In this episode we talk to Gwen Hurt, the Founder and CEO of Shoe Crazy Wine and her business partner Brittny Hurt. Shoe Crazy is a wine company based in Chesterfield, launched in December of 2013 as an online direct to consumer business. We offer 6 delectable varietals [Sweet Harmony, Sauvignon Blanc, Ménage A Red, Chardonnay, Rose and Cabernet Sauvignon]. The wines are available in Costco, Kroger and several restaurants in the VA, NC, DC & MD markets. I didn’t grow up under the easiest of circumstances. I was raised by a single mother and as the oldest girl was responsible for helping to raise my siblings. My mother was mostly illiterate, but she found the strength to leave a physically abusive husband. She took us 4 kids, a few dollars and a can of pork and beans and headed north! My mother’s example and courage helped shaped the person I am today! Her journey taught me to keep faith and never give up. Sometimes, we had very little to eat and only 1 pair of shoes to wear for the whole year! Card board was our friend. It repaired many a worn out shoe sole. As a kid, I always said to myself, “one day I am going to have enough money to eat until my stomach is full and I am going to buy as many shoes as I want”! Thus, the shoe has always been very symbolic in my life. To me it is the base that supports us on our journeys! Eventually my mom learned to read and write and ultimately earned her Master’s Degree! Prior to launching Shoe Crazy Wine, I worked for a Fortune 300 Tech Company. I built a Global Process and Controls organization. I led a high performance, cross cultural team located in multiple geographic locations (The Americas, Asia, Western and Eastern Europe). During my travels I learned to appreciate a smooth glass of wine. I became enamored of the intricacies of wine. My new passion! In 2013 hardship struck. I was downsized by the company in which I had spent 15 plus years and two days later was in a car accident that would take me and my daughter nearly a year to recover from. During my physical therapy and rehabilitation, I made the decision to “NOT” succumb to depression. I told my daughter Brittny that we were going into the wine business. She asked, how many drugs had the emergency room Dr. given me? I chuckled and responded “not enough to stay in this bed and do nothing about my situation.” We both said, “If those Housewives of whatever city could start a wine business, then so could we.” My daughter Brittny is the one that suggested that I name my company something that I love. I love Shoes and Wine. Hence the name Shoe Crazy Wine. Brittny has been with me throughout this journey. We have had ups and downs and personal challenges but through it all, we have had our heart and soul on growing this company into a national brand. The life of an entrepreneur can indeed be very hard and crazy at times. However, perseverance, tenacity, faith and family are paramount. I firmly believe in these core values. I want to share my story and my wines. After all a lot of successful business have been founded due to life’s challenges and hardships and have been discussed over a glass of wine. For more information: Website: www.shoecrazywine.com Facebook: @shoecrazywine Instagram: @shoecrazywine    

Ms. Theodora Lee, a partner and trial lawyer at Littler is the founder and owner of Theopolis Vineyards. Her passion for wine began upon her arrival to San Francisco from Texas in 1987, primarily due to the influence of her law firm mentors, many of whom owned vineyards. This led Ms. Lee to take several viticulture classes at UC Davis, before deciding to develop her own vineyard. In 2001, Ms. Lee purchased sheep land in the Yorkville Highlands of Anderson Valley, and began developing her vineyard. Finally, in 2003, Ms. Lee planted her vineyard, and adopted her Greek name, from pledging Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, and established Theopolis Vineyards. In the wine world, Ms. Lee is known as Theo-patra, Queen of the Vineyards. Wine Critic Robert Parker bestowed upon wine made from grapes harvested from Theopolis Vineyards a stellar rating of 94-96 points, a spectacular showing for the vintner's first harvest in 2006. Emboldened by the great fruit produced by the land, Ms. Lee, a bold and dynamic Texan, decided to bottle her own wines in 2014. In addition to bottling the richly intense and flavorful Petite Sirah, Theopolis Vineyards strikes a lighter note by bottling a Symphony, a white wine grape, which is a crossing of Muscat and Grenache Gris. Ms. Lee also bottles the unique Rosé of Petite Sirah, an Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, and a Yorkville Highland Pinot Noir. The Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition has consistently given the Estate Grown Theopolis Vineyards Petite Sirah stellar Gold Medals. The 2012 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah won a stellar Gold Medal at the 2015 Competition, and the 2013 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah won a stellar Gold Medals at the 2016 Competition.  The 2016 San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition has bestowed on the 2014 Estate Grown Theopolis Vineyards Rosé of Petite Sirah a stellar Double Gold Medal. The 2013 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah recently won a Double Gold Medal and 95 points at the 2016 San Francisco International Wine Competition, which is considered to be one of the most influential wine competitions in the world. The September 2016 Issue of Somm Journal listed the 2013 Theopolis Vineyards Estate Grown Petite Sirah as Best in Class, meaning it is considered the best Petite Sirah in the world. The other wines from Theopolis Vineyards including the 2014 Symphony and the 2014 Pinot Noir have won either silver and/or bronze medals at the San Francisco Chronicle International Wine Competition, the Sunset Magazine International Wine Competition or the San Francisco International Wine Competition. Wine Enthusiast Magazine has bestowed on wines from Theopolis Vineyards 90 plus Points, and those wines are featured in the March 2017 Issue of that magazine. In addition to practicing law and making wine, Ms. Lee serves as Co-Chair of the Board Development Committee for the Board of Directors of the YMCA of San Francisco and a Member of the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Legal Aid. She is the Past President of Bay Area Black United Fund and the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and Past Vice President of the United Negro College Fund San Francisco Advisory Board. Ms. Lee is a graduate of Spelman College and the University Of Texas School Of Law. Prior to entering the practice of law, Ms. Lee worked as a Senate intern in Washington, D.C., for Senator Sam Nunn. For More Information: http://theopolisvineyards.com/ Instagram:@theopolisvineyards Facebook:Theopatra Lee Twitter: @TheopolisV    

