Photo: Michelle Magdalena
Sisters Andréa and Robin McBride spend their workdays exploring vineyards along California's Central Coast and testing the fruits of their labor over charcuterie and cheese. "We sometimes feel guilty, like we should be working—but this is our job," Andréa says. Two of the first African American sisters to found a winery, the duo runs New Zealand label Eco.Love and the new California line Truvée.
They weren't always partners in wine. The half sisters met in 1999; after their father's passing, an aunt helped unite 16-year-old Andréa, who grew up in New Zealand, with 25-year-old Robin in New York City. "I got off the plane, and I thought I saw my reflection," says Robin, who was raised in California. "But I was actually looking at my sister for the first time."
Eventually, Andréa moved to California for college, and the pair bonded over their similarities: curly hair, a penchant for blazers—and a passion for wine. "We both grew up in wine regions," says Robin, now 41. Says Andréa, 33: "We geeked out over wine so often, we knew it was more than an interest." In 2010, they founded Eco.Love; Truvée debuted in January.
Sisterly squabbles aren't an issue, but they've faced other challenges: Only about 10 percent of California winemakers are women; fewer are people of color. "We've been mistaken for assistants," Andréa says. "We don't take it personally. Our wine does the talking." Cheers to that.
They weren't always partners in wine. The half sisters met in 1999; after their father's passing, an aunt helped unite 16-year-old Andréa, who grew up in New Zealand, with 25-year-old Robin in New York City. "I got off the plane, and I thought I saw my reflection," says Robin, who was raised in California. "But I was actually looking at my sister for the first time."
Eventually, Andréa moved to California for college, and the pair bonded over their similarities: curly hair, a penchant for blazers—and a passion for wine. "We both grew up in wine regions," says Robin, now 41. Says Andréa, 33: "We geeked out over wine so often, we knew it was more than an interest." In 2010, they founded Eco.Love; Truvée debuted in January.
Sisterly squabbles aren't an issue, but they've faced other challenges: Only about 10 percent of California winemakers are women; fewer are people of color. "We've been mistaken for assistants," Andréa says. "We don't take it personally. Our wine does the talking." Cheers to that.
From the June 2015 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine
