According to NPRs How I Built This podcast, the half-sisters who were coincidentally raised in wine regions located in different parts of the world Andra with her mother Pauline in New Zealand until Pauline died when Andra was six and Robin with her mother Karen in Monterrey, CA the sisters grew up unaware of the other and were each raised as an only child. "We've been in the business so many years. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. The McBride Sisters logo is so much more than just a logo. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, the two connected over their shared experiences while exploring wine regions up and down the California Coast, and before long, it became clear to the two that they wanted to turn their love of wine into a business. Q: How did you get started? Breaking into the wine business isn't easy, especially if you're a woman or a minority, but two half-sisters who hadn't met for the first halves of their lives did just that after uncorking a crucial part of their past, reports CBS News correspondent Michelle Miller. Contact Susan Selasky: 313-222-6872 or sselasy@freepress.com. They told us we CAN do anything we set our minds to because they knew that no goal or dream is too big. Sign up today and save 15% on your first purchase. Patti LaBelle with the McBride Sisters, Andra (left) and Robin (right) / Photo by Jared Soares. The largest Black-owned wine company in the United States, McBride Sisters can now be found everywhere from Trader Joe's to Target, but the journey to building the thriving family business is even more impressive given that Robin and Andra didn't even know about one another for the first half of their lives. This collection is inspired by the beauty, power and resilience of Black women and offers a variety of wines to suit any palate, to be enjoyed by all., Andra and Robins upbringing in prominent wine regions helped them to understand each other and the industry on an intimate level, but (according to How I Built This), they quickly realized that their vision of building a wine company would have to involve them making a visible effort to change the face of the wine world as a whole. When kid sister Andrea was 11, in 1995, she received a call from the father she didnt know. The two lionesses represent each of our mothers, supporting us from each side, the strongest women we know. Robin said the industry is "very complicated" due to heavy reliance on gatekeepers wholesalers, distributors, retailers and more before it's greenlit into production. Enjoy Responsibly. What are some of your favoriteros pairings? The collection also includes merlot, zinfandel, and a red blend, as well as a zesty sparkling brut thats perfect for toasting to special occasions. Andra McBride: We share the same father, but were raised separately by different mothers. How 2 friends created sparkling wine subscription service The Sip, surveyed 3,100 industry professionals in 2019 and found, EatOkra founders share inspiration behind their app highlighting Black-owned restaurants. With the idea for the McBride Sisters Collection officially planted, Robin and Andra scraped together initial seed money of $1,800 just to cover licensing paperwork. Crushed raspberry and black cherry aromas are dusted with loam and layered with beautiful florals, sandalwood and spice. . The sisters say they made it against extraordinary odds, but it shouldn't be that hard for Black women or minorities to join the wine industry. And a hint of roundness speaks of the effect of a restrained, 16 percent new French oak. I cover dynamic women of color and their careers. They each thought they were only children.. At the age of six, she was raised by her uncle and a foster family after her mother died of breast cancer. Big sister Robin McBride grows up in Monterey, California unaware that thousands of miles away, she had a little sister, Andra McBride. We are continuing to expand where our wines can be found and enjoyed nationwide with some exciting collaborations. Separated by geography but unit, The Women Of Roblox Are On A Mission To Make Gaming A Force For Good, ChatGPT: Thinking Outside The Content Marketing Box, How Latina Entrepreneur Corina Burton Once Failed, Then Launched A Multi-Million Business, Child Sexual Abuse Survivors Pen Their Own Justice, Women Have Found A Powerful Way To Form Authentic Connections In Business - Mentoring Walks, Sephora, A New CCO And A Celebration Of Latinx Roots: Babba Rivera Is Building A Haircare Empire With Ceremonia, 5 Ways To Bounce Back After Getting Laid Off, Greenlight For Work Tackles Top Source Of Stress For Working Parents. Robin and Andra are generous in their success, with a She Can Professional Development Fund donating part of the proceeds from their She Can wines this year to women entrepreneurs. But, like countless groundbreaking women before them, Andra and Robin saw every obstacle as an opportunity to chart their own