Has Racial Inclusion in the Wine Industry Improved Since 2020? Results From Two Surveys of Black Wine Entrepreneurs

Abstract

Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) entrepreneurs have been underrepresented in America’s formal wine industry for centuries. It is commonly reported that Black-owned wineries represent less than one percent of the 11,000 U.S. wineries, while only two percent of wine professionals identify as Black. The events of 2020, including the video-recorded murder of George Floyd by a police officer, incited global protests for social justice, equity and inclusion. The wine industry, along with its peers in retail, finance, and others, committed to improved opportunities for Black business owners as well as employees. In the current article, the 2020 and 2023 results of the Terroir Noir survey of Black wine entrepreneurs are presented to assess the perspectives of this segment regarding inclusion and other topics.