Pride in Wine: Cornelius Lee
Cornelius Lee combines DEI expertise with wine knowledge to teach about wine and equity. He hosts wine tastings and also advocates for diversity in wine.
When did you know you were LGBTQ?
The first time I heard "Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears. lol. Jokes aside, from a young age, I always felt a bit "different" than the other boys. Eventually, I figured out that it was because I liked other boys, so it was definitely a journey to make meaning of my sexualtiy through childhood, adolescence, and even now in adulthood.
How did you discover your love of wine?
I went to a bougie grad school, and to fit in, I learned about wine. It's a great conversation starter, and it's a bit of a equalizer; a lot of people enjoy wine. I used it as a literal and figurative social lubricant. It helped me feel less like an outsider at stuffy dinners with rich folx who didn't look like me or come from backgrounds like mine. So, wine really helped create a shared experience across lines of difference.
What challenges do you think are unique to LGBTQ people in wine?
As someone who holds intersecting identities, it's hard to separate being Black from being Queer. I believe they are such intertwined parts of my identity. There is a dearth of Black men in wine, and those numbers get even smaller when you layer on Black men who identify as queer. So, representation is the first challenge. And if we're not represented, then our voices aren't at decision-making tables. So, influencing change within the industry is difficult when there's barriers to even getting your foot in the door let alone to be a catalyst for change.
If you had to choose just one, what would be your favorite wine so far?
I have so many favorites, so I went with the first wine that popped into my mind which is the Billecart-Salmon Sous Bois. Oooowee that's a good bubble.
What is your go-to wine and food pairing?
A demi-sec champagne with souffle pancakes
What does the future of queer people in wine look like to you?
Access, agency, change. The future looks like seeing more of us visibly occupy space in world of wine. It looks like our voices, perspectives, identities are honored and elevated within the industry.
As a queer person in wine, do you ever feel that your visibility leads to being treated like a token or being pigeon holed?
Since I'm flying solo and my livelihood isn't yet dependent on wine, I get to choose the ways engage with the wine space. So, I've intentionally only connected with people/companies that are interested in true partnership, not tokenism. I know that choice is a privilege that I don't take lightly.