path rather than follow the standard formula. Growing up, it was just me and my mom and no extended family. Fluker: What is your favorite wine from the McBride Sisters collection and why? Her trip after the familys second split was to her mothers native New Zealand, where she grew up in Marlborough wine country and was captured too. Expect a Gamay and a Pinot Noir from New Zealands Central Otago region to join the Reserve tier soon. Photo: Courtesy of McBride Sisters Collection. A separate Black Girl Magic line offers up bottles of sparkling, Riesling, ros, Merlot, Zinfandel, as well asspeaking of unintimidatingsparkling ros and red in cans. For the McBrides, success is not just about selling wine, but also creating a sort of sisterhood among their mostly female staff. They initially settled on the idea of importing and selling wines from New Zealand to restaurants throughout California, a concept they pivoted and grew into the McBride Sisters collection that exists today. Join our community of wine lovers & be the first to know about virtual events and new wine releases. By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Andra and Robin McBride have a personal story as unique as their professional one. StyleCaster is a part of Penske Media Corporation. "We didn't know about each other at all when we were growing up," Robin said. Raise your hand if you would like some backstory behind the SHE CAN can designs! It was a runaway success, and the two have since amassed a McBride Sisters Collection that includes a Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris from Marlborough, as well as a sparkling ros from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand; and a California Central Coast Chardonnay and red blend. McBride Sisters: You can't pick between your children! Robin McBride and Andra McBride John grew up on opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean, Robin in Marlborough, New Zealand and Andra in Monterey, Calif. "We grew up on opposite sides of the . We definitely do look like sisters., She added that they soon discovered they had grown up in similar places, small places agricultural communities with up-and-coming wine regions.. They were all just really focused on helping to try and find Robin.". Ninety percent of the wine produced in the U.S. is made in California, but only 10 percent of the state's wineries are led by a female winemaker. Once united, an affinity for wine and wine making were among the things the sisters discovered they had in common. "We had to like figure out how do we introduce new people to wine and then pull through this chain in business versus the more traditional way, which is kind of buying your way up to get access to the consumer. "It was crazy and awful and amazing sort of all at the same time. And we admire the craft of wine making and had hopes to do it ourselves one day. The packaging for the McBride Sisters Collection 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir ($50), on the other hand, exudes a little more attitude, from the showy peacock on the label to the name, a fond reference to their fatherahem, Cocky Motherf*cker. The man behind the ode might have been, in their words, electric, charismatic and confident in his style, but the interpretation in the wine has a wonderful irony to it. **. Following the death of their father Kelly McBride in 1996, Kellys relatives, who already had a relationship with Andra, set out to find Robin, who never had a relationship with her father or his family. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. [1] Robin grew up in Monterey, California. Or, for more information, visitRR1. they shared more than an avant-garde father in L.A. Both areas are naturally beautiful and leaders in environmental protection so sustainable farming and winemaking practices are key to us. [3][1] The brand uses grapes from both California and New Zealand,[4] and is focused on providing quality bottled and canned wines that are affordable and "celebrate inclusivity". In the 17 years since that fateful call, Andra and Robin have not only met, but in 2005, they founded what is now the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States and they did it without any seed money from investors. We first wanted to make wine affordable and accessible, says Robin. Black Girl Magic has always been synonymous with our culture and consumers love and appreciate that, Andra tells TZR. "Both of us were growing up thinking we were only children-- completely, you know, opposite ends of the Pacific Ocean.". As the two got to know one another, they discovered a shared passion for making wine, something they each developed growing up in the major wine regions of New Zealand and central California. As luck would have it, Andrea was visiting from New Zealand and sitting next to her aunt when Robin called. "I'm walking down the jetway, and I see what I think is my reflection at the end of the