Rugie Bhonopha, the founder of Amoy Wines, is sipping on the success of her brand, which seamlessly blends cultural diversity and entrepreneurial spirit. A first-generation American, Bhonopha has established a distinct presence in the wine industry.
Bhonopha’s family is originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa, but she grew up in Vallejo, California, about 15 miles outside Napa. She jumped from a junior college to the University of Nevada in Reno, where her taste for wine developed.
“At the University of Nevada, I used to do wine walks. It’s for college students who want to drink a little bit but keep it low-key and cheap, so I learned how to drink wine from the walks.”
Wine Palette Expansion
After graduation, Bhonopha moved back home and expanded her palate. “I drank wine in Reno, so let me come back and hit Napa up a little bit more. Then, I started curating small events for my friends and family whenever they said they wanted to go wine tasting because I didn’t see many of us out there,” says the wine entrepreneur.
Organizing these events was important to Bhonopha due to creating places in spaces that might seem exclusive and for people just to go out and enjoy wine. “There are some wine snobs, but most of the time, it’s about having a good time and just having fun with the people that you go with. You don’t have to be scared.”
The success of the almost weekly wine events beguiled Bhonophra, causing her and friends to join various wineries around Napa. Then, she and two friends decided to turn their knowledge into a podcast called they called “The Women’s Rundown: Sports, Wine, and Everything Fine.”
From there, someone reached out to Bhonophra about becoming a wine distributor, and the idea of having her own wine started to creep in. Then, 2020 happened, and Bhonophra got her chance.
By Stephanie Teasley
