Association of African American Vintners celebrate 20 years with Napa Valley retreat

The Association of African American Vintners’ (AAAV) 20th Anniversary Weekend was a wonder to behold. It was chock-full of activities, workshops and celebrations that were held in Napa Valley, Santa Rosa and Oakland during the three-day affair, May 20-22.

On Saturday, the Celebration Fundraiser was held at the elegant DeLoach Vineyards in Santa Rosa. The program not only honored one of the founders of the association, Mac McDonald (Vision Cellars), but also bestowed awards upon member trailblazers in the fields of education, legacy and unity.

The event also showcased the association’s fundraising efforts in providing wine education scholarships to aspiring vintners. AAAV provided 36 scholarships in 2021, and they hope to grow the scholarship program.

On Sunday at High 5ive, the stylish rooftop bar in uptown Oakland, the Black Vintners Wine Festival provided a wonderful opportunity to discover new and unique wines from around the country and network with industry professionals. One of the many surprises was a watermelon wine from a Kansas-based vintner. There was a spirited turnout of at least 20 vintners and approximately 100 attendees.

The weekend also included a members’ welcome dinner, professional development sessions and a luncheon that uplifted phenomenal women in the wine industry.

This story was originally published June 7, 2022 at 10:00 AM.