Background
Griot, pronounced "gree-OH", is a word that hails from West African culture to describe a designated oral historian. Their role in the community is to know and share the knowledge they were both given and have gathered throughout their lifetime. To keep the information safe and pass it along.
Griots give context, they give purpose and share with their community while also going out to seek more knowledge themselves. They seek out individual family stories and make sure they are not forgotten.
I have studied wine for more than 4 years, classically, socially and within various roles of the hospitality industry. I have worked in restaurants, created and executed retail consumer wine education programs across North Carolina and South Florida. I am currently an Interim Beverage Director in New York City. In almost all of these spaces, I was one of few women present, one of few black people present and typically the only black woman.
Within each organization, I have worked to re-shape their expectation of a potential customer. While black women are rare behind the scenes, we are not rare as consumers of wine and spirits or informal education sharing (attending tastings, asking for suggestions in retail spaces or restaurants, etc).
This will be an intentional space to take the stories of wine and share them with all who see themselves as part of my community. There will be formal education, there will be informal and (hopefully) readily accessibly quick guides, and there will be celebration of us.
Long term, my hope is to find a sustaining way to empower my community and make the retail wine experience diverse and accessible for all who are old enough to drink and want to be included.
Professional Wine Accreditations
WSET Levels I & II, Court of Masters (Introductory and Certified), Certified Specialist of Wine Candidate, Italian Wine Scholar via Wine Scholar Guild.
