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The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund
(SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM TO MEET THE 2023/24 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDEES)
The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund was created to further diversity in the wine industry, and it's happening in a HUGE way! While Black winemakers/vineyards/vintner numbers are less than 1% of the industry, diversity is growning. The opportunity to support that growth is now!
In the fall of 2020, Urban Connoisseurs, LLC, founder Marcia Jones created the The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund, as a way to financially support students of African descent who are currently enrolled in a 4-year academic program, and seeking a degree in Viticuture, Enology, and like sciences (Plant Pathology, Agriculture, etc.). To date, we have awarded $50,000 in scholarships.
In 2021, a few winemakers came together to create a blend to support the Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund and Bridge Builders Initiative. PROGRESS WINE BLEND was created and bottled with wines donated from Lisa Evich (Simi Winery), Phil Long (Longevity Winery), and Chrissy Wittmann (The Prisoner Wine Company). THANK YOU TO LONGEIVTY WINES, who donated some of the wine used to make this amazing wine blend. An ADDITIONAL THANK YOU GOES TO CONSTELLATION BRANDS, who also donated some wine and the bottles, and their time.
The Progress Wine Blend is 40% 2019 Longevity Wines Livermore Valley Grenache, 15% 2019 Simi Winery Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% 2019 The Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% 2019 Simi Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, 10% 2019 Longevity Wines Livermore Valley Petite Sirah, and 10% 2019 Longevity Wines Livermore Valley Tempranillo. CLICK BELOW to order your bottles.
Thank you for your support. Enjoy The Blend!
In 2023, Urban Connoisseurs, LLC created the Bridge Builder Iniative to connect the winemakers to the students. We hosted our first Black owned vineyard and winery tour with 11 students (primarily from HBCU's with agriculture programs). These students also attended the International Winemakers Summit, and met over 20 Black winemakers from California, Oregon, New York, Canada, Washington, Indiana, Texas, Maryland, and South Africa. Additionally, some students have had to opportunity to attend the Women and Men in Wine Dinner Celebration to further connect to the Black Winemakers.
Urban Connoisseurs, LLC was founded in 2012. The mission of Urban Connoisseurs is to affect sustainable growth in the Black winemaking community by increasing the number of Black Winemakers in the US and abroad, create opportunities for the next generation to pursue various careers in the wine industry, and maintain brand and legacy.
There isn't any other scholarship and program created to solely support students of African descent pursuing careers in the wine industry. Urban Connoisseurs, LLC's partnered with United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to maintain the fund to broaden the awareness for students to learn about the scholarship and career opportunities in the industry. The partnership has allowed students from all over the country to gain access to funds to support their pursuit of a career in the wine industry with a Science degree in Viticulture and/or Enology. Scholarships are awarded annually in the fall to students who meet the eligibility requirements (requirements to be released by UNCF during OPEN application).
NOW, you have 2 ways to directly support students! Donate directly to UNCF or Purchase the Progress Wine Blend (a portion of the purchase supports the scholarship).
For further information, please contact Marcia Jones, [email protected].
In the fall of 2020, Urban Connoisseurs, LLC, founder Marcia Jones created the The Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund, as a way to financially support students of African descent who are currently enrolled in a 4-year academic program, and seeking a degree in Viticuture, Enology, and like sciences (Plant Pathology, Agriculture, etc.). To date, we have awarded $50,000 in scholarships.
In 2021, a few winemakers came together to create a blend to support the Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund and Bridge Builders Initiative. PROGRESS WINE BLEND was created and bottled with wines donated from Lisa Evich (Simi Winery), Phil Long (Longevity Winery), and Chrissy Wittmann (The Prisoner Wine Company). THANK YOU TO LONGEIVTY WINES, who donated some of the wine used to make this amazing wine blend. An ADDITIONAL THANK YOU GOES TO CONSTELLATION BRANDS, who also donated some wine and the bottles, and their time.
The Progress Wine Blend is 40% 2019 Longevity Wines Livermore Valley Grenache, 15% 2019 Simi Winery Sonoma Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% 2019 The Prisoner Wine Company Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% 2019 Simi Winery Dry Creek Valley Zinfandel, 10% 2019 Longevity Wines Livermore Valley Petite Sirah, and 10% 2019 Longevity Wines Livermore Valley Tempranillo. CLICK BELOW to order your bottles.
Thank you for your support. Enjoy The Blend!
In 2023, Urban Connoisseurs, LLC created the Bridge Builder Iniative to connect the winemakers to the students. We hosted our first Black owned vineyard and winery tour with 11 students (primarily from HBCU's with agriculture programs). These students also attended the International Winemakers Summit, and met over 20 Black winemakers from California, Oregon, New York, Canada, Washington, Indiana, Texas, Maryland, and South Africa. Additionally, some students have had to opportunity to attend the Women and Men in Wine Dinner Celebration to further connect to the Black Winemakers.
Urban Connoisseurs, LLC was founded in 2012. The mission of Urban Connoisseurs is to affect sustainable growth in the Black winemaking community by increasing the number of Black Winemakers in the US and abroad, create opportunities for the next generation to pursue various careers in the wine industry, and maintain brand and legacy.
There isn't any other scholarship and program created to solely support students of African descent pursuing careers in the wine industry. Urban Connoisseurs, LLC's partnered with United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to maintain the fund to broaden the awareness for students to learn about the scholarship and career opportunities in the industry. The partnership has allowed students from all over the country to gain access to funds to support their pursuit of a career in the wine industry with a Science degree in Viticulture and/or Enology. Scholarships are awarded annually in the fall to students who meet the eligibility requirements (requirements to be released by UNCF during OPEN application).
NOW, you have 2 ways to directly support students! Donate directly to UNCF or Purchase the Progress Wine Blend (a portion of the purchase supports the scholarship).
For further information, please contact Marcia Jones, [email protected].