"It was crazy and awful and amazing sort of all at the same time. "A lot of our experiences of us being curious about wine and how we were treated when we were in those tasting rooms and stuff is really a lot of the foundation of what our company is built on today, which is making wine accessible for everybody and helping people on their journey and making it fun," said Andra. Following the death of their father Kelly McBride in 1996, Kellys relatives, who already had a relationship with Andra, set out to find Robin, who never had a relationship with her father or his family. The Free Press caught up with the McBrides by phone ahead of their 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday appearance at House of Pure Vin, 1433 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Their father wasn't around for most of their lives, but before he died of stomach cancer in 1996, he asked his family to try and connect the two girls. Now their women-led, Black-owned company aims to shake up the wine industry. Photo: Courtesy of McBride Sisters Collection. The aforementioned "Cocky Motherf*cker," is a tribute to the sisters' father and his confidence and presence with his trademark afro featured prominently on the head of a peacock. Newly found sisters who had been raised across the world from one another, Robin and Andras love affair with wine was planted within them from an early age while growing up in two of the worlds most iconic wine-growing regions. Robin was raised in Monterrey, Calif.,and Andra, born 9 years later was raised by her mother in Marlborough, New Zealand. EN RU CN DE ES. In 2005, the sisters found themselves together in California, fueled by a shared passion for all things wine, wine-making and a desire to shake up the industry with a blend of old-world elegance and new-world finesse. McBride Sisters: You can't pick between your children! The duo also partnered with Simon & Schuster for the Black Girl Magic Wine and Book Club, where two Black Girl Magic wines are paired with a book from a Black woman author. But the proof is in the bottle, we've been owners, makers, and innovators for fourteen years! [5] As of 2020, Wine Spectator noted that it was the largest Black-owned wine company in the US by volume. We first wanted to make wine affordable and accessible, says Robin. We describe our signature style as old world style with new world finesse. They each thought they were only children.. We need to dispel any otherism around Black Americans or women in the wine industry, as too often it is assumed that they do not take wine seriously enough or do not have the same capabilities as others to have a notable palate in the industry, Andra says, explaining that while the wine industry has made strides in recent years, it still has a long way to go to be more reflective of the world. In meeting, the bond between Robin and Andra was instant, and intensified when they realized theyd both grown up as often the only mixed-race children in small, mostly white agricultural communities known for producing wine. We are everywhere our consumers are, it's important for us to never be detached from that experience. Through their core values: sustainability,. Love you, Mom and Mums! / CBS News. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. We've decided to honor our mothers in the packaging for the SHE CAN line. ** The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund is now accepting scholarship applications until July 31st. Please enjoy responsibly! . Gender: Female. They were in touch with Andra, but had no idea where Robin lived. In 2005, the sisters found themselves together in California, fueled by a shared passion for all things wine, wine-making . Breaking into the wine business isn't easy, especially if you're a woman or a minority, but two half-sisters who hadn't met for the first halves of their lives did just that after uncorking a crucial part of their past, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller. [13] In December 2020, Washington Post wine columnist Dave McIntyre recommended the Black Girl Magic Sparkling Brut as "delicious". But also compelling is that for a good part of their lives the sisters lived thousands of miles apart, on two different continents, not knowing about each other. First they built a boutique import firm focused on New Zealand wines. Now we want to make the kind of wine we fell in love with.. [3][1] The brand uses grapes from both California and New Zealand,[4] and is focused on providing quality bottled and canned wines that are affordable and "celebrate inclusivity". Sep 16, 2021, 12:00 ET. House of Pure Vin is a fantastic wine tasting place and shop and we have a lot of friends in Detroit. 