According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, the two connected over their shared experiences while exploring wine regions up and down the California Coast, and before long, it became clear to the two that they wanted to turn their love of wine into a business. "My sister and I are on a mission to transform the industry, lead by example and cultivate community," Robin McBride says. The McBride Sisters Collection, launched in May 2017, is composed of four wines, including a Chardonnay and a red blend from Central Coast, California and a Sauvignon Blanc and a sparkling brut ros, both from Marlborough, New Zealand. He died not long after that, but his dying wish was for his older daughter to be located. We bought some wine and had 120 days to pay it back. Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. ** The McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund is now accepting scholarship applications until July 31st. He told her he was dying of cancer and wanted to do one last. The story of their journey starts with a man, their shared biological father, Kelly McBride. Anne Schamberg is a freelance writer who lives in Waukesha. At the age of six, she was raised by her uncle and a foster family after her mother died of breast cancer. Q: Which wines will you be launching in Detroit? The wine industrycan seem so complex for people who dont already have an in.How does one go about getting educated? This wine is not about us, the McBride Sisters, but as a thank you for all of the support and inspiration that we get from so many amazing women over the years. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. "I'd lost my mom, and, you know, we'd lost our father, and, you know, that was-- it was my sister," Andra said. We each grew up with an appreciation for farming and wine living in these newly developing wine regions and that is where our desire to learn about and work in wine came from. "The catalyst was one of his brothers, our uncle, was in his living room, watching an 'Oprah' episode, and she featured private detectives on how you find people that owe you money or how you find displaced loved ones," Andra said. The success that the McBride sisters have experienced is impressive for any business, but its almost unheard of in the wine world, where the barrier to entry is high financially, culturally, and socially. The story of how the McBride sisters, Robin and Andra, reunited and started the McBride Sisters Collection, the largest African American owned wine company in the country, is something straight out of a movie.The sisters, born of the same father but unaware of each other until they reached adulthood, finally found each other in 1999. The strong and empowered lionesses on the sides of the Sauvignon Blanc and Ros cans pays tribute to the women who encouraged and inspired us throughout our lives. They were the first to tell us that SHE CAN do anything. They told us we CAN do anything we set our minds to because they knew that no goal or dream is too big. Big sister Robin McBride grows up in Monterey, California unaware that thousands of miles away, she had a little sister, Andra McBride. In March, they launched a new initiative that funds scholarships for women in agricultural programs at Southern University, a historically Black college in Louisiana. We are often met with skepticism and automatically dealt a lack of credibility. Name: Martina McBride. 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. With the idea for the McBride Sisters Collection officially planted, Robin and Andra scraped together initial seed money of $1,800 just to cover licensing paperwork. There, she grew up among the vineyards and winemakers of the Santa Lucia Highlands, and was entirely caught up in the vision. Our Newest Wines from the Most Southern Winegrowing Region in the World - Aotearoa New Zealand! McBride Sisters Wine Company is a Black-owned, female-led wine company in the United States. Based on the show's recommendation, the family pulled the records of every Robin McBride listed at the Department of Motor Vehicles and started writing dozens of letters. 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. The origin story behind the McBride Sisters Wine. Andra McBride told TODAY that the unconventional journey to her sister, Robin, makes the company they formed together all the more special. "We have this vision, and we have this goal, and everybody is passionate about it and wants to get behind it and see it be successful," Andra said. If You're 1 of These 4 Zodiac Signs, Saturn in Pisces What Is Pedro Pascal's Zodiac Sign? Birth City: Sharon. We just went around all of it and created demand," explained Robin. As with the substance of the larger brand, the label is drawn from the sisters experienceits bright red VW bug the getaway car that ferried Robin and her mother up the state way back when, with the Big Sur bridge in the background. In 1999, in a made-for-the-big-screen scene at La Guardia airport, Robin and Andra McBride met for the first time, each having only just learned that she had a sister in the world at all, let alone on an entirely different continent in a different hemisphere. "And now we do.". Working in the industry with our first wine import business surrounded by wine, winemakers, and wine professionals certainly helped too, so weve learned a lot along the way and have also taken classes to further deepen our knowledge. Andra didn't visit her family in Alabama again until two years later. McBride Sisters: Black Girl Magic was really inspired by amazing women and created to celebrate them. "I'm walking down the jetway, and I see what I think is my reflection at the end of the jetway in a mirror. Robin and Andra McBride, founders of McBride Sisters Wines, are the first African-American sister duo to found and establish a wine company. