Brenae Royal Shines a Light on the Industry with Violet’s Paradise

Last updated on July 23rd, 2025

Brenae Royal has become a defining voice for Black women in the wine industry. Over the past several years, she has not only built a name for herself but also paved the way for others to follow. However, most importantly, she’s a part of the wonderful women in wine who are focused on giving back and bringing others into the fold. 

When speaking with Royal, it becomes clear immediately that a lot of her passion and talent have been ingrained in her from an early age. Her worldview shapes her career in a way that tells a fantastic story. Her story is all over the internet, but with the launch of Violet’s Paradise, Royal is seizing the opportunity to shape her own narrative in her own voice.

Brenae Royal’s Upbringing

Royal was born in Biloxi, Mississippi but grew up in wine country, in the Central Coast city of Atwater, California. However, her upbringing really started in agriculture more than viticulture. Her grandmother encouraged her to join Future Farmers of America, a youth organization that prepares students for careers in agriculture. Her next step was attending university to further her agricultural pursuits. But as she tells it, that was far from a sure thing. 

“I knew I was traveling somewhere, but all of the schools I got into were in expensive areas. I learned at the last minute that I had gotten an academic scholarship to go to Chico State,” she said. “That changed the game. Something that looked like it wasn’t going to happen, became real.”

She graduated from Chico State with a degree in horticultural science. Her final year in college is where she first learned about viticulture as a career path. She quickly realized that education in viticulture came with both a steep cost and immense value—a lesson that would shape her career for years to come.

Getting into Wine

Once viticulture entered Royal’s purview, her passion, creativity and thoughtfulness pushed her to a successful career. A week before graduating, Royal joined the viticulture team at Gallo as an intern. And within just a few days she found herself at the Monte Rosse vineyard site. It was home to the famous Apothic Red blend, one of the first wines Royal enjoyed. 

The site is one of the most historic sites in California, in Sonoma’s Moon Mountain AVA. There are vines that are nearly 200 years old, producing low yields, but exceptional fruit. Add a legendary vineyard team and high elevation, and you have the makings for some of the top Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel wines in the world. 

Royal spent more than a decade at Gallo, rising up through the ranks of vineyard manager and operations. She was the company’s North Coast operations manager when she left. At this point, a series of challenges made it clear that it was time for a pivot in Royal’s life. 

“In 2023, I felt completely dismantled. Managing a newborn while overseeing Monte Rosso Vineyard and stepping into my new role as Manager of North Coast Operations was a challenge unlike any I had faced before,” said Royal in her newsletter, Crowned in Confidence. “To this day, I feel like Superwoman for what that year taught me—how it shaped me, challenged me, and forced me to pull myself up. I also saw that resilience in Violet Mae (her dog). Even in late 2023, when we were certain something was wrong, she never gave up.”

Cultural Resilience

Royal’s success is built on resilience—an essential trait in an industry that remains difficult for Black women to break into. That resilience isn’t just personal; it’s cultural. To Royal, that means always showing up as her true self and being vulnerable in telling her story so other audiences can connect with her and the industry.  

“I feel like wine and the industry in general got to a point of a bubble where it wasn’t relevant for a lot of people and it was out of reach for a lot of people,” said Royal. “I want to be a part of the reason that it becomes more accessible.”

The Experience of Being a Black Woman in Wine

The challenges facing Black professionals in wine are clear: less than 1% of wineries are Black-owned, and winemakers of color remain rare. But beyond the cellar and the tasting room, what about the vineyard itself?

Most consumers would be lucky if they could name one or two black vineyard managers or individuals responsible for vineyard operations. Theodora Lee, known as Queen of the Vineyards, was the first known black vineyard owner in California’s Mendocino County. Bertony Faustin was the first recorded black winemaker in the entire state of Oregon, in 2012. Royal joins a rare group of individuals who rarely see people who look like them. But that doesn’t phase her at all. 

“Outside of my post-college career, in college and high school and before that, it was just about existing in spaces that didn’t look like me,” said Royal. “Half the job was already done because I had wanted to be a part of these organizations or sports, and that was a position of power.” 

Being a black woman in wine, like so many industries, means leaning into who you are. Royal introduces herself authentically to the space and that continues to lead to a ton of success. That includes building her own platform in this male-dominated industry. 

Brenae Royal Presents Violet’s Paradise

Royal’s new brand, Violet’s Paradise, is the culmination of Royal’s career, blending everything she has learned with the spirit of her late dog, Violet Mae—whose resilience and unwavering loyalty continue to inspire her.

Violet’s Paradise is an expression of the compassion, resilience and support Royal experienced throughout her career. However, she knows that being a black woman in agriculture in general, let alone viticulture, is rare. Therefore, a big part of the brand is giving back so that others can enter the spaces Royal enjoys. 

Brenae Royal reminded me a lot of legends like Alicia Towns Franken or Tiquette Bramlett who I had the pleasure of speaking with last year. These black women in wine focus their energy on helping those around them. They focus less on how they can increase their own platforms. It’s impressive and their reputations all precede them. 

The current set of wines, available for pre-sale on Royal’s website at https://violetsparadise.com/violet’s-paradise-wines, is just the beginning of her efforts. Over the next seven months, Violet’s paradise will soon become a foundation that will focus on helping as many people as possible. She’s also committing to adding a scholarship component to every wine she releases. 

The Next Brenae Royal 

The next phase for Royal isn’t just about what’s next for her. Also, it’s about what’s next for anyone that wants to get into this space. Royal is committed to using her efforts to open doors for other young, black women. Especially, those who are considering careers in viticulture and agriculture in general. Because she knows that’s how she got to where she is today. And for that, she is grateful. 

“In addition to everyone who supported me and continues to support me, I want to give a note of gratitude to the people who read this piece and are paying attention to me and other black professionals in wine. That’s huge.”

Royal is using this stage in life to create more versions of herself. She is creating a platform that not only gives people access to her, but to spend time developing the skills she acquired over her years in the industry. After the pre-sale wraps up, Royal is planning to use the funds to establish a scholarship in 2026. She is also considering purchase of land to offer apprenticeships and internships, all learning directly from her. 

Purchasing wines from Violet’s Paradise isn’t just about supporting Royal. It’s about investing in the next generation of viticulture leaders she is working to uplift.

Follow the journey at https://brenaeroyal.com/ or on Instagram @violetsparadisewines.