Marilyn Echols Meadow is a Scientist, School Teacher, Volunteer, Community Organizer, Business Owner, Wife, Mother, and a proud graduate of Tuskegee University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology and a minor in chemistry and mathematics. She started her professional career in the late 1970s as a medical assistant in the offices of 4 internal medicine doctors assisting them with patient exams and EKGs. She later worked in pharmaceuticals until she and her husband Dexter began building apartments in California and Georgia. The Georgia property was sold to purchase the vineyard and winery including an Airbnb in Oregon. She is the CFO and co-owner of Meadows Estate Winery.
Media Inquiries: Autumn Lewis autlewis@gmail.com | https://www.meadowsestatewinery.com/
What’s the ONE THING most unique, authentic, memorable about your brand?
My husband and I sought a new adventure after retirement—something involving a large piece of land, building generational wealth, and growing a family legacy. Initially, that vision didn’t include a vineyard, winery, or even an Airbnb, but destiny had other plans.
What makes us truly unique is that we’ve spent our entire marriage buying and developing properties, though we never saw it as “building wealth” or “creating a legacy.” Growing up in the segregated South in the 1950s and ’60s, the concept of generational wealth wasn’t something often taught to Black families. We were raised to work hard, get an education, and aim for stable careers, and that’s exactly what we did.
Those years of hard work eventually led us to purchase the 100 acres that would become Meadows Estate. Once we owned a vineyard, our perspective shifted. We realized we were now part of a small, elite group of Black vintners and wine producers. We understood the importance of representing ourselves and contributing to a broader narrative of Black excellence in an industry where representation has historically been limited.
Today, we are a small, self-contained winery committed to sustainable farming practices. We pride ourselves on producing high-quality, exclusive, limited-edition wines from 10 different grape varietals. Meadows Estate has evolved into a destination venue, offering guests a unique experience with our onsite Airbnb, a welcoming tasting room, and exceptional hospitality.
Looking forward, we want to take our impact further by establishing a program in partnership with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). We’d love to provide students studying Agriculture with hands-on experience in vineyard management and winemaking, giving them real-world opportunities in an industry that often lacks diversity.
Describe how and what you’d do with your winemaking career or winery business if you were not constrained. Sky’s the limit!
If there were no constraints—financial, logistical, or otherwise—I would take Meadows Estate to the next level by expanding our reach and impact in three key ways:
- Educational Partnerships: Create a comprehensive internship and apprenticeship program with HBCUs focused on viticulture and winemaking, giving students an immersive experience in sustainable practices and vineyard management.
- Wine Tourism Destination: Transform the estate into a premier wine tourism destination, complete with expanded lodging, vineyard tours, cooking classes, and farm-to-table dining experiences that showcase not only our wines but also local produce.
- Community Engagement: Build a state-of-the-art event center on the property to host conferences, weddings, and community events, while ensuring a focus on sustainability and conservation practices. This would allow us to engage more deeply with our local and extended communities.
The sky’s the limit, but these dreams reflect our commitment to education, sustainability, and creating experiences that leave lasting impressions on everyone who visits Meadows Estate.
What is the One Wine most emblematic of your brand and/or winemaking style? Tell us its story.
The 2021 Viognier is the wine that truly embodies our brand and winemaking philosophy. It’s light, slightly sweet, and boasts a rich citrusy, and fruity aroma that’s impossible to resist, especially on a hot day. For me, this Viognier tells the story of who we are—a blend of elegance, warmth, and approachability.
It reflects our passion for creating wines that are not only enjoyable but memorable. This wine represents the beginning of our winemaking journey—a delightful, unexpected adventure that found us and pulled us in. Like all of our wines, the Viognier is crafted with care, using sustainable practices, and it’s a wine we’re proud to share with the world.
Winemaking wasn’t in our original plan, but now that we’ve embraced it, we’re fully committed to giving it our best—enjoying every step of the way. Read this wine review here: https://winecharacters.com/2021-meadow-estate-viognier/