Origins of Tasting Diversity

It was Black History Month in 2023 when Mary Graves, a descendant of John Brown, invited a group of friends to a luncheon presentation at Beltane Ranch. Her purpose was to honor the legacy of Mary Ellen Pleasant, a former Beltane Ranch owner, abolitionist, civil rights leader, and successful businesswoman.

Mary asked Sonoma County Library Director Erika Thibault to prepare the presentation. Erika delivered a rousing talk that began by highlighting the stunning achievements of Mary Ellen Pleasant at the dawn of the 20th century. She then widened the lens, reminding everyone of the very real challenges facing African American winemakers and growers in 21st-century Sonoma County.

By this point, the energy in the room was palpable. Erika closed with a clear call to action:
“We definitely need to do more to raise visibility around this important issue.”

Among those invited were Dennis McCarter, an African American winemaker on the cusp of earning a barrel full of gold medals for his emerging label, McCarter Cellars; Chris Christensen of Bodkin Wines; and Alice Kibwaa of the Cotati Rotary. It was Dennis who steered the conversation toward concrete, forward-looking strategies. From that discussion, the idea for Tasting Diversity was born.

Establishing Tasting Diversity

Tasting Diversity was officially established in 2023 as a collaboration between the Sonoma County Library Foundation, the Sonoma County Library’s Wine Library, and the Sonoma County Wine Library Association.

Marketing partners include the NAACP Santa Rosa/Sonoma Chapter and the Association of African American Vintners.

Tasting Diversity originated from the vision of Dennis McCarter (McCarter Cellars), a member of the Sonoma County Library Foundation, working alongside members of the Tasting Diversity Work Group:

Malia Anderson (NAACP)
Chris Christensen (Bodkin Wines)
Jo and José Diaz
Dan Glover (L’Objet Wines)
Rosalind Manoogian (Fog Crest)
Angela McCrae (Association of African American Vintners)

In its inaugural year, the collaboration presented two events:

• February 25, 2024: Insights from Black Pioneers in the Wine World.  This event was  a panel discussion hosted by Fog Crest Winery, in association with Mary and Steven Graves, descendants of abolitionist John Brown.
• June 17,2024: The premiere of the Visual Oral History of Mac McDonald.  Hosted by Paradise Ridge Winery. A surprise highpoint of the event was the presentation of the first Mac Award to Mac McDonald himself.  Surprise special guests was award-winning winemaker, sommelier, and entrepreneur André Mack who flew in from New York to make the award presentation.

The major focus of Tasting Diversity is the annual presentation of The Mac Award, and fundraising activities to help fund the benefits for the recipients of the Mac Award, as well as for the Sonoma County Wine Library Association.