Top Napa Wine Professional Balkis Johnson

“Food and wine are the bridges that have given me access to the world. Privilege, eclipsed by joy are the tasting notes I use to describe my excitement at being invited to join a vital conversation at the Foodie Seminar, June 17, at Terra Nova.”
— Balkis Johnson, estate director, Ink Grade Napa Valley

Thursday Food introduces Balkis Johnson, a Jamaican holding top spot at Ink Grade which operates on the Lawrence Wine Estates led by CEO Carlton McCoy, one of four black master sommeliers in the world.

Her resolve is to get more Jamaicans and, by extension, people from the region pouring more wines. Hailed by Forbes as one of the top women wine professionals in Napa Valley Johnson uses her platform to promote food from the land of her birth with wines from the Valley.

“Every time people ask me for pairings, especially those from the Caribbean, I give them pairings for our food. Because one of the things we don’t see are images of us [Jamaicans] with wine. When you Google images, you don’t see images of Jamaican food and wine. So, how do we change that? We create events that feature authentic, elevated cuisine.

Johnson’s Jamaican Wine Pairings

Ackee and Salt fish, Salt fish Fritters: Complement Jamaica’s national dish with the refreshing 2022 Ink Grade Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc.

Brown Stew Chicken: Elevate this Jamaican favourite with the bold and complex Ink Grade 2019 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon.

Oxtail: Match the deep, savoury flavours of oxtail with the robust Ink Grade 2019 Howell Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon or the sophisticated Burgess 2021 Promiscua Cabernet Sauvignon.

Balkis Johnson is eager to share more at the Jamaica Observer Foodie Seminar, Tuesday, June 17, 10:00 am at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel.