Diversity in Wine with Lia Jones: Girl Chat, Wine Talk and Lighting up the industry!

Tasting in Lompoc at Kita Wines with Native American Tara Gomez

Do you know Kita wines ? The only winery owned by Native Americans with a Native American wine maker. Let me introduce you World to Tara Gomez the Winemaker. Tara loves science and loves wine because of her love for science. She has been traveling the world tasting and learning about wine since she was a teen (shhhh). Her tribe the Chumash based in Santa Ynez entrusted her with their land and three tons of grapes. She had to prove herself. And so she did! She partner with the infamous Rideau winery to make her wines in their cellar at first. Now she makes of 3,000 cases for Kita wines, manages their tasting room and cellar in Lompoc and makes another 900 for her own brand Camins Dreams. #winetribe #diversityinwine #winelife #wine #nativeamerican #nativeamericanculture #lompoc #winemaker

Tasting Okapi Wines in the Bay with Stephen Sterling

Where in the world is Tuanni? A couple weeks ago I spent some time catching up with wine friends in the Bay. Yes San Francisco, California. I had dinner with Stephen Sterling we ate, drank and talked wine! We talked about wine and the business of wine while we tasted Okapi Wines from Napa Vally. Here is a little portion of our live recorded convo and review of Okapi Wines. For for information on OKapi visit there website at: http://www.okapiwines.com/ [http://www.okapiwines.com/] For info on Zuri Wine Tasting https://www.zuriwine.com/ [https://www.zuriwine.com/]

Michigan Wine

Quick visit to Michigan for a long weekend. Sopped to taste Michigan Wines in the airport!

Diversity in Wine with Lia Jones: Girl Chat, Wine Talk and Lighting up the industry!

Met up with Lia Jones at Motor City Wine Bar and Retail shop in Detroit, Michigan. We were both in Detroit visiting our Dads. We decided to share a bottle of Horseshoes and Handgrenades red wine by Maison Noire while we caught up on each other’s wine life. Lia is creator of a non profit called Diversity In Wine & Spirits. We talked about everything from the panel she created and curates at Somm Com to our short time together when she visited Cape Town and a review of Andre Hueston Mack’s wine. My favorite quote from Lia : “we are here to light up the industry...its lit” If you’d like more info on Lia Jones or Diversity in Wine click on the links before: Website: https://www.diversityinwineandspirits.org/ [https://www.diversityinwineandspirits.org/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/diversityinwineandspirits/ [https://www.instagram.com/diversityinwineandspirits/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DiversityInWineandSpirits [https://www.facebook.com/DiversityInWineandSpirits]

Meet the Winemaker: Siwela Masoga

Meet Winemaker Siwela Masoga. Born and raised in the rural area in South Africa, Siwela has entered South Africa’s growing wine scene with a fierce spirit fill with intense hustle and a sass beyond measure. She is creator of her namesake wine brand “Siwela”. Listen to our very candid conversation about being a woman, black and a Winemaker. Siwela’s story is one that encourages courage and strength.