Today we’d like to introduce you to Camillya Masunda.
Hi Camillya, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I fell in love with wine in college, I would attend wine tastings with my friends, but I noticed that there was such a lack of representation.
There was no one in the marketing that looked like me, there was no celebration of the owners of these brands that looked like me; I wanted to change that. I began to study wine and the business behind it. I visited vineyards, asked questions, talked to distributors, and really learned that it was more than just grapes.
I wanted something for my culture; I wanted something that made my people realize that wine was for us as well.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
Not at all! Gaining the respect of distributors, retailers, and vineyards was so hard because I didn’t have that large backing or name behind me that I needed to gain their respect. Outside of being a black woman in a business that doesn’t celebrate us or make us a focus, the wine industry can be very difficult to enter and actually make an impact.
I was determined to make that impact if it meant renting out multiple storage units to use as a warehouse or even driving crates up and down the east coast myself. I didn’t take no for an answer or let someone’s disagreement with my vision get in the way; I knew Ebony Wine & Spirits had a great story that was bigger than wine; this was culture and celebrating the beauty of my people.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I am most proud of how unity and family have played such a huge part in the growth of the brand. Outside of my family which is a huge part of this brand, everyone we come in contact with becomes part of the Ebony family. I call our customers “cousins”; because if I see you with an Ebony bottle, I’m hugging you!
I’m embracing you because you embraced and supported something that’s so dear to me; that’s a family thing! My daughter is part of this, my mother is part of this, my brothers, my whole family, and that’s so important to me. I want to bring that back for our community; I want to be a representation of creating generational wealth for our families, and having them take part in it makes them just as proud of Ebony as I am.
We love surprises, fun facts, and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I don’t know if it’s shocking, but people are sometimes very shocked at how obsessed I am with the growth and the development of others. I want everyone around me to have their own legacy, everyone on my team is an entrepreneur, and I absolutely love it.
It doesn’t have to be in wine or anything associated with our brand, but whatever you are passionate about. I border on that line of encouraging and pushy because I am going to make you follow it through. I will help complete the paperwork; I will research with you, everything.
Again, I don’t think people are surprised about it, but they may be a little shocked when they see how intentional I am about it.
Pricing:
- 2017 Fusion Red – $35.00
- 2019 Moscato – $39.00
- Ebony Sparkling Rose’ – $47.00
- Kinshasa Sparkling Grape Wine- $55.00
- The Ebony Trio – $119.00
Contact Info:
- Website: www.EbonyWineandSpirits.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonywineandspirits/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EbonyWinesandSpirits
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ebonyspirits
