This week, wine writer, educator, speaker, and consultant Julia Coney joined VinePair as Contributing Editor.

Washington D.C. and Houston-based Coney is the founder of Black Wine Professionals, a resource aimed at elevating Black professionals within the wine industry. Her writing focuses on wine and the intersection of wine, race, and language. Coney has been featured in a long list of publications including VinePair, The New York Times, Wine Enthusiast, Thrillist, and The Tasting Panel.

Coney is also a 2019 Fellow of the Professional Wine Writers Symposium and holds a Level Two Certification in Wine and Spirits from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET). She is currently pursuing Level Three Certification as well as Master Level Champagne Certification from the Wine Scholar Guild.

“I’m excited to join the publication because I’ve been a VinePair reader for a long time,” says Coney. “I want to assist the publication in broadening its audience and contributor network, injecting the publication with fresh ideas and new perspectives.”

“We’re thrilled to have Julia join the team at VinePair. In addition to her expertise in sparkling wine and retail sales, Julia is a leading voice on racial equity in the drinks industry,” says Erica Duecy, VinePair’s chief content officer and editor in chief. “As a contributing editor, Julia will foster new writers, develop features for the site, and advise VinePair on its own diversity and inclusion initiatives.”