jetway in a mirror. Q: How would you describe your wine-making style? And theyre growing. A Sauvignon Blanc and Sparkling Rose from New Zealand. As minoritiesand women, we knew we had to work harder. You learn a lot about wine just by tasting so we first started educating ourselves by visiting wineries and tasting lots and lots of wines to refine our palettes and noses. Robin McBride and Andra McBride John are known for their story, two sisters raised half a world . In staying open, you never know whator who you may discover. Please enjoy responsibly! The most rewarding parts are knowing how hard we've worked and how much we've sacrificed to get here and seeing the smile on someone's face when they first taste the wine. Their aunt answered and, after praising God, immediately handed the phone to Andra so the sisters could talk for the first time. Since 2005, The McBride Sisters mission has been clear - to transform the industry, lead by example, and cultivate community, one delicious glass of wine at a time. KNOW WHAT YOURE DRINKING: A single can of SHE CAN is equivalent to two and a half glasses of wine (or half of a bottle). In the year 1999, 25-year-old Robinand 16-year-old Andra McBride met for the first time at LaGuardia Airport in New York. Although their father, Kelly McBride, was not much part of their lives, it was his dying wish for the two sisters to be united. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Better grapes make better wine. [8] Andra was raised in Marlborough, New Zealand. August 7, 2021 by Kiri Tannenbaum Director of Culinary Relations. It was all the feels," she said. Each one retails for under $20. Most of the options from theirtwo labels, eco.love andTruve, retail for under $20 and are sold around the country at more than 1,000 retailers. By then, the family had been looking for Robin for five years and doubled down on their efforts after finding Andra. We are everywhere our consumers are, it's important for us to never be detached from that experience. Our Newest Wines from the Most Southern Winegrowing Region in the World - Aotearoa New Zealand! This one is fresh, lifted and beautifully aromatic, with lemon blossom, juicy green apple and hints of crushed rock on the nose. We describe our signature style as old world style with new world finesse. They affectionally named the wine with the peacock on the label Cocky Motherf*cker in honor of their father. From that aunt, who lived in Georgia, she learned both about her fathers death and about the existence of her 16-year-old sister. Among the bestsellers of the McBride Sisters roster are the wines in the Black Girl Magic Collection, which include a bright ros packed with notes of raspberry. Subscribe now and save. After all, Google really wasnt a thing when the search began in 1994. [9] They are members of the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV), which was founded in 2002. RegisterforRobb ReportsCulinary Mastersnow. It's called Truve, which is derived from the French verb "to find" and reflects their personal journey finding each other. In an industry dominated by men, they are young minority women. Now the largest African-American-owned wine company in the United States, McBride Sisters Wine Collection includes Chardonnay and Red Blends from Robin's home state of California, as well as. But instead of backing down, they forged ahead, starting their own wine company using the knowledge they had gained about winemaking and the business of winemaking while working as importers. And it turned out they both grew up in small agriculture towns known for winemaking and they were both passionate about wine. The McBride Sisters continue to withstand the elementsin both business and in life. Subscribe to RR1 Live+ for exclusive virtual events all year long (at least 1 per month), conversations with Robb Report editors, special perks, and more. One of their icebreaker questions was: What was it like where you grew up? The reunion story of long-lost sisters Andrea and Robin McBride stems from exactly the person you'd imagine would be involved in such a tearjerker: Oprah. Thats why we have join the fearless pride printed on the cans. two connected over their shared experiences while exploring wine regions, wine brands, who have historically positioned wine, hope will make pursuing a career in wine a little easier for the next generation of women. The MS stands for "McBride Sisters" with an S curled like the locks of our hair, with the two lionesses surrounding it representing our strong, supportive mothers, while the peacock depicts our. And the farming she describes is sustainable, the wines made with minimal intervention, designed to showcase the place. She was placed with a foster family at the age of 6. That chain of command was the main challenge, according to Robin. Our story is proof that a bond can form over a bottle of wine; a truth that comes to life with every McBride Sisters wine.