VISTAS is a new bimonthly print publication that offers a multicultural perspective for foodies and oenophiles.
Nationwide — Soul of Sonoma Gourmet, LLC announces the launch of VISTAS, an independent print magazine devoted to the cultural exploration of food and wine from BIPOC purveyors. VISTAS celebrates the epicurean experience of the African diaspora with expert content across the magazine, website, social platforms, and premium sponsored events. With seasonal recipes, must-visit restaurants, creative drinks, culinary travel, and wellness coverage, VISTAS is positioned to inspire and empower its readers to discover, appreciate, and devour the best that the ever-expanding world of multicultural food and wine has to offer.
Beautiful photos, thought-provoking essays, and lifestyle content will round out the reader experience accented by a rich cultural tapestry of culinary and viticultural stories and perspectives that can be found in no other publication.
A special edition was released on Martha’s Vineyard in August, and the first official print issue was mailed in November featuring Kwanzaa recipes by Chef Cynthia Anderson and an article on award-winning winemaker Theodora Lee’s two-decade journey as a winemaker. VISTAS features thought-provoking stories on hospitality environments like back of house, front of house, in vineyards, and on farms. Issues will contain recurring articles, such as “Etiquette for Epicureans,” featuring tips on how to toast, taste, and be a good tablemate; “Destination X,” which offers insights into culinary traditions of the African diaspora from around the world; “Cook the Books,” featuring a list of must-read books from authors of color for food fans, and “What’s in Your Cellar?” which showcases thoughtful wine collections from influential personalities.
Themed issues will include stories within the magazine’s six primary topical areas: seasonal wine guide, culinary guide, art and culture, travel and resorts, wellness and leisure, and holidays and entertaining. Authenticity and passion for sharing the exciting and compelling stories of BIPOC professionals in the food and wine industry, which often only receive coverage during Black History Month, drives featured stories, with the aim of encouraging new awareness and new conversations.
“VISTAS aims to offer a unique view on the state of diversity in the black food and wine worlds. There is the context of history and cultural influences – both in terms of who is in the kitchen and who is making wine that often goes unexplored. We plan to bring to light the artistry of their work,” says Patrice Davenport, VISTAS founder and publisher.
VISTAS will not shy away from controversial topics and will also highlight inequalities in the food and wine world, such as government programs like the American Homestead Act of 1862, which doled out cheap land parcels exclusively to white recipients. By the time the act was repealed in 1976, 270 million acres had been transferred to 1.6 million people. African American families continue to be impacted by systemic exclusion: In 2002, statistics showed that white people owned 98% of private U.S. agricultural land.
According to Bloomberg, only 0.1% of the entire wine industry in the U.S. in 2020 was Black-owned. In 2021, News-Press reported that only .06% of wineries were Black-owned and a 2019 survey of wine-industry professionals found that only 2% of respondents identified as Black or African.
“VISTAS educates readers on compelling accounts of black farmers and winemakers who have systematically been forced out of the agricultural industry through ill-gotten means while highlighting triumphant stories that have played an integral and often unsung role in our food culture and community,” Davenport notes.
VISTAS features an innovative approach to advertising partnerships, reconsidering the traditional media-advertiser model to drive change and positive impact. The magazine features video content accessible through QR codes and also works to align with advertising partners to mutually support organizations focused on improving the Black food and wine community at large through awareness and financial support.
In the coming months, VISTAS readers will devour their favorite content via a range of digital formats, from the website at VistasMagazine.com and a newsletter with a goal to launch a YouTube channel with spinoff video content and special event coverage. VISTAS brings its pages to life through media sponsorship of long-running events such as Soul of Sonoma on the Vineyard to upcoming events such as the inaugural VISTAS Food and Wine Awards and Gala scheduled for mid-2024.
To celebrate the release of the first official issue, VISTAS is hosting the inaugural Kwanzaa Extravaganza, a seven-course wine pairing dinner in Los Angeles on December 28 and 29, 2023, at 1010 Wine and Events. To learn more about this and other events, visit www.soulofsonoma.com/events
About
VISTAS is a national magazine that curates the best in black food, wine, travel, wellness, and home entertainment. The magazine’s glossy pages pop with rich photography complemented by informative articles. The publication is available in print and digitally, and can be accessed through SoulofSonoma.com; social media channels with future plans for cookbooks, private events for subscribers, and more.
VISTAS was created to inspire and empower our wine- and food-loving community to eat, drink, entertain, and travel with intention. The magazine is currently available for purchase as single-issue copies ($20) or annual subscriptions (6 issues, $89). Issues will also be distributed to select premium hospitality locations throughout the U.S.
For press inquiries, contact vistasmag@gmail.com or (877) 550-3003