In this episode we had the privilege of speaking with Nicole Kearney, the CEO of Sip & Share Wine. Nicole is a Wine Enthusiast and is bringing her passion for wine into your home. She travels to drink wines made by African Americans, then writes about those experiences for her Sip & Share blog, magazines and journals.  When she is not traveling or writing o producing for stage, screen or streaming platforms, she can be found pouring wines produced by African Americans, Women and boutique producers, for Sip & Share Wine. For more information: nicolekearney.com or sipnsharewine.net                    

In this episode we speak with Marcus Johnson.  Marcus is an independent Billboard-ranked musician and NAACP Image Award-nominated jazz keyboardist and pianist. He is also the CEO and Founder of Flo Brands, LLC and more recently Flo Wine, LLC. Marcus has combined an eminently successful musical career with his love of wine by marrying the two in a unique endeavor.  

Over the last decade, Marcus Johnson has released 15 successful studio albums.  On Pandora, Marcus receives 5.1 million spins per year with 2,000 new stations added each month, and his music receives a 74% “thumbs ups” rating verses an average of 56%.  Johnson is the owner of a music label, Three Keys Music, and has emerged as one of the young lions of the “DIY” music world.  His unique self-taught style of piano play has earned him distinction among his peers, praise from the media and accolades across the music industry.  Marcus is on the cutting edge of ‘Euro Jazz’ having formed JURIS, a musical collaboration with acclaimed Parisian DJ and producer Young Pulse. The duo quickly developed a name within the international music community, enjoying large-scale performances and preparing a Q3 release of their latest project entitled “Eiffel Tower.”

Johnson’s FLO Brands, LLC,^tm is aptly titledFor the Love Of ; LLC. ™ FLO began as a musical publishing, production, and lifestyle branding company to house all of Johnson’s musical and entrepreneurial ventures.  However the scope and reach of the company has expanded delving into winemaking, sourcing grapes and production in California.  FLO Brands launched FLO Wines, LLC in March 2012.  FLO Wine is capturing the taste buds of wine-lovers from California to South Carolina. To date retail partners  in various states include Costco, Wal-Mart, Target, Whole Foods, Giant, Harris Teeter, Renaissance Hotels, Kroger, Aloft Hotels, Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC, Farm Fresh, and Total Wine.

As the owner and brand ambassador, a marketing initiative is currently underway with Johnson’s “Sips & Sounds” performances marrying music and wineFor the Love Of concept.  FLO Wine currently offers a FLO Red Californian Blend and a FLO California Chardonnay.  As of July 2013 the company is launching its 2011 FLO California Moscato.

 A graduate of Howard University, Johnson went on to simultaneously earn both his MBA and Juris Doctorate degrees at Georgetown University. In 1995 during this demanding period at Georgetown, he also decided to independently produce and distribute his first jazz album, Lessons in Love,which sold more than 40,000 units, a major success for an unknown independent artist’s debut release.  One year later, he releasedInter Alia,with great acclaim. These two albums led to Johnson signing with N2K Encoded Music with whom he released several CDs until the label was sold in 1998.

Johnson’s success caught the attention of Black Entertainment Television (BET) founder and businessman Robert L. Johnson who invested in Marcus and his newfound company, Marimelj Entertainment Group (MEG).  Under their partnership, MEG’s label, Three Keys Music based in the Washington, DC metro area, established its own full service recording studio, Studio 8121; and two music publishing companies, Marimelj Music Publishing and Three Keys Music Publishing.  Marcus was responsible for releasing and producing CDs on the Three Keys label for national jazz artists Michael Lington, Jaared Arosemena, Bobby Lyle, Nick Colionne, R&B singer, Alyson Williams and neo-soul songstress Yahzarah and smooth jazz Saxophonists Phillip Martin and Brian Lenair. 

