[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fmjZORjyG07niHaE-9QcEf5Rt4quLfelPJfyJ__AhjW8":3,"$fHUlWB315-pGEFC93T8KgFICB_NqcLOU_Y08tNIH5coM":16},{"author":4,"tags":11},{"author_id":5,"author_name":6,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"bio":9,"short_bio":9,"slug":10,"image_url":9},21516,"Andre Hueston Mack","A",11,null,"andre-hueston-mack",[12],{"tag_id":13,"tag_name":14,"tag_count":15},6086,"wine",7,{"quotes":17,"pagination":166},[18,26,32,39,48,57,68,97,116,138],{"id":19,"quote_text":20,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":23,"source":24,"quote_tag":25,"commentary":9},2847305,"Some people say, “What difference does it make what color the winemaker is that made the wine? Judge the wines off their own merit.” Like, of course. And I do believe that my wine is judged off its own merit. But the fact is that when you walk into places and people can’t believe that you’re the principal or you’re the owner or you made the wine, it’s mind-blowing to me some days. It’s like, wow. That’s why we need to continue talking about it.",6,false,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":27,"quote_text":28,"author_id":5,"source_id":21,"has_image":22,"author":29,"source":30,"quote_tag":31,"commentary":9},2847294,"At the end of the day, it’s just grape juice. No one needs anything that I make. The last thing we need is another wine on the shelf. So that just makes me grateful for the people who do enjoy it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":33,"quote_text":34,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":36,"source":37,"quote_tag":38,"commentary":9},769899,"The common myth is that African Americans aren’t well-educated about wine, but in truth, we’re like everyone else. We like what we like – high or low. A $100 bottle of wine can taste as awful as a $2 bottle, and the opposite is true, as well. If you know what you like, buy it. But don’t just buy it because it’s expensive.",2,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[],{"id":40,"quote_text":41,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":42,"source":43,"quote_tag":44,"commentary":9},769896,"Drinking wine was not historically limited to people who could afford it. Western and European culture turned it into an elite thing. Winemakers were farmers and field workers. Everyday people. And that’s who should enjoy and have access to wine.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[45],{"id":46,"tag":47},3636674,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":49,"quote_text":50,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":51,"source":52,"quote_tag":53,"commentary":9},769796,"People should have fun with wine. A bottle should sit on your dinner table like all of the other condiments.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[54],{"id":55,"tag":56},3636423,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":58,"quote_text":59,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":60,"source":61,"quote_tag":62,"commentary":9},735346,"Black vintners in this country make some really great wines. Explore a wine list and you will find at least one of our wines in the best restaurants. Buy a bottle for your table, and let management know you appreciate them including a Black winemaker in their stock.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[63],{"id":64,"tag":65},3552758,{"id":66,"tag_name":67},19699,"african-american",{"id":69,"quote_text":70,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":71,"source":72,"quote_tag":73,"commentary":9},392678,"Making wine and drinking wine is not new to African Americans and others in the Diaspora. South Africa has a three-century history in growing, harvesting and distilling grapes as wine. The entire continent of Africa has a history in wine-making. In this country, slaves cultivated the vineyards owned by Thomas Jefferson and other vintners.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[74,79,84,89,92],{"id":75,"tag":76},2289046,{"id":77,"tag_name":78},1016,"african-americans",{"id":80,"tag":81},2289047,{"id":82,"tag_name":83},5835,"slaves",{"id":85,"tag":86},2289048,{"id":87,"tag_name":88},5885,"thomas-jefferson",{"id":90,"tag":91},2289051,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":93,"tag":94},2289044,{"id":95,"tag_name":96},9440,"africa",{"id":98,"quote_text":99,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":100,"source":101,"quote_tag":102,"commentary":9},96720,"At the end of the day, it's just grape juice. No one needs anything that I make. The last thing we need is another wine on the shelf. So that just makes me grateful for the people who do enjoy it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[103,108,111],{"id":104,"tag":105},664542,{"id":106,"tag_name":107},82,"entrepreneurship",{"id":109,"tag":110},664548,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":112,"tag":113},664544,{"id":114,"tag_name":115},8647,"startups",{"id":117,"quote_text":118,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":119,"author":120,"source":121,"quote_tag":122,"commentary":137},96694,"I feel like you can’t judge a book by its cover, that’s always been the story of my life. I can walk into any restaurant and people would be floored to learn that I know what I do about wine, let alone that I ran one of the best wine programs in the world.",true,{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[123,126,129,134],{"id":124,"tag":125},664383,{"id":106,"tag_name":107},{"id":127,"tag":128},664386,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":130,"tag":131},664381,{"id":132,"tag_name":133},6558,"black-sheep",{"id":135,"tag":136},664385,{"id":114,"tag_name":115},"**The Backstory**\n\nThis quote from Andre Mack, the first African American Master Sommelier, reflects his experiences navigating a world where people often underestimate him due to his appearance. Born in 1976, Mack grew up in New Jersey and developed an early passion for wine, which led him to pursue a career in hospitality. As he rose through the ranks, he faced numerous challenges related to racism and bias in the industry.\n\n**The Hidden Insight**\n\nMack's statement reveals a profound paradox: that our external perceptions of others are often inaccurate, yet we frequently rely on these superficial judgments when interacting with people from different backgrounds or industries. This insight highlights the tension between appearance and reality, emphasizing that individuals should not be reduced to their surface-level characteristics.\n\n**How to Use This**\n\nIn today's fast-paced professional environment, where first impressions can make or break relationships and opportunities, Mack's approach offers a valuable lesson for anyone seeking to build meaningful connections with others. By acknowledging and challenging our initial assumptions about people based on appearance or title, we can foster more authentic and productive interactions that lead to mutual growth and understanding.",{"id":139,"quote_text":140,"author_id":5,"source_id":35,"has_image":22,"author":141,"source":142,"quote_tag":143,"commentary":9},96632,"Some people say, \"What difference does it make what color the winemaker is that made the wine? Judge the wines off their own merit.\" Like, of course. And I do believe that my wine is judged off its own merit. But the fact is that when you walk into places and people can't believe that you're the principal or you're the owner or you made the wine, it's mind-blowing to me some days. It's like, wow. That's why we need to continue talking about it.",{"id":5,"author_name":6,"slug":10,"author_name_first_letter":7,"article_count":8,"image_url":9},{},[144,147,150,155,160,163],{"id":145,"tag":146},663963,{"id":106,"tag_name":107},{"id":148,"tag":149},663962,{"id":77,"tag_name":78},{"id":151,"tag":152},663964,{"id":153,"tag_name":154},1018,"race",{"id":156,"tag":157},663965,{"id":158,"tag_name":159},1019,"race-relations",{"id":161,"tag":162},663968,{"id":13,"tag_name":14},{"id":164,"tag":165},663967,{"id":114,"tag_name":115},{"currentPage":167,"totalPages":35,"totalItems":8,"itemsPerPage":168},1,10]