Hangin' with Mr. Williams- A tasting featuring Owner of So Far Out Wines Jamil Williams
After celebrating Juneteenth drinking Uncle Nearest with us, join us on the 20th as we celebrate Black ownership with So Far Out Wines and its owner, Jamil Williams. Jamil is not a winemaker, which he will be sure to emphasize that when you discuss his label, So Far Out. He is a wine enthusiast, a salesperson, and a brand creator. Jamil has teamed up with Andrew Jones and Mike Testa of Field Recordings to create a label that focuses on Santa Barbara County grapes, low-intervention winemaking, and an approachable style for all who share his enthusiasm for wine.
In June of 2024, I hosted our first Black-owned tasting featuring multiple wineries. At that tasting, I emphasized the importance of representation in a field where not many people of color are given the spotlight. For a person of color, simply seeing someone else doing what you are doing, or what you aspire to do, can bring comfort and encouragement.
Now, I do not know if that was the goal Jamil had when he started So Far Out, but I can tell you that I have had customers whose interest was sparked when they discovered that brands like So Far Out, Kumusha, Aslina, or Brown Estate are Black owned, whether the person themselves was Black, or just an ally.
Representation matters in all walks of life, especially in something as universal and ancient as wine. Wine has been enjoyed by all kinds of people for centuries, but it is only in the past 15 to 20 years that we have seen it become part of Black culture. So let’s come together and take part in this timeless activity of drinking wine while celebrating some of the new faces in the industry.
Wines We’ll Be Pouring