While producing music for the aforementioned artists, Marcus also released several critically acclaimed albums:Inter Alia,Chocolate CityGroovin’;Coming Back Around;Urban Groove,In Person: Live at Blues Alley,Just Doing What I Do,Smooth Jazz Christmas andIn Concert for a Cause,all charting at Top 20 or more on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz Charts. 

Marcus has released 15 Billboard-charted CDs. He has the distinction of having his groundbreaking 2008 Billboard Top 20 Contemporary Jazz FLO (For the Love Of) CDs which consisted of three distinct albums: FLO Chill,FLO Romance andFLO Standards ,  all charting Top 10 on Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts simultaneously.  Johnson’s previous solo 2007 release, The Phoenix, was widely lauded by jazz critics and aficionados alike and like Johnson’s previous CDs, it peaked in the Top 20 of Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz charts.

Johnson’s next Top 20 Contemporary jazz releases, the unique and multi-facetedPoetically Justified (2009) andThis Is How I Rock (2011) solidified Marcus Johnson as heir apparent to the George Duke and Herbie Hancock style of funky urban groove music.  Creatively, Johnson continues to evolve as an artist. With the release of his 2012FLO: Holiday  CD and the ongoing collaboration with famed Parisian Producer DJ Pulse – as the musical duo “Juris” – he has managed to maintain his traditional jazz roots, while also remaining on the forefront of the expanding “Euro Jazz” movement. His music continues to enforce and define his musical legacy as a “jazz movement for all people”.   

Johnson is also evolving as an innovative wine expert. He resides in the Metropolitan Washington area and is a new father. His daughter Chase was born on September 12, 2012.  Marcus is currently featured weekly on Fox News and is involved with community and charity events, including service on the Board of the Boys and Girls Club.

Discography:

Billboard Top 20 CD Releases:

Lessons in Love (1997 and 2005)In Concert For A Cause (2006)

Urban Groove (2000)The Phoenix (2007)

Comin’ Back Around (2001)FLO: For the Love of Chill (2008)

Inter Alia (2002)FLO: For the Love of Romance (2008)

In Person, Live at Blues Alley (2002)FLO: For the Love of Standards (2008)

In Person, Live at Blues Alley DVD (2003)Poetically Justified (2009)

Just Doin’ What I Do (2005)FLO: Holiday feat Juris (2011)

Smooth Jazz Christmas (2005)This Is How I Rock (2011)

Education:   

B.A. in Music, Howard University

JD/ MBA, Georgetown University

Business:

CEO/President, Marimelj Entertainment Group, Three Keys Music, Three Keys Publishing

CEO/Founder, FLO Brands, LLC, FLO Wines, LLC

_____________________________________________________________________________________

Affiliations: Professional Awards, Speaking Engagement, Community Support

• NAACP Image Award Nominee “Poetically Justified” 
• Billboard Contemporary Jazz  Artist Top 20 
• Professor/Speaker: Harvard, Georgetown, Howard, MTSU and Bowie State University
• Speaker Harvard University Law School: Recording Artists Projects, Contracts, Entrepreneurship and

   Protecting Your Rights

• Speaker BMI:  Copyright and Publishing Rights in the new Millenium
• Speaker, World Copyright Summit: Intellectual Property Rights  (Representing BMI)
• Speaker, Miami Music Conference: The Business of Jazz
• Panelist for Microsoft Corporation:  Build Your Business
• Speaker, GMAC:  “The Importance of Intellectual Property and Protecting Your Work Product
• Panelist, Howard Univesity School of Law: Center Court Panel on Entertainment Law and Intellectual   Property
• Speaker, Georgetown University Law Center
• Ambassador:  BMI Intellectual Property;
• Panelist: MIDEM Music Convention, France
• Award Recipient: U.S. Small Business Administration: Young Entrepreneur of the Year 
• Community Leader: YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, Red Cross Holiday Cards for Heroes, MJ Music Camp, and Hear Our Voices Anti-Bullying Campaign, American Cancer Society, Rachel’s Women’s Center, National Center for Children and Families; Capital Youth Empowerment Program; Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival, Obama Victory Fund, Elmira University “Bullying” Program, Elmira, NY, Mentoring to Manhood Recipient of “Men Who Make A Difference” Award.   
• Speaker/Leader: Music Business Seminars at Studio 8121 Silver Spring, MD

Television and Radio

Featured Commentator: Idol Chatter, Fox 5 News Segment on American Idol - Current

Radio Host: Smooth Jazz 105.

