Meet Dennis Kearney II | Director of Business Relationships & SipSouth

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dennis Kearney II and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Dennis, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Black and Brown wine drinkers make up 35% of all wine drinkers in the US. There is also a stark disparity in who drinks and who makes wine. Black Americans represent less than 1% of all wineries and .01% of winemakers are Black women.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Sip & Share Wines, established in 2016, is a boutique winery producing a diversity of handcrafted vegan wines. We’re passionate about creating a community with wine, especially for wine lovers often overlooked and underrepresented by the wine industry. Our wines are approachable to all palates, all people, and made to have fun while you Sip & Share.

Sip & Share South, (SipSouth), was established in 2022 from our opportunity to expand our wine presence to the South. Since then, I have been nurtured great relationships while offering our SipSperience(tm) to all who want to partake.

For the most part, our transition has been very smooth and welcoming. I appreciate the love we have received from Atlanta and surrounding communities. Sip & Share Wines produces fantastic products that speak for itself. We let our wines run the show and our team offers assistance along the way

The joy of meeting the community and sharing our passion for wine is everything. To see those who have never tasted a vegan wine before turn fans right before our eyes gives us the energy to keep pushing forward. Even wine lovers who have their favorites are pleasantly surprised from the lightness, the quality, and the care we put in each bottle. Our family truly appreciates the communities that support us. Without them, there would be no us.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My time in Atlanta has been short thus far but there are some gems in this city. Ponce City Market and Atlantic Station are destinations for anyone new to the area. Just give yourself some time to digest all the attractions. Black Coffee Atlanta and Urban Grind have the mornings covered with the best baristas and beverages hands down.

When it comes to dining, Atlanta has every cuisine you can imagine. The Urban Chefs of Atlanta and Food & Lifestyle TV family have that covered. Their talented teams of Chefs have events and dinners all over the city. If I want to sit down and eat then Soul Vegetarian #2 is it.

Night life is the 50 North Speakeasy if you can get in as its an exclusive hidden gem. Studio Cigar Lounge is my go to place. Great food, awesome live music, and a fantastic selection of cigars.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shout outs go to the Sip & Share Wines team and some of the people that made our transition to Atlanta a warm welcome. Gratitude to the 50 North Speakeasy, Black Coffee Atlanta, Sincère Fare, The Urban Chefs of Atlanta, Mental Dialogue, Urban Grind, The All Purpose Vegan, Chef ZaZa and TLA Modeling Agency.

Website: sipandsharewines.com

Instagram: @sipandsharewines @sipsouth @sipsouthdmv

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-kearney-ii-%E2%98%81%EF%B8%8F-%F0%9F%8C%B1-%F0%9F%8D%B7-a9648068/

Twitter: @sipandsharewine

Facebook: @sipandsharewines @sipsouth

Image Credits
@im50north, Bob Mackey @makeithappen_bob