A North Carolina wine store is making history. 

Lashonda Modest is the owner and founder of Melanated Wine & Spirits — the first Black-owned and woman-owned wine brand in Durham. 

What You Need To Know

  • Melanated Wine & Spirits is the first Black-owned and woman-owned wine brand in Durham

  • The wine company opened this year

  • The founder's goal is to create more diversity in the industry

Modest says her goal is to bring people together through wine, embodying her company's motto "Uncork the culture."

“It really is about not limiting ourselves to anything," Modest said. "We can do so much more, and we can be so much more, and we can be so much greater if we just put one foot forward and strive for it.”

She says she started the company not only because of her love for wine, but also the lack of diversity in the industry.

“Our wine is for everyone," Modest said. "But this is our culture in a bottle.”

Melanated Wine & Spirits ships products to customers across the nation. 

Their grapes are grown in the Yadkin Valley.