The Annual Black Owned Wine And Spirits Festival Is Back And Bigger on October 4

Washington, D.C. — June 23, 2025 — The Black Owned Wine and Spirits Festival (BOWSFest), the nation’s leading event celebrating Black-owned beverage brands, returns this fall with bold new plans. Now in its ninth year, the 2025 festival will take place for the first time at The Hamilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, October 4, with an expanded footprint, global participation, and elevated guest experiences.

In a milestone moment for the industry, this year marks the launch of the Black Owned Spirits Awards (BOSA); a first-of-its-kind, global awards program exclusively recognizing Black-owned liquor brands. With rising costs and looming international tariffs threatening the growth of independent and minority-owned spirits companies, BOSA arrives at a critical time to increase visibility, validate excellence, and strengthen market share for Black entrepreneurs worldwide.

BOSA is led by Clyde Davis, respected global spirits professional and founder of 75 Proof Beverage Solutions; winners will be announced Friday, October 3, during an exclusive Media Preview and Industry Showcase the day before the festival. Products will be judged by a panel of experts across categories including Best in category, Best Packaging, and Fan Favorite. The ceremony will precede the festival’s public debut.

BOWSFest was founded by Chanel Turner in 2016. Chanel is creator of Fou-Dre Vodka when at the time she was the first and youngest woman in the U.S. to own and operate a vodka brand, and owner of Global Alliance Distribution; introducing BIPOC and small batch brands to the market. Her goal when creating BOWSfest was to create a platform that addressed the disparages she was facing entering a White, Male dominated field,  BOWSFest continues to grow in size and impact. The 2024 festival drove over 1,500 bottle sales in a single day and is on track to meet its $1 million direct-to-brand sales goal by 2026.

“Now more than ever, it’s essential that we own our platforms,” said Turner. “The Black Owned Wine and Spirits Festival isn’t just a celebration; it’s a powerful retail engine and a beacon of opportunity in a market that often overlooks us. The new venue gives us room to scale that impact and with BOSA, we’re spotlighting global excellence like never before.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This year’s festival includes enhanced VIP experiences that include live spirits education and mixology sessions, curated culinary tastings, multiple culinary tastings, food and retail vendors and the return of the highly anticipated Tasting and Bottle Market featuring over 40 spirit, wine and beer makers. Additionally, attendees can purchase their favorite spirits, wine and beer on-site, take them with them or have them delivered or shipped to their doorstep the same day via this year’s retail partner; Housebar.

The event is an immersive cultural experience that brings together craft distillers, wine producers, brand owners, chefs, retailers, and consumers for a one-of-a-kind experience designed to celebrate and elevate Black-owned brands from around the globe.

BOWSFest is proud to partner with the Hamilton Hotel, offering a preferred room block for vendors, press, and guests just steps from Franklin Park.

For sponsorship inquiries, press credentials, or vendor applications, contact melissa(at)three8comm(dot)com Follow @BOWSFest on Instagram and visit BOWSFest(dot)com  for updates, tickets, and brand announcements.

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