The summit honors contributions of diverse winemakers around the world
–Winemaking is a centuries-old profession originating in Old World France and yet, in 2021 little is still known about the rapidly increasing growth of diversity in the industry. With an estimated 80,000 wineries worldwide, the US is 4th in the world in wine production. Often absent from the narrative are the independently run, Black-owned wineries with roots dating back as far as the early 1940’s with John June Lewis, Sr. of Virginia. Serving as a vehicle to further increase awareness of the diversity in the wine industry, Urban Connoisseurs is partnering with Uncorked & Cultured a lifestyle media platform, to host the inaugural 2021 International Winemakers Summit (IWS), a virtual 3-day event highlighting some of the world’s most esteemed winemakers of African descent.