Urban Connoisseurs To Host Men, Wine, and Spirits Dinner to Celebrate Black Excellence in Winemaking
Urban Connoisseurs is set to host a groundbreaking celebration, the Men, Wine, and Spirits Dinner, designed to connect the pioneering legacy of America's first Black winery owner, John June Lewis, Sr., with the contemporary generation of Black winemakers and distillers.
This historic event honors 86 years of Black excellence in winemaking and highlights the innovators who are actively redefining the industry. The intimate dinner experience is scheduled for April 19, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Osteria la Spiga in Seattle.
“This isn't just a dinner. It's a declaration. In 1940, John June Lewis, Sr. opened Woburn Winery's doors as the first Black winery owner in the United States. Eighty-six years later, we're standing on his shoulders, and we're just getting started,” Marcia Jones, Founder and CEO of Urban Connoisseurs, said in a recent press release.
The evening is set to feature an unprecedented lineup of Black excellence in wine and spirits. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste products from industry leaders including Sidney Rice (Dossier Wine Collective), John Joubert (Black Éden 1912 Bourbon), Dexter Meadows (Meadows Estate Vineyard & Winery), Channing Frye (Chosen Family Wines), Sean Perryman (40 Acres Blending Co), Ken Dillon (Footprint Wine Tap), and Derek Baljeu (Knights Bridge Winery).
Complementing this exceptional selection, Celebrity Chef Jerome Brown will craft a culinary experience specifically designed to showcase the featured wines and spirits.
"We're not asking for a seat at the table anymore. We're building our own and inviting the community to witness what happens when legacy meets innovation, when history meets hustle, when community meets craft,” the chef said in a recent press release.
The Men, Wine, and Spirits Dinner will celebrate the men who are rewriting the rules of an industry that historically excluded them. The event bridges the community with the wine and food industry and creates pathways for the next generation through their Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund.
Learn more about the Men, Wine, and Spirits Dinner here.
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