A trip to Italy started this couple on a journey to making moves in the wine space.
Married couple Carissa and Kenneth Stephens shared a bottle of wine in 2014 that changed their trajectory forever. According to their Pur Noire website, the founders were surprised when they learned that the bottle was from a minority-owned wine brand, and from there they were inspired to widen their palates. This led to a trip to Todi, a town in Umbria, Italy, notes Travel Noire. The pair indulged in various wines such as Barolo and Chianti Classico and also solidified they no longer wanted to solely be consumers in the industry.
“While in Italy, we fell in love with wine. We fell in love with the communal aspect of it, and when we got back to the States we really wanted to dive in and explore that,” Carissa told Houston Life.
Pur Noire
In 2018, the Houston couple decided to enter into business together and form their winery and tasting room, Pur Noire. An official launch had been set for 2020, but like for many entrepreneurs during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were pivots and learning curves. The Stephenses opted to debut their brand virtually, and within 90 days their flagship red blend Pur Epiphany sold out.
The Black-owned winery has since expanded its product offering to 11 wines, which include 2023 Pur Elevation (white wine), 2022 State of Zin (red wine), and 2023 Erion Rose (rosé wine). What’s more, the product lineup has not only expanded but the founders’ business footprint has too, shipping to 42 states across the country. Customers can look forward to happy hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. and may also opt into an exclusive wine club.
“We’ve taken the winery experience and… we’ve brought it into downtown Houston. A lot of what you would get if you were out of Napa (California), you can experience that right here in your own home,” Kenneth said, according to Houston Life.
