A Black-owned wine brand making waves has hit its next milestone.
WONDRY, co-founded and launched by Whitney and Chaz Gates in 2021, has announced an expanded strategic partnership with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits — the world’s largest spirits and wine distributor — in Florida, according to a press release.
“We couldn’t be more excited about our ever-evolving relationship with Southern Glazer’s, especially as it pertains to our strategic expansion into such a critical market for us,” Whitney shared in a press statement. “Their support and strategic counsel in Florida, one of the most competitive beverage regions in the country, will be monumentally important in order for us to win in the state.”
At the top of 2023, WONDRY inked a multi-year partnership with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits. As a small business a part of the less than 1% of Black American winemakers, the husband and wife duo believe the support helps them break down barriers they’ve previously faced.
“Our partnership with Southern Glazer’s represents a door opened, additional access to retailers, states, stakeholders, countries, and consumers we couldn’t have engaged on our own,” Chaz told AfroTech in an email interview at the time. “This milestone will make our dream to shatter glass ceilings by filling glass bottles a true reality and hopefully enable us the opportunity to open doors for those behind us.”
WONDRY, which offers a 100 percent natural line with fruity extracts including berry, citrus, and indulgent premium extracts, first made big waves after catching the attention of Mark Cuban on “Shark Tank,” as previously shared by AfroTech. The billionaire businessman invested $225,000 into their business in exchange for 15 percent equity. In addition, the wine company was expected to rake in an estimated $60,000 in profit and $250,000 in sales after 12 months of operating.
