August 30th 2023.
Four Black millennial men are shaking up the wine industry one bottle at a time! In a 2021 interview with BLACK ENTERPRISE, Brandon Crump, client service and operations specialist, pointed out something that wasn’t noticeable before. Fast forward two years and the award-winning wine label Michael Lavelle Wines is the youngest Black-owned wine company, and is receiving even more awards and recognition.
Founders Aaron “Michael” Coad and Terrence “Lavelle” Low created the private label on Juneteenth 2020. They identified a void in the wine craftsmanship offered to minorities and millennials and launched the company to bridge the gap. They partnered with Crump and sommelier Devin Kennedy to combine passion and expertise to grow their business.
Since then, Michael Lavelle Wines has sold more than 1,200 cases and is available in select locations in Richmond, VA, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. The team has also taken initiative to educate the masses about their offerings and the wine industry as a whole, since less than 1% of the wine and spirits industry was Black-owned in 2020.
The collection includes Iris Rosé, Iris Zinfandel, and Iris Chenin Blanc. The Zinfandel is aged in French oak barrels and has aromatics of blueberry, dark chocolate, vanilla, and cinnamon. The Rosé is a blend of cabernet and pinot grigio grapes with flavors of wild cherry, strawberry, and watermelon. The Chenin Blanc has aromas of honeydew melon, lemon oil, and nectarines, and tastes of peaches, Granny Smith apples, and lemon zest.
Michael Lavelle also values their community and has partnered with Frame Chicago, Roots Fund and burgeoning Chicago artist Kayla Mahaffey. They have supported an HBCU graduate and are taking their wines to Miami in September. They have also released an Aroma candle with actor Mack Wilds in attendance at the event. The team is proud to provide the best wine, experience, and moments to their customers.
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