Wine Time
By Nikki Myers
June is a month of celebration for many, and we surely can’t imagine a celebration without a glass of wine. June 28th marks the anniversary of Stonewall, the riots which ensued when a gay club in New York was raided by police in 1969. Icons like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera led these calls to action, and the LGBTQ community recognizes the month of June as a time to rejoice in forward progress, as well as honor the heroes who got us here. If you’re raising a glass to love this month, we’ve got the scoop on LGBTQ-led wineries that you can support in the process.
The wine industry has famously struggled with diversity. However, its made great strides recently when it comes to fostering a community of acceptance. In a testament to these positive moves, here are two winemakers who are thriving as they craft fine wines in a changing world.
Theresa Heredia has been making exceptional wines for Gary Farrell Winery for nearly 10 years. With degrees in biochemistry, enology, and viticulture, she brings levels of science and precision to the process that would make most people’s heads spin. She specializes in the production of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay – two of the most challenging grapes to work with. Heredia was named “Winemaker to Watch” by the San Francisco Chronicle, and nominated for Winemaker of the Year by Wine Enthusiast.
Remy Wines is the eponymous label of Oregon-based winemaker, Remy Drabkin. In an interview with Pride Journeys, she recalled a moment that pushed her towards finally opening her own winery in McMinnville; her last employer gifting her 5 gallons of juice and challenging her to make it into a wine that could compete with their lead winemaker’s (she won, of course). She has since built a tasting room and business that is vibrant and welcoming, with regular events and community outreach.
There are more LGBTQ winemakers and industry leaders, of course – including those who are not yet out to the world. Mercury Wine in California is named for the incredible Freddie Mercury, who was openly bisexual and became the face of the movement to fight AIDS. Gentleman Farmer Wines is led by the talented couple Joe Wolosz and Jeff Durham, who frequently contribute to funds such as the It Gets Better Project.
If you look, you can find many more ways to support LGBTQ people during this month, but we’re fans of doing so with wine in hand. Supporting one of these winemakers is a great way to kill two birds with one stone – try some new vino, and give back to a community with so much to honor and celebrate. Happy Pride!
Nikki serves as Event Leader and Educator at Passion Vines Wine & Spirit Company, which has provided her countless resources on her wine journey. She estimates that she knows approximately .001% of all there is to know about wine (most notably, the fact that there is an infinite amount of things to know about wine). Most nights, she can be found sipping quirky dry reds from obscure regions.
