How To Get A Distinguished Quality Inspired To Create Authentic Memories

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When one thinks of Napa Valley, the mind becomes filled with images of vineyards stretching towards the horizon, the scent of purposely-cultivated grape varietals, and unique flavor profiles of each carefully-crafted wine. After all, finding the perfect balance between taste and quality is something that the region’s wines have become globally renowned for.  

Rarely (if ever) would connoisseurs expect the same level of quality and taste to be found in wines produced elsewhere in the world, let alone further south in California’s warmer southern climate. And yet, that is precisely what one winery owner has been able to provide. 

In Los Angeles, there is a new Black-owned winery and distillery that blends the best of Napa vino culture and quality while having its own authentic taste. Marlo Richardson is the owner of Braymar Wines, joining the less than 1 percent of black-owned wineries. She is also the restaurant and bar owner of an establishment in Culver City, California. Her experience dealing with customers requesting specific types of wines, flavor profiles, and bodies gave her the desire and vision to create something enjoyable for every wine lover. 

The California mother of two developed the idea to start her own winery, Braymar Wines, during the pandemic in 2020. She decided to name it after her greatest inspiration — her two daughters, Brayli, and Marli.

“I found that I had a little more time being at home and dealing with so many things that felt out of the norm,” Richardson recalls, who considers herself a lifelong red wine enthusiast. “I began drinking a little more wine and thought this might be the perfect time to invest in myself. Creating a wine has been something I’ve wanted to do for at least 10 years.”

When she started her winery, Richardson had been in the restaurant and beverage industry for at least 13 years. Through those years, she met a wide array of people that all had specific requests when it came to the quality of their wine. Though she was able to capture most of what many of her customers wanted in white and red blends of wine, there is a distinct level of quality that customers expect from wines produced in and around Napa Valley — quality that, despite the onset of a global pandemic, customers are historically (and notoriously) adamant about. 

Starting a business during the pandemic was a challenge for anyone, but was particularly difficult in the food and beverage industry. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants were closed — either temporarily or permanently if they could not deal with the unexpected financial stress — which deprived many new food and beverage brands of the opportunity they needed to get in front of consumers. 

While Richardson had the benefit of owning her own distillery and bar, not every new winery owner will have those tools and existing networks at their disposal. For new business owners in the food and beverage space, securing distribution can be difficult if you don’t already have those pre-existing relationships and connections. 

“Thankfully, in the beverage industry, a quality product can often speak for itself,” Richardson asserts. “Word-of-mouth can be a powerful tool, so the goal should be to get your wine into the right hands — the people who will love it. Once you do, and that person begins to talk about and ask for your wine, more distributors will begin to show interest in picking it up.”

A distinct California taste

Attention is everything for the new winemaker. The wines sold by Braymar are produced by Top Drawer distillery — also owned by Richardson — and includes the North Coast Proprietor’s Red Blend, Sonoma Brut, California Sparkling Rosé, and a Chardonnay. The contents and grapes are sourced from a highly-rated winery in Napa. Its blends are a combination of various grapes from different coasts only found in California, and ones that Richardson was adamant about including in her blends.

“Many wine lovers look to smaller wine brands to have a distinctly local flair,” explains Richardson. “Many wine drinkers get comfortable with their favorite brand and style of wine, but the way to encourage them to try something new and different is to give them something familiar, yet unique. As a winemaker, your goal should be to put your own spin on the flavors you love in a wine. If there’s something you love about it, chances are someone else will love it, too.”

A red wine oasis 

The Braymar red wine has the aroma of ripe berries, vanilla, and coffee with flavors of fruit and oak. Braymar Wines’ Reserve Red Blend combines varietals of Napa, Shenandoah Valley, North Coast, Mendocino County, Lake County, and Sonoma County. 

Many wine drinkers have their favorite varietal of wine, but the great thing about a red blend is that it is agreeable to pretty much any red wine drinker since seasoned vino drinkers can taste hints of several other red wines in the blend. 

