Winery with Charlotte ties takes to the sky: Now you can order it on long-haul flights
Going abroad anytime soon? Ease into your flight with a glass of vino — American Airlines is now serving wine from KT Winery, a homegrown, woman-owned wine company, on its long-haul and international flights.
“Oftentimes, you get on the plane and you’re just drinking because it’s there, it’s accessible and usually, in first class, it’s free,” KT Winery co-owner and Charlotte local Macie Mincey told CharlotteFive.
“Whereas to see a product like ours not only as a minority-owned, women-owned company get onto one of the biggest airlines in the world — I’m just so honored that our customers, the people drinking this wine, are getting something of quality.”
Founded in Charlotte in 2020 by businesswomen-turned-best-friends Kristin Taylor and Mincey, KT Winery was born from the duo’s shared desire to create modern, health-conscious wines.
As women of color, the duo sought to create a brand that shifted perceptions around wine’s unapproachable stiff upper lip culture, setting their sights on a diverse array of consumers, including young people, people of color and mothers.
Together, the pair launched their flagship brand Mom Juice, an affordable, low-sugar wine company made using less than nine ingredients.
“As a mom of four, I love that busy moms get to experience premium wines like those in Mom Juice Signature Collection in a welcoming community where they are seen and known,” Mincey said.
However, KT Wine is not just for women. With a 30 percent male customer base, the wine is meant for anyone with good taste and an affinity for what co-owner Kristin Taylor likes to call, “affordable luxury.”
“KT signature is a nod at the affordable luxury,” Taylor said. “I think it opens it up for the rich aunties. It opens up to the guys who are always drinking Mom Juice, but stealing it from their wives.”
Now, the locally born wine company is going international, taking up residence on long-haul American Airlines flights.
“It was mind-boggling to think, ‘We made this,’ and people are going to be able to have something so — obviously Macy and I feel very yummy — on board,” Taylor said. “But, at the same time, there aren’t a lot of women-owned wineries or Black-owned wineries that have been given this opportunity. It was great that we could get it and then rise to the occasion, and now it’s going to be everywhere, literally.”
With KT Winery, the winemaking process is transparent, low sugar and accessible to the average wine drinker, so leave your pretension at the door.
“We have to have a brand that makes sense, that talks directly to women, that talks directly to women of color, and makes them feel comfortable,” Mincey said. “I know what I’m putting in my body, and this is great wine.”
KT Wine is now available now on all international American Airlines flights