2023 SheMedia, LLC. The story of the McBride sisters is nothing like anything you've ever heard of before in the wine industry. McBride Sisters: Black Girl Magic was really inspired by amazing women and created to celebrate them. In 2010, they started the McBride Sisters Wine Company. "My sister and I are on a mission to transform the industry, lead by example and cultivate community," Robin McBride says. EN. Q: Do you both like the same kinds of wines? Includes digital magazine access + a free gift. Andra McBride and her sister, Robin McBride, are the founders and owners of the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States, The McBride Sisters Wine Company, which topped $5 million . Enjoy Responsibly. The process was a grind. In 2010, they started the McBride Sisters Wine Company, breaking the mold of the male-dominated and predominately white wine business, becoming the first African American Sisters to own a wine company. We were in our early twenties and thirties the industry had never seen wine company owners like us before. "I think we actually underestimated that." "So I didn't know I was going to be talking to my sister as soon as I make the initial phone call. Andrea: The profiles of wine we like to taste are similar. Andra McBride was a 16 year old living in foster care in New Zealand when she got a phone call from her biological dad in Alabama. McBride Sisters: We united in 1999 and it became clear to us that despite the fact that we grew up on opposite sides of the world we shared an appreciation for wine and were closely tied to the wine regions that we grew up in. A separate Black Girl Magic line offers up bottles of sparkling, Riesling, ros, Merlot, Zinfandel, as well asspeaking of unintimidatingsparkling ros and red in cans. [3] The scholarship fund initially focused on helping women in the wine and spirits industry,[15] but was later expanded to include female entrepreneurs across all industries, and provides mentoring and leadership coaching in addition to financial assistance. [14], As of 2015, McBride Sisters had a team that was 80 percent female, including their head winemaker and vineyard director. The sisters were born to different mothers, both in Los Angeles. Robin and Andras journey has provided them with a lifetimes worth of insight they hope will make pursuing a career in wine a little easier for the next generation of women interested in the field. Our mission is to create your perfect wine experience. The largest Black-owned wine company in the United States, McBride Sisters can now be found everywhere from Trader Joes to Target, but the journey to building the thriving family business is even more impressive given that Robin and Andra didnt even know about one another for the first half of their lives. Although their father, Kelly McBride, was not much part of their. Speak about why you created the Black Girl Magic collection. The sisters shared a biological father, Kelly McBride, whom they had had little contact with while growing up. We are continuing to expand where our wines can be found and enjoyed nationwide with some exciting collaborations. But, on most days you can usually find Andrea sipping the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and Robin enjoying the Central Coast Red Blend, both are amazing expressions of our hometowns. Therefore, its much more than a single serving. If youve ever seen Robin and Andra in a room together, as I was fortunate enough to mere weeks before the first wave of COVID-19 lockdowns, theres no doubt that the women are related. This bottle is our celebration of that essence. Ninety percent of the wine produced in the U.S. is made in California, but only 10 percent of the state's wineries are led by a female winemaker. Now theres more women and women of color (in the business), we want to keep pushing that agenda and make that wine available. Her trip after the familys second split was to her mothers native New Zealand, where she grew up in Marlborough wine country and was captured too. Before he died in 1996, he asked his family to find and connect his two daughters. A Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling Rose from New Zealand. [1], Robin and Andrea McBride started their business as a boutique import firm with a limited selection of New Zealand wines. Andrea: Our wines are from two regions. Robin and Andra are generous in their success, with a She Can Professional Development Fund donating part of the proceeds from their She Can wines this year to women entrepreneurs. They're black women in a field dominated by white men. But instead of backing down, they forged ahead, starting their own wine company using the knowledge they had gained about winemaking and the business of winemaking while working as importers. [5] The Black Girl Magic 2020 California ros was awarded "Best for TV Binges" by the editors of Cosmopolitan magazine in the Second Annual Cosmo Wine Awards. But not for. Always innovating, the sisters next partnered with Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines to create Truve Wines a line of finely balanced, wines that express the distinct individuality of the central coast of California. Andra and Robin McBride have a personal story as unique as their professional one. It's called