Among them is Iris Rideau, the first Black woman in the United States to establish her own winery.
April 2, 2025 (Santa Barbara, CA) – Vintner Iris Rideau, the first Black woman in the United States to establish her own winery, was named in Forbes Magazine as one of the ten Black women to know in Home, Lifestyle, Décor and Entertaining. The other remarkable women featured include Lifestyle Expert, B. Smith, Culinary Pioneer Edna Lewis, Singer and Cookbook Author, Patti LaBelle, Singer and Cookbook Author Gladys Knight, Host of Netflix’s With Love, Meghan Sussex, Artist and Owner of Bounty & Full, Kelis, Lifestyle Influencer, Tabitha Brown, Pioneering Homemaker, Bennie Davis and Botanist and Educator Marie Clark Taylor.
Raised in an impoverished French-Creole household, Rideau moved to California when she was twelve years old. By sixteen, she was a single mother working in a sewing factory while attending night school. When she was 17-years old, she began working in an insurance agency. Fourteen years later, she established her own insurance company, and established a second company a decade later, focusing on pensions and securities. From there, Rideau moved up the corporate ladder, eventually becoming influential in the world of Los Angeles politics and governance. In the late 1990’s, Rideau left Los Angeles for country life, founding Rideau Winery in the Santa Ynez Valley of Santa Barbara Wine Country. The winery became known for its award-winning Rhone varietal wines, historic Adobe tasting room and memorable events.
The arc of Rideau’s life is traced in her memoir, WHITE TO BLACK, One Life Between Two Worlds, highlighting periods of turmoil, including sexual assault, racism and the Watt’s Riots, as well as numerous personal successes. Of the memoir, Kirkus Reviews says, “An historically rich, exuberant, and vividly detailed portrait of an extraordinary life.” Scott Williams, executive producer of NCIS, says, “Iris Duplantier Rideau is not only a modern-day pioneer, groundbreaking businesswoman, and award-winning winery owner, she’s also a brilliant writer to boot. From White to Black is a beautifully told true story of extraordinary perseverance, limitless vision, and the power of faith in oneself. Ms. Rideau’s illuminating ride through a long-ignored aspect of American history is endlessly fascinating and will leave you deeply inspired.”
To learn more about Iris Rideau please visit www.irisrideau.com.
