This all basically started as a response to someone who was frustrated at certain repeating scenarios combined with the frustrations I see not only in the world of wine, but the U.S. wine market specifically.

So, what happens when you take an unapologetic Black guy from West Philly – West Philadelphia born and raised – with a diverse background whose been in many places and spaces that most folks would never imagine who falls in love with wine and learns it from a different perspective from how many are traditionally taught? Throw him in a scenario where he then puts a wine deal together and sees both the lies and the truths and realizes he could do it better, he just needs the money. Then set him on a course that would introduce him to thousands of wines and winemakers, taking him to portfolio tastings, trade shows and lunches, hosted tours, and B2B experiences from NY to DC in the United States, as well as Italy, Portugal and Spain, making tons of friends and associates along the way. And also uncovering more lies that most people never see.

That’s one way of looking at what has transpired since I first had some wonderful wines that fateful Friday night in 2006 when I went into Panorama Restaurant for a glass of wine, not knowing where that would lead me. And before I had gotten the idea and inspiration to jump into the industry, I could see so many issues within it, and so many missed opportunities.

So these are my thoughts, musings, analysis, critiques, experiences, and revelations. If you want to know about my journey so far, this is for you. If you look like me, and are considering jumping into the wine industry, you want to read this one. If you are trying to sell wines in the US market [or are doing it and could be selling more], give this a read. You might agree, you might disagree, you might laugh and you might get pissed off at various parts of this book. Honestly, you should. But let me tell you one very important thing, I don’t hold back, and so you might come away with some different ways of looking at things that you might not have ever considered before.