Celebrating Juneteenth
Freedom Day Wine & Food Traditions
June 19, 1865: The day freedom finally reached Galveston, Texas. Honor this day with foods and wines that carry meaning.
Juneteenth—also known as Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, and Emancipation Day—marks June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, to announce that the Civil War had ended and enslaved people were now free. This was more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation.
Today, Juneteenth is celebrated with gatherings, cookouts, parades, and foods that carry deep symbolic meaning. The colors red, black, and green represent sacrifice, people, and the future. Red foods and drinks are especially significant.
Traditional Juneteenth Foods & Wine Pairings
Each dish carries historical significance. Each wine honors the celebration.
Red Velvet Cake
The red color symbolizes the resilience and sacrifice of enslaved people and honors ancestors.
Ruby Port
Graham's Six Grapes
Deep red wine with chocolate notes matches the cocoa-tinged cake
Brachetto d'Acqui
Braida
Sparkling red wine with strawberry notes—festive and light
Strawberry Soda Cake (Red Drinks)
Red drinks represent the blood shed for freedom. Strawberry soda, hibiscus tea, and red punch are traditional.
Rosé Champagne
Veuve Clicquot Rosé
Pink bubbles honor the red drink tradition with elegance
Sparkling Rosé
La Fête du Rosé (Donae Burston)
Black-owned rosé perfect for celebration
Hot Water Cornbread
Simple, humble bread made from cornmeal and hot water—a reminder of making do with little and creating something beautiful.
Champagne Brut
Stuyvesant Champagne (Black-owned)
The ultimate celebration wine elevates humble cornbread
Crémant de Bourgogne
Bailly Lapierre
Affordable bubbles with toasty, biscuit notes
Texas-Style BBQ
June 19, 1865 was in Galveston, Texas. Texas BBQ represents the geographic heart of Juneteenth.
Zinfandel
Brown Estate (Black-owned)
Bold, spicy wine from Napa's first Black-owned estate winery
Petite Sirah
Concannon
Dense, inky wine stands up to smoked brisket
Watermelon
Watermelon has been reclaimed as a symbol of Black joy and celebration, not stereotype.
Moscato d'Asti
Vietti
Light, refreshing sweetness complements fresh melon
Lambrusco Rosé
Cleto Chiarli
Chilled sparkling red—fun and fruit-forward
Marcus Garvey Salad
Named after the Pan-African leader, featuring red, black, and green ingredients (tomatoes, olives, greens).
Sauvignon Blanc
M'hudi Wines (Black-owned, South Africa)
Crisp, herbaceous wine pairs with fresh vegetables
Vermentino
Argiolas
Mediterranean freshness for a salad course
Juneteenth Party Wine Calculator
Plan the perfect celebration spread
| Guests | Total Bottles | Sparkling | Red | White | Rosé |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10-15 | 8-12 | 2-3 | 3-5 | 2-3 | 1-2 |
| 20-30 | 16-24 | 4-6 | 6-10 | 4-6 | 2-3 |
| 40-50 | 32-40 | 8-10 | 12-16 | 8-10 | 4-6 |
*Based on 4-5 hour celebration with moderate consumption. Adjust for your crowd's preferences.
Celebration Wines from Black-Owned Producers
Support Black winemakers on Freedom Day
Brown Estate Zinfandel
First Black-owned estate winery in Napa Valley
McBride Sisters Sparkling Brut Rosé
Largest Black-owned wine company in the US
Stuyvesant Champagne
Black-owned grower Champagne from France
La Fête du Rosé
Founded by Donae Burston, former Moët executive
Maison Noir O.P.P. Pinot Noir
Oregon Pinot by André Hueston Mack
Love Cork Screw Red Blend
Chrishon Lampley's accessible wine brand