Black-Owned Bars, Breweries, and Wineries Across the United States

There is still a grave underrepresentation of Black owned breweries, wineries, and spirit makers. Here are some fantastic businesses to support.

While stationed in France during WWI, John June Lewis Sr. grew fond of wine and wine culture. He took this newfound love and a plot of inherited land in Clarksville, Virginia, to grow grapes. In 1940, he opened the first Black-owned winery in the United States, Woburn Winery. Then, in 1970, Ted Mack, a former sharecropper, Korean War veteran, and civil rights activist, came together with a group of Black business owners. They opened Peoples Brewing Company in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It was the first Black-owned brewery in the United States. But decades later, there is still a grave underrepresentation of Black (and women) owned breweries, wineries, and spirit makers.

As new breweries and wineries pop up, many are the first or one of few in their city or state to be owned by a person of color. Less than 1% of craft breweries are Black-owned. It’s a statistic shared by wineries as well. Here are some of our favorites across the United States that should be on your radar.

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Proximity Brewing

WHERE: Durham, North Carolina

Proximity Brewing, in the Old East Durham neighborhood, is the city’s first Black-owned brewery and was founded by Mike Potter, who co-founded Blacktoberfest. They have 14 beers on tap and a selection of wines and spirits crafted by other Black-owned businesses. The atmosphere truly embodies a welcoming environment where beer lovers of all backgrounds can gather with their friends or meet new ones. The outside courtyard connects those visiting nearby businesses for a deeper community feel.

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Métier Brewing

WHERE: Woodinville, Washington

Rodney Hines opened Métier Brewing in 2018. It is Washington state’s first Black-owned brewery and a great place to visit for beer lovers and newbies alike. I became a fan after tasting a flight of their best sellers, including the Coconut Porter. Hines is community-minded and sources ingredients and materials from women and minority-owned businesses.

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Turner Häus Brewery

WHERE: Chicago, Illinois

Founders Steven Turner, Blair Turner-Aikens, and Nathaniel Aikens opened their family-owned taproom, Turner Häus Brewery, on the south side of Chicago after years of pop-ups and community events in the Bronzeville neighborhood. With a combination of robust flavors, they have brought the personalities of the women in their families to their craft beers. Helen is a grapefruit lager named after their grandmother. They also have created Queen’s Legacy, a Caribbean-influenced stout that ages in whiskey barrels from Uncle Nearest distillery.

While you’re in the neighborhood, venture over to Bronzeville Winery. They offer an extensive global wine list from women, minority, and Black-owned labels.

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Craft Culture X

WHERE: Houston, Texas

Wanting to create a space that was reflective of themselves, For The Culture Brewing Company and Ovinnik Brewing (a woman-owned brewery) worked together to bring the first Black-owned brewery to Houston, Craft Culture X. The two breweries will operate in one space offering 15 beers on tap with unique names like Who’s Your Taddy Now, Jam Session, Rice Rice Baby, and a Houston 75.

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Bodkin Wines

WHERE: Lake Country, California

In Lake County, California, you can find Bodkin Wines, founded by self-taught winemaker Chris Christenson in 2011. Chris is a mover and shaker in the wine industry, pioneering diversity and bringing new flavors to the wine scene. He is the first American to make a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc. You can find it at his winery or order it online.

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Fifty Leven

WHERE: Leesburg, Virginia

Founded by Kindra Dionne in Loudoun County, Fifty Leven is another brand holding the title as the first Black-owned. After some research, Donned discovered that people of color were sensitive to the tannins and acidity in conventional wines. Reflective of that discovery, her blends can appeal to all wine lovers. The collection can be shopped online or at one of their events.

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Zafa Wines

WHERE: Isle La Motte, Vermont

As the 18th Black farmer in Vermont to own land, Krista Scruggs used her farmland to found Zafa Wines, which makes all-natural blends using hybrid grapes, apples, and other fruits to make sparkling wines and ciders with Vermont influences like maple syrup. If you’re lucky, you can snag a few bottles online. They tend to sell out quickly!

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Casks and Flights

WHERE: Pensacola, Florida

Whatever you need for a day or evening of fun in Pensacola, you can find it on Palafox Street. That includes the unique joint, Casks and Flights, the first Black-owned wine tasting room in Pensacola. You can get a few wine-based cocktails (definitely try the Frose) but the highlight here is the self-dispensing wine taps. There are over 72 wines from across the country. They also make mead, which is a spirit made from honey, and have a great selection of national and Florida-based craft beers.

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Main Street Gastropub

WHERE: Rocky Mount, North Carolina

Should you find yourself on that stretch of I-95 that takes you through Rocky Mount, one of the best stops you can make is in the historic downtown district to the family-owned Main Street Gastropub. Although they are technically a restaurant, they have a full-service bar with specialty cocktails (like the Pineapple Express) that will wow the crowd. While in town, you can get tasty selections from another local joint, Harlem Brew South, at area retailers or their pop-up events.

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Dream House Lounge

WHERE: New Orleans, Louisiana

David Wallace opened Dream House Lounge as a wellness space and haven for all. Mocktails are becoming increasingly popular amid the dry-tripping and sober-curious travel trends. The lounge features a conscious cocktail menu that remixes classic drinks we love, like The Dream 75 and Whiskey Dreams, which uses zero-proof spirits. Compared to the bustling backdrop of The French Quarter, it’s a welcomed respite for non-drinkers and party-goers alike.

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12 Amazing Black-Owned Bars, Breweries, and Wineries Across the United States