[1] The Washington Post pointed out that:[1] A major entry obstacle for people of color interested in the wine profession is money.
[1][2][12] Coney has said that in restaurants, servers and sommeliers will "steer her to cheaper wines or sweeter choices that fit their stereotype of what she might enjoy.
[16] Some report being grilled about their qualifications at wine events, asked who they knew who had invited them, or treated as if they were "either an imposter or an assistant, never the boss.
[20] Mac MacDonald founded the AAAV in 2002 with Ernie Bates and Vance Sharp to not only "find the needle in the haystack that is the Black winemaker, but also know it's there in the first place.
"[9] The organization was founded with the help of Urban Connoisseurs and the United Negro College Fund and supports African Americans pursuing careers in the wine industry.
[12] In 2005 Selena Cuffe co-founded Heritage Link Brands to support Black South African and Brazilian winemakers.
[24][25] The series featured McDonald, Coney, Royal, Pitts, Carlton McCoy, Will Blackmon, André Hueston Mack and Terry Arnold.