ASTORIA, Ore. — Eunice Chiweshe Goldstein has spent most of her life creating.
One could call her a painter, a musician and a filmmaker. But her latest venture, winemaking, is more than just a label.
Named after her grandmother, Eunice grew up watching her grandfather brew his own beer. She said she learned her craft through a combination of observing and learning from her grandparents and teaching herself.
“The one thing with wine is that it brings everyone together to the table, and you have great conversations,” said Eunice.
After moving to Oregon from California, she became Oregon’s first Black female winemaker in 2018. The Eunice Chiweshe Goldstein Winery has a tasting room in Astoria and plans to open a vineyard near Rockaway in Spring 2021.
But it’s not all about the wine for Eunice. She also loves to give back.
“I'm humbled, genuinely grateful to actually have the opportunity to do that. It's one of the greatest feelings I think I've ever felt.”
Each month, Eunice donates 10% of proceeds from select wines to causes that she believes in. Since the summer, sales of her "I Can’t Breathe” pinot benefit Black Lives Matter. This month, her "Pinot for Parkinson’s" proceeds help the Brian Grant Foundation.
“Another organization that we're getting ready to work with handles African American girls who want to get into aviation and there's a mentoring program with that so that's the next one that we're getting ready to launch here for the holidays,” Eunice said.
The wines are available for purchase online. From rosé to vegan red, even blackberry wines, she hopes to inspire other Black entrepreneurs to uncork their passion as well.
“Whether it's directing or winemaking, and these are fields that you don't normally see someone like me, so I definitely am an advocate and grateful,” she said.