Truve, which is derived from the French verb "to find" and reflects their personal journey finding each other. It was only when their father passed away that his family wanted to connect the young women. Enter the McBride Sisters Collection Reserve wines: a Chardonnay and a Pinot Noir from Montereys cool Santa Lucia Highlands. Figuring out which bottle of wine to buy is always difficult, so you might as well pick one that comes with a good story. We definitely do look like sisters., She added that they soon discovered they had grown up in similar places, small places agricultural communities with up-and-coming wine regions.. Since launching McBride Sisters Collection in 2010, the entrepreneurs have been at the forefront of making wine more inclusive alongside Black-owned wine brands like Napas Brown Estate Vineyards, but the sisters are quick to identify where the industry falls short. It was life changing. "It's definitely an old boys' club," Robin said. Andra McBride was a 16 year old living in foster care in New Zealand when she got a phone call from her biological dad in Alabama. Robin had launched her journey first, having decamped Los Angeles with her mother, embarking on a post-divorce road trip up Pacific Coast Highway and landing in Monterey. He died not long after that, but his dying wish was for his older daughter to be located. "I'm walking down the jetway, and I see what I think is my reflection at the end of the jetway in a mirror. Their signature McBride Sisters Collection wines are direct reflections of the terroirs of their youth, with flavors designed for all palates. Name: Martina McBride. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The name they gave their McBride Sisters Collection 2019 Reserve Chardonnay ($40)The Great Escapethrows a smidgeon of shade on big, fat, over-oaked versions of the grape. The collection also includes merlot, zinfandel, and a red blend, as well as a zesty sparkling brut thats perfect for toasting to special occasions. While Andra knew about Robin, Robin didnt know she had a younger sister, much less one across the world in New Zealand, and the two eventually connected in 1999. The number of family-owned wine businesses with Black individuals (let alone women) at the helm, however, is pretty rare in fact, the Association of African American Vintners reported last year that they make up just .5% of wineries in the United States. The Collection, launching in more than 1,500 retail locations nationwide, consists of four wines crafted in the McBride Sisters signature style, a blend of old world elegance with new world finesse. The sisters say they made it against extraordinary odds, but it shouldn't be that hard for Black women or minorities to join the wine industry. The story behind the recently arrived wines in the McBride Sisters Collection begins with two half sisters who grew up nearly 7,000 miles apart and were completely unaware of each others existence. [6], The company's main labels include the McBride Sisters Collection, which features many wines from the Central Coast of California and from New Zealand, and Black Girl Magic. Meanwhile, if you hurry, theres just time to toast the New Year with their pink bubbly. The McBride Sisters continue to withstand the elementsin both business and in life. The McBride Sisters logo is so much more than just a logo. The perfect tummy control bodysuit, a popcorn gadget, more bestsellers starting at $8. OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- McBride Sisters Collection, Inc., the largest Black-owned wine company in the U.S., today announces that it has received a . "He was a 'Hollywood guy' who had rough relationships," said Robin. Dominique Fluker: How did you both discover your love of wine after being continents apart and finally reuniting in 1999? According to NPRs How I Built This podcast, the half-sisters who were coincidentally raised in wine regions located in different parts of the world Andra with her mother Pauline in New Zealand until Pauline died when Andra was six and Robin with her mother Karen in Monterrey, CA the sisters grew up unaware of the other and were each raised as an only child. The McBride sisters started their wine business in 2005, six years after meeting each other for the first time. The origin story behind the McBride Sisters Wine. RegisterforRobb ReportsCulinary Mastersnow. Q: How did you get started? Both areas are naturally beautiful and leaders in environmental protection so sustainable farming and winemaking practices are key to us. Their mothers had been married to and divorced from the same man, Kelly McBride, who had not remained a part of either of his daughters lives. Subscribe now and get up to 61% off the cover price. Andra McBride was a 16 year old living in foster care in New Zealand when she got a phone call from her biological dad in Alabama. Best Known For: Country singer Martina . Their father, a rakish, Alabama-born 6-foot-6-inch wanna-be actor with 11 siblings, had a way with the