Looking for Black wineries or winemakers for Black History Month? We have two red wines for valentines with a matching menu– southern inspired beef meatloaf and Mac n cheese! 

2 Red Wines from Black Wineries for Black History Month 

• 2019 McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Zinfandel, California
• 2021 Longevity Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, California 

Phil Long and Longevity Wines

When the winemaking that Phil Long and his wife Debra outgrew their garage, they knew they wanted to create a wine brand and experience that brought a sense of love and inclusivity to the world. Their name “Longevity” is a play on their last name, and the heart logo comes from the hearts that Phil showered on his wife until she died of pancreatic cancer in 2019. 

The McBride Sisters

The McBride sisters have a pretty wild story: they are half sisters with the same dad but different moms, and they were raised in two different wine regions on two different continents without ever knowing about the other until their dad died and with some sleuthing, the sisters were connected, as described in the news clip below. 

 

Menu for 2 Red Wines from Black Wineries for Black History Month 

To pair with the Longevity Cabernet Sauvignon and the McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Zin, we went with a cheese board followed by a Southern Style Meatloaf and Baked Mac n Cheese.

A few years ago I learned here that James Hemings, an African American enslaved by Thomas Jefferson, trained as a culinary chef at 19 in France when Jefferson took him there. This history led to the dish being a soul food favorite. For inspiration, we used this recipe from Dude That Cooks.

In many of the recipes we researched, we found lots of spices, but the meatloaf had A LOT of onions and bell peppers — and I’m not a fan of either. So we went with recipes that offered a bit of a kick, but no bell peppers, and the onions are mitigated by being sauted in butter. For inspiration, we turned to Best Meatloaf Recipe – From The Queen of Soul Food Cooking.

I was interested in smoking both the meatloaf and the Mac n cheese but that didn’t come together for outr tasting. Next time!

2019 McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Zinfandel, California

ABV: 13.5%
SRP: $25; Purchased on Sale
Grapes: Zinfandel

“Our mission is to transform the industry, lead by example and cultivate community, one delicious glass at a time,” says the McBride Sisters website. “Over time, McBride Sisters has grown into what is not only the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States, but one of the most inclusive, accessible, socially aware and sustainable.” 

Appearance:  Medium density, ruby, pale mauve rim

Aroma: Fresh fruit, black cherry, carnation, sandalwood, amber, musky 

Palate: Plum, plum preserves, not too sweet yet tart, woodsy, clove, cinnamon, baking spices; there is a nice liveliness, nice mellow tannins, easy drinking easily assessable, big bold party wine.

Pairing: Would be great with pizzas, pasta or burgers, share a bottle with friends. The wine works with the salami as it brings out the rich ripe fruit in the wine making it almost syrupy, absolutely divine with creamy cheese on the crunchy cracker, texturally the crunch of the cracker adds to the experience, the funky rind on the cheese mellows the intense fruit in the wine. Perfect with our Southern Mac and Cheese, fantastic with the meatloaf as it handles the sweet sauce on top like nobody’s business and it loves the heat from the black pepper.

2021 Longevity Wines Cabernet Sauvignon, California 

ABV: 13.5%
SRP: $20; Purchased on Sale
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon

“Their Phil-osophy (pun intended) was to focus on the experience of enjoying quality wine: the food you have with it, the place you enjoy it and the friends you share it with—the pairings that make great memories,” says their website. Learn more about Longevity Wines here.

The screw top cork was easy enough, but not until you figured out how to remove the plastic coating! 

Appearance:  Medium density, ruby, fuchsia rim

Aroma: Cherry, cherry bubble gum, blackberry, lots of fruit, subtle sage.

Palate: Tart cherry, very dry, sticky tannins, cocoa powder texturally, bright acidity, dark chocolate, dried cherries, cocoa nibs, walnut skin, nicely integrated oak, dried rose petals on the finish, possibly a bit of violet.

Pairing: The bread and the cheese with this wine is like eating a cherry bon bon, It is just delicious together, fabulous with the salami, the herbed crackers are nice with the wine as well, the herbs in the Mac and cheese shine with this wine with the wine bringing out the spices in the meatloaf as well. The wine interacts and respond to the paprika in the dish. 

Looking for more wines to support black winemakers and wineries for Black History Month and beyond? Check out: 

• Intercept: NFL Superstar Charles Woodson’s Label: pinot noir with smoked ham 
• Field Number 15: Organic Field Number Fifteen Fullfills a Lifelong Dream in El Dorado 

Here are a few resources David Crowley from Cooking Chat found for sourcing Black and BIPOC wines from wineries and wine businesses:

• 23 Black Owned Wine Businesses in the US — list from Melanin is Life
• The Urban Grape, a Black owned wine shop here in Boston, has a collection of wines from BIPOC Producers.
• 11 BIPOC Owned Wine Brands from Well + Good

More ideas for consideration this month to celebrate Black History:

• Buy ingredients from a BIPOC owned business or a BIPOC maker.
• Order takeout from a BIPOC owned restaurant.
• Buy a cookbook from a BIPOC author and make a recipe.
• Learn about the amazing contributions of Black Americans to our food culture and cook a traditional dish.
• Cook a recipe from a BIPOC blogger, for example, from Best Meatloaf Recipe – From The Queen of Soul Food Cooking or Dude That Cooks..

In the Los Angeles area, check out these