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Her estranged dad shared his terminal diagnosis of stomach cancer and how he wanted to use his remaining energy to help her find Robin. Design is a wonderful way to express a message through illustration, and were glad we had the creative opportunity to pay tribute to three extra special women. Please enter valid email address to continue. Our story is proof that a bond can form over a bottle of wine; a truth that comes to life with every McBride Sisters wine. IE 11 is not supported. The most rewarding parts are knowing how hard we've worked and how much we've sacrificed to get here and seeing the smile on someone's face when they first taste the wine. Consider adding The McBride Sisters Wines to your wine cellar and support a Black owned business at the same time! [8] In 2019, the McBride Sisters also launched an eco-friendly line of canned wine,SHE CAN. We each had a similar background in wining making regions. The McBride Sisters Collection, launched in May 2017, is composed of four wines, including a Chardonnay and a red blend from Central Coast, California and a Sauvignon Blanc and a sparkling brut . "We've been in the business so many years. Robin McBride: It was 1999 and I was 25 and Andrea was 16. Following a lengthy search by his family, Robin and Andra met for first time in 1999 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. McBride Sisters: Wine and the wine industry has historically been a white man's world and that's changing quickly. 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. These are no pop-up wines in a short-term business plan. He died seven months later, before he was able to find Robin (he'd loss touch with her after divorcing her mother). But when their father's family sought out to connect them nearly two decades later, the McBride sisters were reunited, and with open hearts and curious minds, they got to know one another. [6] In October 2020, Wine Spectator reported that McBride Sisters had $5.43 million in annual sales. [16], In July 2020, McBride Sisters joined other Black-owned businesses on social media on Blackout Tuesday, by sharing a list of 86 Black vintners on Instagram. 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. Culinary Masters And I definitely lost my breath," Andra recalled. The McBride Sisters story began in 1999, when Robin and Andra, long-lost sisters raised on opposite sides of the world, were reunited. After connecting for the first time in 1999, we realized we had this shared passion for wine and it became such a central part of our bond, and we knew the universe had put us together for a reason to make a future together out of our separate pasts. Robin said the industry is "very complicated" due to heavy reliance on gatekeepers wholesalers, distributors, retailers and more before it's greenlit into production. The entrepreneurs encourage women with a passion for wine to fully immerse themselves in the industry, from following brands on social media to participating in industry-related programs and conversations. The fun and fab SHE CAN canned wine collection and its related SHE CAN Professional Development Fund, are inspired by the endless pursuit of all women who are making their dreams a reality and breaking barriers daily. Robin McBride and Andra McBride John grew up on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, Robin in Marlborough, New Zealand and Andra in Monterey, Calif. We acknowledge that we alone as a company cannot change the wine industry, but it is our hope that weve inspired women to embark on careers in the industry and that weve also inspired other companies and wineries to follow suit, Robin says to TZR. But because Andrea spent some of her summers as a kid in New Zealand helping out at a vineyard owned by her uncle, she takes the lead on vineyard management, with an emphasis on sustainability. The story of the McBride sisters is nothing like anything you've ever heard of before in the wine industry. And theyre growing. When did you meet? But like, what are the chances we're going to find this person out in the world?". They were all just really focused on helping to try and find Robin.". Fluker: With over 10 years in the wine business, how are you both collaborating to keep McBride Sisters wine fresh, innovative and unique? It was life changing. Enter Robin McBride and Andra McBride-John, the duo behind the eponymous Oakland, CA-based McBride Sisters wine collection. At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Breaking into the wine business isn't easy, especially if you're a woman or a minority, Sisters build winery after discovering each other, Ukraine says it's ready if Russia tries to invade again from Belarus. New drug could slow one type of vision loss. Both women were born in Los Angeles, but Andrea McBride spent much of her childhood in Marlborough, New Zealand, first with her mother, Pauline, who passed away, and then with a foster family. However, they have all been facing different challenges. Our mothers led us to where we are today, and for that, we are so grateful! 