Philosophy—Maryland’s First Black-owned Winery
September 7, 2021
Paul Vigna
Wine Industry Advisor
“For Kimberly T. Johnson, winery ownership began with a much less complicated mission— free admission into some of Maryland’s biggest wine festivals by working as a volunteer.
At the time, her career was rooted in finance and accounting, but it took one “horrible day” at her full-time job to prompt a call to her best friend, Denise Matthews. “I said, ‘Hey, I’m so tired of this mess. Do you want to start a winery with me?’ And she said, ‘Yes, sure.’”
That conversation triggered the beginning of Philosophy Winery, what the founders call a ‘mobile boutique’ wine business: Johnson and Matthews sell their wines at farmers markets, festivals, and online, as well as make home deliveries…”
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