Meet Ashley Rawlinson | Founder & Owner of HERitage Wines

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashley Rawlinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashley, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The more I drank wine, the more I noticed that I was the only one in my circle, and among a handful of other people of color that I knew who drank wine. It made me begin to pay attention to what we drank and question why I was only exposed to wine when I was in the company of my white coworkers or friends. When I would enter wine spaces, it was obvious and often uncomfortable that I was often the only Black woman in there. I then began to research black wine groups to help me learn more about wine as well as black wine makers. I was almost certain that I wasn’t the only one who felt this way, and I was right. I not only found other Black women who had a passion for wine, but I also found that there were limited resources in my area.

At that moment, I knew that in order to help change the climate and what I was exposed to, I had to be a part of the change. I not only wanted to learn more about wine, but I wanted to share it with my circle, those who I come in contact with and those who look like me. Not only do I want to support the existing Black winemakers, but I want to become one, and add to the less than 1% that exists in America. There are a little over 100 Black wine makers but it’s not enough and I want to do my part to help make sure that we are heard and seen.

HERitage Wines was created for HER. It was created to help myself and other Black women feel comfortable in wine spaces, regardless of what type of wine we choose to drink. I want us to know that we don’t have to be a wine expert to enjoy wine and I want us to feel comfortable and not judged when we enter wine spaces. Wine is often intimidating and we are often felt not welcomed in spaces that are often white and male dominated. So HERitage Wines is here to create a community for Black women and women of color so that we don’t feel alone. I want us to not only drink wine but experience it. So I have apparel, accessories, and a membership option to help us do just that.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

Professionally and for the past 13 years, I have worked in Public Health. I work in prevention and in the community to help increase overall health and wellness in North Carolina. My role in Public Health relates to what I am doing in wine because it has taught me what community is, how important it is, and how representation matters.

As a manager and one that leads various groups and coalitions, I’ve learned leadership, management, planning and how to deal with and interact with different people. People want to feel seen and heard and I’ve learned that it’s not always a right or wrong way but that there are multiple ways to get to a solution.

In working with equity, it’s not enough to just invite marginalized populations to the table but you have to hear them and implement their voices. Being in the room isn’t enough. In my business, I am realizing that I don’t just want to be invited to spaces due to the color of my skin, but I want to be included and heard because they see the importance of inclusion as much as I do. I want to ensure that people who look like me are not only invited but heard, listened to, valued, and taken seriously because that’s when true change occurs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
As a given, we are are visiting and eating at restaurants that she couldn’t get anywhere else. Places that are unique to Durham, NC and the surrounding areas. Places like Dame’s Chicken and Waffles, Tru Flavors, the Wine Feed, and UnCorked Raleigh, to name a few as well as places that we would consider splurges, like Nantucket, Perry’s and Kurama Japanese Seafood.

Since she’s my best friend and her habits are similar to mine, our days would not start super early but could end late because we are up watching movies, talking and catching up. Because we are similar and I know her habits, it’s no surprise that she would stay at my house and not a hotel. We are absolutely going to do a little shopping at the malls and at the outlets, sleep in, brunch daily, and have amazing wine and cocktails.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have had a lot of inspiration and support that has helped me get to where I am now, both from those who know and those who don’t. My first exposure to Black winemakers and a community of Black women in wine was through the McBride Sisters and their Facebook group dedicated to wine education and community, along with the social organization, Black Girls Wine.

I also have to give credit to The Roots Fund. They are the organization that helped me pursue my wine certification to become WSET (wine & spirit education trust) Level 2. They are responsible for linking me with a mentor in the wine industry to help me reach my dreams and goals, and they have been nothing but supportive since I connected with them. They are more than just an organization, they are family!

Lastly, I have to thank and give a shoutout to my family and those closest to me who have been there for me, support me, push me and encourage me unapologetically. They help me to see things that I don’t and help me believe in myself beyond what I originally think. My village is strong and I’m beyond grateful for each and every one of them.

Website: www.heritagewinesllc.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/her_itagewines

Facebook: www.facebook.com/HERitageWinesLLC