MEMBERSHIP LEVELS
“Representing such a small sector of the wine trade, it’s important that our organizational culture is rooted in community because we go further together.”
- Phil Long, AAAV President
- Phil Long, AAAV President
Since the inception of the Association of African American Vintners, our membership collective of growers, wineries and vintners has shared techniques, resources, and access to relevant industry information. As we grow, we strive to continue leaning into the term 'coopetition,' through a combination of cooperation and competition. Since 2020, the organization has grown by more than 500% and we are excited to welcome members and wine entrepreneurs outside of the vineyard. From retailers and educators to marketers and more, our expanding ecosystem of wine professionals and entrepreneurs combines to create a directory of valuable resources and assets to advance your business and career.
VINTNER/GROWER MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: Vintner, grower, or a combination of both. Must be business principle with hands on experience directing the processing of grapes for wine from bin to bottle, or farming and harvesting grapes for the production of wine, or a combination of both.
Qualifications:
• Own 1 acre of planted wine grapes and/or produce a minimum of 100 cases of wine annually;
• Be a bonded winery and maintain Required Home State License;
• Have all county, state and federal permits required to operate a winery and/or tasting room within HOME STATE.
Membership requires Board Approval by voting members, (75% majority vote). Must be recommended by a Charter Member.
Annual Dues: $500.00 per year
Voting Status: a) Voting membership
Benefits: (a) Free access to AAAV virtual events.
(b) Discounted access to select additional AAAV events.
(c) Inter winery discount on AAAV members wine, not for resale
(d) First option to feature and pour wine at no charge at selected AAAV events.
(Do not necessarily need to be present, pourers, students, volunteers will be assigned.)
(e) Featured on the AAAV website for as long as member is active
with links returning customers to their companies website.
(f) To be featured once yearly in the quarterly AAAV e-newsletter.
(g) Your content to be included in Social Media Push by Association, i.e.
your event, release or other worthy content will be pushed by the
AAAV Social Media Channels.
(h) This level membership will have first opportunity/option to additional
media opportunities through AAAV, i.e. magazines, visual media, etc.
NEGOTIANT MEMBERSHIP
“A négociant is the French term for a wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name. Négociants buy everything from grapes to grape must to wines in various states of completion. The result is sold under the name of the négociant, not the name of the original grape or wine producer.”
Requirements: Business principle in the wine industry, without the hands on experience of directing the processing of grapes for wine from bin to bottle, or farming and harvesting grapes for the production of wine, or a combination of both. i.e.
Qualifications:
• Produce or sell a minimum of 50 cases of wine annually;
• Should have all required state and federal permits to operate.
Membership requires Board Approval by voting members, (75% majority vote). Must be recommended by a Charter Member.
Annual Dues: $500.00 per year
Voting Status: a) Voting membership
Benefits: (a) Free access to AAAV virtual events.
(b) Discounted access to select additional AAAV events.
(c) Inter winery discount on AAAV members wine, not for resale
(d) First option to feature and pour wine at no charge at selected
AAAV events. (Do not necessarily need to be present,
pourers, students, volunteers will be assigned.)
(e) Featured on the AAAV website for as long as member is active
with links returning customers to their companies website.
(f) To be featured once yearly in the quarterly AAAV e-newsletter.
(g) Content to be included in Social Media Push by Association, i.e.
your event, release or other worthy content will be pushed by the
AAAV Social Media Channels.
(h) This level membership will have first opportunity/option to additional
media opportunities through AAAV, i.e. magazines, visual media, etc.
PROFESSIONAL/INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: Open to members of the trade including organizations, groups, or wine industry professionals, such as distributors, retailers, sales managers, facility managers, wine writers, importers, brand marketers, hospitality, chefs, brand ambassadors & bloggers, etc. This is a corporation, organization, group, or individual membership where there is economic benefit for the associate member to be involved with AAAV. Membership requires Board Approval by voting members (75% majority vote).
Annual Dues: $250.00 Individual
$500.00 Small Business or Organization with less than $1M in annual revenue
$1,000 Corporate $1M+ in annual revenue
Voting Status: a) Non voting membership
Benefits: (a) Free access to AAAV virtual events.
(b) Discounted access to select additional AAAV events.
(c) Inter winery discount on AAAV members’ wine, not for resale.
(d) Free subscription to quarterly AAAV newsletter.
(e) Free listing on AAAV website.
FRIEND MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: Open to anyone who wishes to be associated with AAAV such as consumers, customers, friends, etc.
Annual Dues: $75.00 Individual
Voting Status: a) Non voting membership
Benefits: (a) Discounted tickets to all AAAV annual events and webinars.
(b) Member discounts off select wine brands (varies by member).
(c) Invitation to events by hosted members.
(d) Free subscription to quarterly AAAV e newsletter.
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: For students currently enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college, or an accredited wine education program, with an interest in pursuing a career in wine.
