spirits Dinner represent more than exceptional wine and bourbon,” said Jones. “It’s about honoring where the industry has been while claiming where it’s going, celebrating the men who are rewriting the rules of an industry that historically excluded them.”
