A Toast to Herstory: Five Black Owned Wines for the 2024 Election

Last updated on January 16th, 2025

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the U.S. political climate continues to be as volatile as a bottle of bubbly in the hands of a winning ticket. 

No matter which political “team” wins,  it is undeniable that Vice President Kamala Harris has already broken through the glass ceiling by becoming the first (presumptive until Thursday) major-party nominee for president who is a woman of color. 

Harris, who served as California Attorney General and U.S. Senator prior to her current role, is a savvy oenophile, which pairs harmoniously with her lauded culinary talents. 

In honor of Kamala Harris’ rise to the Democratic nomination this week, and ultimately Election Day, which will occur on November 5, 2024, here are five Black owned wines that epitomize Harris’ journey – and can help you through the dizzying election events: 

Five Black Owned Wines to Toast to Herstory

McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Rose 

Unless VP Harris starts fermenting her own wine, there probably is no wine  better for the occasion than the Oakland-born Black Girl Magic brand. The rose, particularly, embodies Harris on multiple levels. Similar to Harris, the brands’ half-sister founders, Andrea and Robin, are bicultural and celebrate their unique heritage. The eponymous “magic” characterizes the resilience required in the less than female-friendly careers for all three women. The blush rose hue evokes the signature pink of Harris’ beloved sisterhood, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. ( AKA). 

Brown Estate Chaos Theory 

Napa Valley’s first Black-owned estate winery is a family business founded by a visionary couple, Bassett and Martha Brown, who blazed their own trail in the region. Like Harris’ own father, Bassett immigrated from Jamaica, while his wife has Panamanian roots. Not only is this Zinfandel-dominant wine appropriate for 2024, according to the brand backgrounder, it reminds us that “amidst the mayhem there is reason if not always rhyme…and from each season, great wine.” 

Frichette Winery Red Mountain Cabernet Franc

Nestled in the “other” Washington, is Frichette Winery helmed by fellow AKA sister Shae Frichette and her husband Greg. The two flipped a coin to determine where they would settle to build a family (Note: We do not recommend this approach for your November vote). This “Red” Mountain wine, packed with “blue” fruit flavors making it a satisfyingly bi-partisan bottle.

Viarae Prosecco 

Harris is quoted for calling on her supporters to be “joyful warriors,” and her joy is often evident in her infectious laughter. Multi-hyphenate creative Issa Rae always brings the laughs, and now she presents a fantastic wine: Viarae Prosecco. In contrast with Rae’s “Awkward” beginnings, this sparkling white bubbly is spirited and sophisticated. And Rae famously portrayed President Barbie in the 2023 mega-hit film, Barbie. In this election, is Rae still famously, “rooting for everybody Black?”

B. Stuyvesant Champagne

Whether or not Harris is victorious, we can all celebrate enduring another tumultuous election — and celebration demands Champagne. B. Stuyvesant is the first Champagne owned by a Black American woman, former Wall Street whiz Marvina Robinson. The brand’s name refers to its Brooklyn headquarters (note: while the brand is based in Brooklyn, the vineyards are in Champagne, allowing the team to call it Champagne).  This was also home to another political pioneer: Shirley Chisolm. She was the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to campaign for the Democratic party nomination for president. 

Harris and these visionary vintners continue a legacy of Black Americans remaining “unbossed” and undeterred toward their goals. Let’s honor our ancestors by voting early, from abroad, or in person, and encouraging others to vote. As Harris contends, “The American Dream belongs to all of us.” Let us toast with one of these black owned wines and enjoy the story.

(For more wines to consider in your celebration, visit our Sip Consciously Directory. Cheers!)