Press

In south Durham, Melanated Wine is finally off the ground. The owner, Illinois native Lashonda Modest, moved her family to North Carolina 10 years ago. 'When anyone consumes our wine, you're uncorking the culture,' said Modest.

Durham's first Black-owned winery opened on Wednesday in the Southside Industrial Park of Durham. The owner aims to pour inspiration into others while making fine wine more accessible to all.

Uncork the Culture at Melanated Wine in Durham

Durham Black-owned winery opens as global shortages persist

In south Durham, Melanated Wine is finally off the ground. The owner, Illinois native Lashonda Modest, moved her family to North Carolina 10 years ago.

Melanated Wine

Melanated Wine in Durham is a popular Black and female owned winery.

Melanated Wine is Durham's first Black-owned winery

Durham, North Carolina Welcomes First Black-Owned Winery, Melanated Wines

The first Black-owned winery in Durham, NC, has opened, and a Black woman is at the helm! Melanated Wines & Spirits, which was opened by LaShonda Fort-Modest on Oct. 22, 2021. The winery opened up in an industrial park in the Southside of Durham, according to WRAL, and Modest said that her goal with the winery is to “uncork the culture.”

Melanated Wine debuts as the Triangle's first Black-owned winery

Melanated Wine founder LaShonda Fort-Modest pours wine for a tasting party in the Durham tasting room on Thursday, Feb. 10, 2022. Fort-Modest believes that the minority community had been overlooked in the area of wine which led her to learn more about the industry and open Melanated Wine last year.

Durham business bringing change to wine culture

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.

Melanated Wine & Spirits: Durham's First Black-Owned Winery Opening Oct. 22

In a Southside industrial park, the flora of innovation has borne her sweet fruit. Though Durham has a rich tradition of African American enterprise, the city has not had a Black-owned winery within its bounds - until now.

North Carolina Weekend

Melanated Wine in Durham is a popular Black and female owned winery.

Durham's Melanated Wine

Wine tasting at Durham's Melanated Wine isn't going to be your typical wine experience - and that's by design. When Melanated opened last fall, owner Lashonda Fort-Modest wanted to create an urban winery experience that catered to Black wine consumers.