Ladies and gentlemen, raise your glasses to toast and support Black-owned wineries – especially during Black Business Month in August.
Jennifer McDonald, of Kansas, would be especially appreciative of the gesture as she is expanding her winery with added products to her Wichita-based business, Jenny Dawn Cellars, Black Enterprise reported.
The magazine reported that around the country, there has been an uptick of Black winemakers with McDonald being part of that growing number. Nearly two years ago, she started Jenny Dawn Cellars — becoming the first African American woman to have a Kansas-based urban winery, according to the article.
She told Black Enterprise that since COVID-19-related restrictions lifted, their tasting room sales “have been great.”
“People have wanted to get out and enjoy, but we are only one of the many places people can go, so we continue to work hard to provide all our guests with an amazing experience,” she said in the article.
From seasonal menu changes for the correct wine pairings to added food dishes on the menu — Jenny Dawn Cellars is broadening its culinary options to help wine lovers of all kinds enjoy salads, desserts and more.
Let’s not forget about the new Black Sunflower Collection (also available online for select states), which McDonald said she is “extremely excited about.”
“It consists of three wines a white, a red, and a rose, all semi-sweet,” she told Black Enterprise. “They are fun, approachable, and casual wines, perfect for enjoying with a group of friends.”
McDonald said that her wine collection was named Black Sunflower to inform others around the world that she is here.
“I am a Black winemaker in Kansas (the sunflower state) and that I am proud to be here making great tasting wine for everyone and every moment,” she said in the article.
When asked by Black Enterprise, what are five pieces of advice she would offer someone who is interested in starting their own urban winery, she said to start with what you know.
· “Know and embrace your community—locally and nationally, these are the people who will get you through the tough times.”
· “Know your wine and be open to creating wine for everyone and every taste.
· Be welcoming, inclusive, and open; we work hard to ensure our space is comfortable and available to everyone.”
· “Remain true to your vision, don’t let others deter you or steer you away from what you want to be.”
· “Be proud of who you are, what you do, and the product you create. If you can’t enjoy it, no one will.”
She said as an entrepreneur, she’s been running over 100 percent for several years, which is not that sustainable.
“As my business has grown, I have worked hard to get the right people on board and in the correct seats,” she told the magazine, adding that the pandemic made it harder for her on the business end. Yet with growth comes needed restructuring of priorities. “I’m confident that as we move forward and streamline, I will be able to take more off my plate and have others step into those roles.”
She added that she can see expansion soon so even more wine connoisseurs can have a sip.
“Right now, we are busy planning our expansion at our current location. We are in the wonderful but stressful position of needing to substantially increase our wine production to meet the demand,” McDonald said. “There are so many opportunities we are considering, and we’re always open to new ideas.”
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