Gettin' Down with Brown
A full circle moment with my friends at Brown Estate Winery
Have you ever taken a bite of food or sip of wine and been completely transported to another place? That’s what happened to me when I had my first glass of Chaos Theory by Brown Estate years ago. That delicious, full bodied wine assaulted my nose with juicy cherry and citrus notes, lingering on my palate just long enough for me to enjoy its complexity without getting lost in the sauce too soon. I WAS IN LOVE!!
Fast forward to this past summer on my solo road trip around the US, Brown Estate was high on my list of places to visit in the Bay area. After doing a little research I was slightly disappointed to learn that vineyard tours weren’t offered. I’d still be able to have the full Brown experience at their tasting room in Downtown Napa, so I rolled with it.
For me, moving around solo translates to “no reservations needed”...most of the time. So, I rolled up to Brown Downtown with nothing but a dream and my thirst. When I got off of the elevator in the tasting room I got nervous because it was lively and FULL. Would they be able to fit me in???? I prayed to God that I didn’t drive all that way just to be turned around because I didn’t plan properly!!
I struck up a conversation with one of the sommeliers while I waited for the verdict. Chris Gaither was warm and inviting from the moment we met. He made sure that the host fit me in for a tasting and shared his card in case I needed Bay area food recommendations while I was in town. Genuinely the best!
Thankfully, the host was able to work it out so that I could join a couple I’d started chatting up while waiting. We all enjoyed our tastings and the conversation so much we decided to share a bottle of wine. Their award-winning Zinfandels had stolen our hearts and we had to have more!!
Once our tasting time was over we strolled over to another tasting room and shared a bottle of yummy bubbles. We were vibing! Heyyy Genese and Herman 👋🏾.
My visit to Brown Estate was a major success and a highlight on the road trip. To have such a Blackity Black excellent experience in Napa Valley was not what I expected, but it’s exactly what I needed. I was so thankful.
After my lovely day sipping in Downtown Napa I shot Chris an email thanking him for his kindness and hospitality.
A little over a week ago, I get an email from Bronzeville Winery, a local Black-owned winery/restaurant in Chicago, advertising a special Brown Estate happy hour feature. You know I had to go!
On the way out of the house I grabbed Chris’s card so that I could mention how awesome he is to the local rep.
I roll up into Bronzeville Winery (solo and reservation-less) and you would not guess who is walking from the back!
Chris Gaither himself! He walks right up and hugs me. Asks how I’m doing. He remembered me?!? How?? Apparently he never forgets a face or thoughtful email.
This time around I got to learn a bit more about this kind gentleman. Chris is 1 of 4 Black Master Sommeliers in the WORLD. The entire world!! Do you hear me?? And he’s the only Master Somm from an HBCU - shout out to Morehouse! And and he’s working at the very first Black-owned winery in Napa Valley. Do you know how special that is? I could freaking cry!
In the space and time that we’re living in, let this story be a reminder that everything we need, want, and enjoy is for us! Never, ever doubt that!
Hyper-Fixation Nation
Since the turn of the year I’ve been incredibly energized and hyper-focused on being a good steward of my creativity. Spirit is urging me to create more than I consume. I’ve been doing my best to tune out the noise - and that’s a whole job. I’ve been hitting publish, submit, and apply on opportunities that feel aligned at a much faster clip than I had been previously.
One of those opportunities was a feature on Collaboraction Radio where I got to talk about the Neo-Renaissance and the role that my work is playing in it.
I’d love to hear what you’re focusing on as we get deeper into the new year. Drop a line in the comments to let me know!
Because I Love Yall
I put together this Google Maps list of Black-owned wineries and tasting rooms for us to visit. They’re mostly in California’s wine regions (Napa, Sonoma, and Mendocino).
Cheers,
Pavi 🥂
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