“We started our winery with a red blend rather than something like Pinot Noir or Cabernet,” Richardson explains. “You can taste all your favorites, and maybe even find a new favorite. We brought together all the different varietals of grapes to create a smooth and delicious blend. It’s medium-bodied — not too heavy, but not too light — allowing it to be a very middle-of-the-road, pleasant wine that will become many people’s new favorite.”

The red wine grape varieties are used to create wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Rose Wine, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, Mourvèdre, Petite Sirah, Red Wine, and Syrah with 13.9% alcohol.  

“When you think about the aromas of a wine, you usually hear about fruity or floral aromas, but there are plenty of other flavors you can bring out in wine, depending on the varietal,” Richardson says. “Our red blend is not too fruity and not too dry, giving it a lovely, smooth quality.”

The flavor comes down to the varietal of grapes used in the wine. Braymar’s red blend uses a number of different grapes, but the most important for the flavor profile is the one known as the Grenache. Although this grape only makes up a very small percentage of the ingredients of the red blend, its flavor fully comes through in the final product. 

“It’s a deliciously sweet grape while being strong at the same time, making it a pivotal part of our wine’s flavor,” she says. 

As for the Chardonnay, it has a very light and fruity aroma with citrus, green apple, and pineapple flavors. The chardonnay itself blends varietals from Lodi and Clarksburg with 13.5% alcohol. 

“It has a light and fruity aroma with hints of citrus, green apple, and pineapple,” says Richardson.

Perfecting the quality 

The aging process can also significantly influence the flavor profile of a wine. For example, Braymar ages their red blend in oak barrels, allowing the wine to absorb some of the oak’s distinct flavor. Although the oakiness isn’t strong in the finished product, it’s noticeable enough to be a pleasant addition to the wine’s flavor profile.

Securing the right flavors could be easier said than done, especially making the lack of consistency in the distilling process. 

“You have to find the right varietals that blend with the type of meals that I enjoy,” Richardson admits. “There are so many different flavor profiles that you really have to find something that captures your taste. With home distilling red wine, it can be difficult to achieve this consistency because you aren’t a professional and are bound to make mistakes.”

But whether it is a familiar flavor or something entirely different, Richardson brings her authenticity and individuality to each glass. Her attention to detail has allowed her wines to be enjoyed by her customers as well as notable celebrities such as rap icons Snoop Dogg and Common — both of whom gave Richardson’s wines their proverbial stamp of approval.

“The biggest challenge about having your own wine is that, once you have the product in your hand and people taste it and love it, they’re going to ask where they can buy it,” Richardson asserts. “When you’re just starting, it will probably be only online or in a handful of physical locations. The challenging part is getting the wine into the hands of more people so they can try and enjoy it as we do.”

Richardson’s wines are currently available in four locations across Los Angeles, including Stage 21 Bar and Lounge, Fat Tuesday, Delmonico’s Steak and Lobster House, and The Meeting Place.

Richardson hopes that her story of building Braymar Wines will inspire other entrepreneurs to take that leap and start their own winery or distillery. It was a challenging process, but the primary factor that motivated her to overcome the obstacles was her passion. 

Entrepreneurs hoping to get their foot in the door of the wine business should find a particular varietal or blend they are passionate about. “Remember, consumers have an abundance of options when it comes to alcohol brands — especially wine,” Richardson asserts. “If you’re making wine just to make wine, you will not be able to stand out as a smaller, independent brand. Find a wine that you are passionate about, start there, and grow your business out once you find success with that first varietal.”

Richardson’s idea for her winery was also birthed by her desire to create memories. “Many lasting memories have occurred during a conversation that took place over a glass of wine.”

Beyond everything, Richardson hopes that starting Braymar Wines allows her to continue doing what she loves the most: serving and enjoying a great glass of wine. “Whether it is through her bar or through her winery, I want every glass of wine she serves to leave a lasting impression on the person drinking it,” she says, “just as every glass of wine I drink leaves an impression on me.”