Annual Dues: $40.00 Individual
Voting Status: a) Non voting membership
Benefits: (a) Discounted tickets to all AAAV annual events and webinars.
(b) Invitation to events by hosted members
(c) Free subscription to quarterly AAAV newsletter.
(d) Member discounts off select wine brands (varies by member)
Requirements: Vintner, grower, or a combination of both. Must be business principle with hands on experience directing the processing of grapes for wine from bin to bottle, or farming and harvesting grapes for the production of wine, or a combination of both.
Qualifications:
• Own 1 acre of planted wine grapes and/or produce a minimum of 100 cases of wine annually;
• Be a bonded winery and maintain Required Home State License;
• Have all county, state and federal permits required to operate a winery and/or tasting room within HOME STATE.
Membership requires Board Approval by voting members, (75% majority vote). Must be recommended by a Charter Member.
Annual Dues: $500.00 per year
Voting Status: a) Voting membership
Benefits: (a) Free access to AAAV virtual events.
(b) Discounted access to select additional AAAV events.
(c) Inter winery discount on AAAV members wine, not for resale
(d) First option to feature and pour wine at no charge at selected AAAV events.
(Do not necessarily need to be present, pourers, students, volunteers will be assigned.)
(e) Featured on the AAAV website for as long as member is active
with links returning customers to their companies website.
(f) To be featured once yearly in the quarterly AAAV e-newsletter.
(g) Your content to be included in Social Media Push by Association, i.e.
your event, release or other worthy content will be pushed by the
AAAV Social Media Channels.
(h) This level membership will have first opportunity/option to additional
media opportunities through AAAV, i.e. magazines, visual media, etc.
NEGOTIANT MEMBERSHIP
“A négociant is the French term for a wine merchant who assembles the produce of smaller growers and winemakers and sells the result under its own name. Négociants buy everything from grapes to grape must to wines in various states of completion. The result is sold under the name of the négociant, not the name of the original grape or wine producer.”
Requirements: Business principle in the wine industry, without the hands on experience of directing the processing of grapes for wine from bin to bottle, or farming and harvesting grapes for the production of wine, or a combination of both. i.e.
Qualifications:
• Produce or sell a minimum of 50 cases of wine annually;
• Should have all required state and federal permits to operate.
Membership requires Board Approval by voting members, (75% majority vote). Must be recommended by a Charter Member.
Annual Dues: $500.00 per year
Voting Status: a) Voting membership
Benefits: (a) Free access to AAAV virtual events.
(b) Discounted access to select additional AAAV events.
(c) Inter winery discount on AAAV members wine, not for resale
(d) First option to feature and pour wine at no charge at selected
AAAV events. (Do not necessarily need to be present,
pourers, students, volunteers will be assigned.)
(e) Featured on the AAAV website for as long as member is active
with links returning customers to their companies website.
(f) To be featured once yearly in the quarterly AAAV e-newsletter.
(g) Content to be included in Social Media Push by Association, i.e.
your event, release or other worthy content will be pushed by the
AAAV Social Media Channels.
(h) This level membership will have first opportunity/option to additional
media opportunities through AAAV, i.e. magazines, visual media, etc.
PROFESSIONAL/INDUSTRY MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: Open to members of the trade including organizations, groups, or wine industry professionals, such as distributors, retailers, sales managers, facility managers, wine writers, importers, brand marketers, hospitality, chefs, brand ambassadors & bloggers, etc. This is a corporation, organization, group, or individual membership where there is economic benefit for the associate member to be involved with AAAV. Membership requires Board Approval by voting members (75% majority vote).
Annual Dues: $250.00 Individual
$500.00 Small Business or Organization with less than $1M in annual revenue
$1,000 Corporate $1M+ in annual revenue
Voting Status: a) Non voting membership
Benefits: (a) Free access to AAAV virtual events.
(b) Discounted access to select additional AAAV events.
(c) Inter winery discount on AAAV members’ wine, not for resale.
(d) Free subscription to quarterly AAAV newsletter.
(e) Free listing on AAAV website.
FRIEND MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: Open to anyone who wishes to be associated with AAAV such as consumers, customers, friends, etc.
Annual Dues: $75.00 Individual
Voting Status: a) Non voting membership
Benefits: (a) Discounted tickets to all AAAV annual events and webinars.
(b) Member discounts off select wine brands (varies by member).
(c) Invitation to events by hosted members.
(d) Free subscription to quarterly AAAV e newsletter.
STUDENT MEMBERSHIP
Requirements: For students currently enrolled in a 2 or 4-year college, or an accredited wine education program, with an interest in pursuing a career in wine.
Annual Dues: $40.00 Individual
Voting Status: a) Non voting membership
Benefits: (a) Discounted tickets to all AAAV annual events and webinars.
(b) Invitation to events by hosted members
(c) Free subscription to quarterly AAAV newsletter.
(d) Member discounts off select wine brands (varies by member)
