According to Indeed.com, an enologist is a winemaking professional who specializes in the scientific process of generating wine. They utilize scientific and winemaking knowledge to help wineries develop new wines and enhance quality.
Cleveland native Brian C. Kincaid, Ohio’s first Black enologist, described the discipline of research as relatively young. “It is not something that’s been around as long as like other sciences, but it’s the science of wine and beer making,” Kincaid told WKYC in a telephone interview. “The art of winemaking has been around for centuries, but they’re just now starting to make it, you know, a collegiate thing.”
When Kincaid, 32, finished his degree at Kent State University in 2023, he became Ohio’s first Black enologist. The husband, father, and first-generation college graduate shared his remarkable story of earning a degree in Enology (the study of winemaking) during a global epidemic.
The Wine Institute reports that Americans will consume 964 million gallons of wine in 2022, although many are unaware of its production process.Like many Americans, Kincaid’s first experience with wine was drinking it.
Kincaid became interested in the technique after meeting neighborhood activist, writer, and winery owner Mansfield Frazier of Chateau Hough on Cleveland’s east side.
“I had a flair for simply talking about it. So he recognized that and said, ‘Hey kid, I’ll send you to college to do this full-time,'” Kincaid explained.
Kincaid planned to spend the entire summer “exploring the vineyard and navigating the nuances of the wine-making process,” according to WKYC.
“To make good wine, you must be patient, skilled, and willing to experiment. “It’s something you probably won’t get right the first time,” Kincaid explained.
The Cleveland entrepreneur continued to work with Mansfield until the latter died in 2021. Kincaid, the beer and wine manager at Meijer Fairfax Market, aims to carry on Frazier’s legacy as the owner of Chateau Hough, which helped recently jailed individuals reintegrate into society by providing employment opportunities.
“You know, we’re finishing where he stopped and keeping it going and then expand on that,” Kincaid went on to say. “On top of that, he wanted this to be a generational thing so my kids and my grandkids could benefit from this.”
Last month, the Ohio enologist stated that he was working on harvesting a new wine line, which would be available in March.
“I am a dry red man. Ironically, the first wine I’m working on is a Chardonnay,” he explained. “So it’s something a little bit different than I’m used to, but it’s something that, um, helps me understand and appreciate white wine just as much.”
Kincaid is now encouraging others to pursue their aspirations, while simultaneously working hard to set a positive example for his daughter.
“You never really know what you’re capable of until you try it,” Kincaid added. “I never imagined I would pursue something like this. And I walked into these classes and saw all of this laboratory equipment, which I didn’t understand at first, but after a few months, it became practically a habit for me.”