Performances:

Capital Jazz Festival, Capital Jazz Cruise, Ghana Jazz Festival, Bahamas Jazz Festival, St. Lucia Jazz Festival, Bermuda Jazz Festival, Atlantic Artscape, Huntington Beach Jazz Festival, Trenton Jazz Festival, Dell East, Blues Alley, Blue Note, John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, The Hamilton, Congressional Black Caucus, 100 Black Men of Orlando. , Le Boeuf Sur Le Toit (Paris, France), Carter Barron Theater, Spring Breeze Soul Jazz Festival, Southern Tier Jazz Festival, Centennial Olympic Park Wednesday’s Winedown,  Lincoln Foundation “Evening of Jazz”, Low County Jazz Festival, Manassas Wine & Jazz Festival, Spaghettini’s, Jazz Fest West, Silver Spring Jazz Festival, Gardena Jazz Fest, Rams Head on Stage, Temecula Jazz Festival, to name a few.

Performances With:  Boney James, Kim Waters, Najee, Alex Bugnon, Dave Koz, Diane Krall, Brian Culbertson, Gerald Albright, Will Downing,  Fourplay, Pieces of A Dream, Bobby Lyle, Arturo Sandoval, Alyson Williams, Maysa, Erykah Badu, Peter White, Rich Braun, Chuck Mangione, Marion Meadows, Mike Phillips, Jakeim Joyner, Miles Jaye, Jeffrey Osborne, Chaka Kahn, Peabo Bryson, Jeff Bradshaw, Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Kenny G, Kem, BeBeWinans, Alyson Williams, Jean Carne, Norman Connors, Kirk Whalum, George Duke, Jean Carne,  and many others…

For more information:

www.threekeys.com

www.flobrands.com

www.facebook.com/marcusjohnson3k

www.youtube.com/marcusjohnson3k

Live Performance and Speaking Clips

http://youtu.be/YkLXSoniUZ4 Spaghettini's 2013 http://youtu.be/rEsN4lAVCs0 Marcus Johnson with Bobby Lyle Pavillion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwRbi7NDxWA Road To Los Suenos http://youtu.be/7OQyrANpPsk Maxin http://youtu.be/Z9Wc8gMmA-I This Place Hotel Live from Germany 

http://youtu.be/mKTdpXeUVjk AARP Speaking Engagement

In this episode of The Color of Wine, we speak to Benita Johnson of The Vine Wine Club, about her path to wine, her annual Exclusive Blacklist event, her journey to becoming a Sommelier and so much more! Sit back and enjoy Benita's story and share in plenty of laughs.  Cheers! Benita's Bio I started drinking wine like most of us…sneaking wine from your parents’ house and believing all of it was disgusting. But because I’m no quitter, I kept trying. By the time, I got to college, I realized that I could actually finish an entire glass all by myself. Then one became two and two became the bottle and so on and so on. In 2005, I decided to walk away from a “glorious” career as an Accountant to open a wine shop. It was definitely a gutsy move because I knew little about wine. I knew that I liked it. But I had also chosen an area that folks dared to open “upscale” shops. It was very close to the neighborhood where I had grown up and far from the areas that you would expect to find such a shop. “Grapes & Barley” became my love. It was where I knew that wine would forever be a part of my life. So in 2007, I attended classes with the Court of Master Sommeliers and earned my pin. From that point on, teaching people about wine and celebrating its nuances became my passion. Fast forward to 2014. A lot had changed. The grocery store scene had changed dramatically in Richmond, I no longer had the security of a husband with a steady paycheck, and I had overcome the fear of failure. With the help (and badgering) of my partner “G”, The Vine Wine Club was launched as an online wine club and retail shop. We “deliver the best pours to your door”. We also offer educational experiences and grand events such as our signature, The Exclusive Blacklist. In short, I’m a regular girl with a discerning palette and willingness to share what I know. Catch me each Friday at 3pm as I host my radio show, “Off The Vine with Benita and Terricinia” on Blogtalk and Google Play.   Here's where you can find Benita: Website: www.thevinewineclub.com Facebook: The Vine Wine Club Instagram: @vine_wine_club Twitter: @TheVineWineClub Pinterest: @thevinewineclub  

In this episode we speak with Steffini Bethea of The Purple Corkscrew Wine Store and Tasting Room, in Avondale Estates, just south of downtown Atlanta.   Here is where you can find Steffini and the great staff at The Purple Corkscrew:

Episode 000 - Meet the host of The Color of Wine, Sukari Bowman.  The Color of Wine is a podcast where we put the spotlight on people of color in the wine industry. In this episode, Sukari takes you through her journey to wine and how she came to be a self proclaimed "wine-o".