Napa Valley: 

J. Moss Wines

Owner: James Moss | Best for: Meeting the winemaker
James Moss began his wine journey in Dallas, Texas, and moved to Napa in 1998 to chase a dream. As winemaker and proprietor, he oversees everything from vineyard selection to hosting tastings, so you’re often tasting with the person who made the wine.

Okapi Wines

Owners: Dan and Kim Johnson | Location: Oak Knoll District | Best for: Cabernet lovers and animal lovers
Named for the elusive African okapi, this micro-boutique winery grew out of a transformed walnut orchard. Since 2013, Dan and Kim have focused on Cabernet Sauvignon, farmed sustainably. A portion of proceeds supports okapi conservation in Africa, so your tasting does some good.

Brown Estate

Owners: The Brown Family | Location: Napa Valley & Downtown Napa | Best for: A piece of Napa history
Established in 1996, Brown Estate is Napa’s first Black-owned winery, and it’s still family-run. Come for the bold Zinfandels and elegant reds, and ask about their sister brand, House of Brown, which offers sustainable, vegan-friendly wines at approachable prices.

Housley Napa Valley

Owners: Adam Housley & Tamera Mowry-Housley | Location: Downtown Napa | Best for: A relaxed, welcoming tasting room
Founded in 2011, this family-run winery blends more than four decades of winemaking heritage with a modern, inviting tasting room. Their lineup spans reds, whites, and rosés, all made with a personal touch.

Sonoma County: 

McCarter Cellars

Founder: Dennis McCarter | Location: Santa Rosa | Best for: Pinot Noir fans
Specializing in ultra-premium Pinot Noir, plus Zinfandel and Gewürztraminer, McCarter Cellars is known for wines that capture the character of Sonoma County fruit. Their Pinots have earned multiple gold medals.

Fog Crest Vineyard

Owner: Rosalind Manoogian | Location: Russian River Valley | Best for: An inspiring origin story
Fog Crest is a Black woman-owned and -operated winery producing elegant Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé. Rosalind’s journey from novice to vintner is a story of vision and grit, and it’s best heard with a glass in hand.

Corner 103

Owner: Lloyd Davis | Location: Downtown Sonoma | Best for: Wine and bites, no intimidation
Lloyd Davis created Corner 103 to make wine tasting more inclusive. Expect curated experiences that pair wines with gourmet bites in a fresh, welcoming setting, an easy stop right in town.

Bodkin Wines

Owner: Chris Christensen | Location: Sonoma County | Best for: Something you haven’t tried before
Bodkin is known for America’s first sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, a bottle that makes a great conversation starter. Chris Christensen was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s “Top 40 Under 40 Tastemakers.”

Mad Marvlus Wine

Owner: Marreya Bailey | Location: Sonoma County | Best for: Adventurous sippers
A fusion of wine, art, and science, Mad Marvlus makes low-intervention wines, ciders, and co-ferments from climate-friendly fruit using ancestral techniques. Marreya, a former forensic anthropologist, brings Afro-Indigenous influence and herbal infusions to what she calls her “creatures,” each with its own personality.

Vision Cellars at Grand Cru

Owner: Mac McDonald | Best for: Burgundy-style Pinot and a good story
Mac McDonald founded Vision Cellars in 1995, inspired since childhood by French Burgundy and set on making world-class Pinot Noir. A pioneer in the industry, he’s often on site to share the history behind labels like Rosella’s Vineyard and Gary’s Vineyard Pinots.

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