ladies. Seeking to buck that trend, the sisters have assembled a team that's 80 percent women, including their head winemaker and vineyard director. Following a lengthy search by his family, Robin and Andra met for first time in 1999 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Andra: In the hills looking down on Queenstown in New Zealand. The California grapes are from contract growers. Through their core values: sustainability, empowerment, innovation, and community, the McBride sisters were able to curate a unique wine experience for their customers for more than 13 years. How 2 friends created sparkling wine subscription service The Sip, surveyed 3,100 industry professionals in 2019 and found, EatOkra founders share inspiration behind their app highlighting Black-owned restaurants. The African-American sisters are scheduled to launchtheir McBride Sisters Collection to Detroit and Michigan. In the year 1999, 25-year-old Robinand 16-year-old Andra McBride met for the first time at LaGuardia Airport in New York. All rights reserved. The crest reflects our Sisterly bond and is designed with our shared father, represented as a proud peacock (he was known to be quite cocky) over the initials MS for McBride Sisters. And as I'm walking and thinking, I'm realizing that the reflection isn't moving as I'm walking. They affectionally named the wine with the peacock on the label Cocky Motherf*cker in honor of their father. Q: Which wines will you be launching in Detroit? This piece originally aired July 2, 2015. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. She notes that the two of them have very similar palates. The sisters said with the doors they've opened, they're committed to doing their part in leaving them open and helping others through. Contact Susan Selasky: 313-222-6872 or sselasy@freepress.com. And so obviously for us coming in as opposite really of everything that, to that point had been successful in the wine world, which was an older white man we definitely were looked at as not just not belonging, but really incapable of being successful.". November 26, 2015 / 7:24 AM They are looking for brands with a large social footprint, in areas including sustainability and even social justice. 2015 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. It was all the feels," she said. Most of the options from theirtwo labels, eco.love andTruve, retail for under $20 and are sold around the country at more than 1,000 retailers. And when I was coming down the jetway, I looked up and thought I saw my reflection and then I realized it was Andrea. The packaging for the McBride Sisters Collection 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir ($50), on the other hand, exudes a little more attitude, from the showy peacock on the label to the name, a fond reference to their fatherahem, Cocky Motherf*cker. The man behind the ode might have been, in their words, electric, charismatic and confident in his style, but the interpretation in the wine has a wonderful irony to it. For their part, Robin and Andra have doubled down on supporting Black and women-owned small businesses through their SHECAN initiative. By the time the two of us met, our father had passed away. "The world brought us together; we're invincible, we can do anything," Andra said. And we admire the craft of wine making and had hopes to do it ourselves one day. So 16 years later, their banner now distributes wines to major grocery chains throughout the country. Black Girl Magic, the-phrase-turned movement started by Cashawn Thompson in 2013, celebrates community and the consumers that have supported McBride Sisters Collection since the beginning. Email her at aschamberg@gmail.com. The search involved sending letters to a long list of people named Robin McBride on Department of Motor Vehicle lists. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Andrea McBride: How we transitioned was basically a dream that we wanted to be wine makers and now weve been in the business for 12 years.Robin: That was the catalyst. The McBride Sisters Collection wines are offered across the United States and New Zealand. We each had a similar background in wining making regions. Andra said. The key to learning about wine is tasting, so try out new wines you havent had before and keep educating your palette until you learn what you like. We included Established 1999 because this is the year that we met for the first time and our whole worlds changed! The MS stands for McBride Sisters with an S curled like the locks of our hair, with the two lionesses surrounding it representing our strong, supportive mothers, while the peacock depicts our bold and proud father. Patti LaBelle with the McBride Sisters, Andra (left) and Robin (right) / Photo by Jared Soares. We Googled the top 100 restaurants in California and started knocking on doors., They were more or less clueless, she admits. The McBride Sisters logo is so much more than just a logo. After Robin's mother and their father divorced, Robin .