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. It was only when their father passed away that his family wanted to connect the young women. Best Known For: Country singer Martina . As the two got to know one another, they discovered a shared passion for making wine, something they each developed growing up in the major wine regions of New Zealand and central California. Robin: When Andra was a junior in college, we both began working in the wine industry, our first business was as wine importers to gain experience and expertise in the business of selling wine, and then later launching eco.love wines from New Zealand and now Truve Wines. Andra and Robin McBride have a personal story as unique as their professional one. 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. For their part, Robin and Andra have doubled down on supporting Black and women-owned small businesses through their SHECAN initiative. She notes that the two of them have very similar palates. When she was 2,. When kid sister Andrea was 11, in 1995, she received a call from the father she didnt know. We were in our early twenties and thirties the industry had never seen wine company owners like us before. Following a lengthy search by his family, Robin and Andra met for first time in 1999 at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Therefore, its much more than a single serving. For the McBrides, success is not just about selling wine, but also creating a sort of sisterhood among their mostly female staff. Andra grew up in New Zealand with her mother, Pauline, until she died of breast cancer. Its a great wine drinking city and we wanted to connect with people that weve connected with on social platforms. The History of Sangria and Its Powerful Influence on Afro-Latinx Communities, Holiday Your Way: Celebrating the Diversity of Food with Chef Pierre Thiam, Holiday Your Way: Tis' the season with Claudette Zepeda, Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating Doa Vega's Sonya Vega, Hispanic Heritage Month: Celebrating Agua Bonitas Kayla Castaeda. We encourage the wine consumer to explore outside of the old expectations of wine, it's more than a gray winemakerit's much more than just a beverage, it's an experience. The McBride sisters and their staff make the wines at custom crush facilities in California and New Zealand. 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. Quality and quantity! Join our community of wine lovers & be the first to know about virtual events and new wine releases. 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. EN RU CN DE ES. We Googled the top 100 restaurants in California and started knocking on doors., They were more or less clueless, she admits. 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. Thanks to one icebreaker question, Robin and Andra McBride are now closer than ever and running a multi-million dollar company together. And eventually, they decided to start their own wine company together. We dont have any other siblings. The sisters started small. We were confident that we were destined to do something together in wine, and within a few short years, we created our first wine company as importers which led us to bottle our first wines in 2010. 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. The McBride Sisters logo is so much more than just a logo. Today, Ashley McBryde has proven herself to be a talented country singer with a bright future, but her path to success was riddled with issues, many of which came from her complicated relationship with her parents. "[11] The first wine in the collection was a riesling. They launched the She Can Fund in 2019 and have invested more than $3 million to date in women particularly Black women and other women of color in the food and wine industry. Since 2005, The McBride Sisters' mission has been clear - to transform the industry, lead by example, and cultivate community, one delicious glass of wine at a time. The two shared the same father but different mothers, and werent aware they had a sisterly half until their father and other family members helped to unite them through an endless trail of handwritten letters and phone calls lasting five years. While wine is excellent enjoyed on its own, food can really elevate a wines flavors so dont be afraid to experiment with food pairings and dont limit yourself to rigid rules like red wine with meat and white wine with fish. Youll surprise yourself! KNOW WHAT YOURE DRINKING: A single can of SHE CAN is equivalent to two and a half glasses of wine (or half of a bottle). These wines, priced between about $12 and $17 a bottle, became available at Kroger-owned stores this fall. Better grapes make better wine. And the farming she describes is sustainable, the wines made with minimal intervention, designed to showcase the place.