Blending Families, Friends, and Community: OBK Winery Opens New Tasting Room

The pops of corks and cheers of the community came together to celebrate the opening of OBK Winery’s new tasting room last month. The first Black-owned winery in Pierce County, OBK hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony, demonstrating what can be achieved with perseverance, family, and community support. The day was monumental now not just for the owners, but also Tacoma, symbolizing progression and growth for local Black-owned businesses across the community. 

For La'Rissa Dwyer, owner and co-founder of OBK, the ribbon-cutting was deeply moving, marking both the end of a long journey but also the start of a new beginning. 

“It helped me celebrate what we have done,” Dwyer said. “To me, it signified we did it. We are here. We’re making a difference.” 

Dwyer shared the challenges she faced accessing capital as a Black-owned business in an industry that often lacks representation. She expressed sincere gratitude to organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce, the Black Chamber of Commerce, the Pierce County Business Accelerator Program, and most importantly the support of local businesses that helped lift OBK off the ground. 

“It's who we are in Tacoma,” Tom Pierson, CEO of Tacoma’s Pierce County Chamber said. “Bringing people together,  bringing community together, and growing businesses.” 

As OBK takes on a new journey, dedicated to blending diverse communities, their very name pays homage to their humble beginning, a proposal. Dwyer recalls her husband and Co-Founder, Michael Dwyer’s “going down on one knee, he said ‘Will you blend our wines together in one bottle?” 

“From there we blended our families, we blended our friends, and we are blending community together,” she said. 

For Michael Dwyer, Head Winemaker at OBK, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was a powerful accomplishment after facing the significant learning curve of opening a business. 

“We’ve been running for a long time,” he said. “This race to the grand opening, we made it here. We busted through that.” 

Local businesses across Tacoma and Pierce County were in attendance, showing their support and celebrating this new milestone for Tacoma’s evolving business landscape. Cherise Klosner, Owner of Another One Ties The Knot and Sign & Celebrate, spoke to the inspiring nature of the growth. 

"It just shows that we are taking up space in an area that is otherwise seen as not for us,” she said. “Watching them and getting the recognition they deserve means there's space for all of us...to grow and to have a successful business."

Local leadership showed out as well, expressing their enthusiasm and excitement for OBK. Councilmember Olgy Diaz shared that as a daughter of immigrant parents, she understands firsthand how difficult it can be for minority-owned businesses to break into industries. She believes that with the right laws and support systems in place, any business can thrive. 

“It feels so great bringing the first Black-owned winery to Tacoma,” she said. “They are already giving back, and I’m really excited for what Tacoma is going to give back to them.” 

Diaz emphasized that OBK is a special place to celebrate future milestones, inviting the public to enjoy not only its beautiful ambiance and delicious wine, but also the communities it brings together. 

OBK Winery is more than just a destination for fine wine, but a vibrant, safe space where communities are forged, dreams are realized, and every glass raised is a toast to a more inclusive future. 

“We did it. We're doing it. We're going to continue to do it.,” Dwyer said. “Community, get in here. Let's do it together."

Learn more about OBK at obkwinery.com and stop by at 2307 Tacoma Ave S, Tacoma, Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

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