Founder Tahiirah Habibi. Image: Courtesy of Wine & Culture Fest.
Summer is the perfect time to gather with your friends and hit some of the nation’s best Black-owned festivals and events. And, what’s better than an event centered around delicious wines. Tahiirah Habibi, a sommelier and visionary, is the founder of The Hue Society and the brains behind the upcoming Wine & Culture Fest taking place in Atlanta.
Expanding from its original weekend-only format, the event will now span an entire week—July 23-30, 2023.
“This is more than a wine festival. My vision for the event has always been about inclusion and a celebration of our culture,” Tahiirah Habibi shares. “From everything to the Blind Tasting, Rice event, Roses and Rosé Awards Brunch, and the Bubble Room—each event has intention about how to bring a different experience to our culture and make wine and the experience more inclusive and accessible.”
In addition to sipping on brands like McBride Sisters Wines, attendees will also be treated to calming yoga and meditation sessions, adult playdates, a skate party at the iconic Cascade Skating Rink and so much more.
During the Sunday awards brunch, the team will recognize Emily Meggett, a southern home cook from South Carolina who recently passed away. Meggett was known for being one of America’s best Gullah Geechee cooks and for her NY Times bestselling cookbook: Gullah Geechee Home Cooking: Recipes From the Matriarch of Edisto Island.
Habibi has always been at the forefront of ensuring the wine world is more inclusive and that Black and Brown folks also get a seat at the table. Whether through education or championing for more Black-owned brands and Black sommeliers—her brand is bigger than just her.
“One of the coolest things about the festival is getting to see Black, Brown, and Indigenous brands in the wine industry—and beyond—making connections and growing their businesses after attending the Wine & Culture Fest,” Habibi says. “It’s a real privilege to witness their success and growth firsthand.”