Marcia Jones
The Mission
The mission of Urban Connoisseurs is to affect sustainable business and developmental growth in the wine and food community by curating an environment that brings winemakers and local restaurants/caterers together.
The Vision
The vision of Urban Connoisseurs is to help grow the community of American winemakers of African descent by fifty percent within the next 10 years. We will obtain this through
- Vigorous marketing of the current brands.
- Providing mentor and education opportunities to those expressing interests in the wine industry.
- Workshops/Seminars specific to career opportunities in the wine industry, and winery and/or vineyard ownership.
- Establish The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund (fall of 2020)
Our Values
Urban Connoisseurs’ values are guided by the following:
- Support those who produce the best quality wine grapes and wine possible
- Support those winemakers who lead in protecting the environment and conserving natural resources for the Generation after Next
- Maintain long-term relationships with winemakers
- Support the economic and social well-being of winemakers, their employees, and families
- Respect for all who have traveled this challenging road, whether in success or failure
- Honor the American winemakers' of African descent entrepreneurial spirit
- Research and education as well as monitoring and evaluating existing practices to improve the community and grow
