Featured by VoyageLA
VoyageLA is the flagship publication that is part of the Voyage Group of Magazines that spotlights LA’s Most Inspiring Stories and supports small businesses, independent artists and entrepreneurs that make our city interesting.
article published on December 28, 2022
Today we’d like to introduce you to A. Jazmine Ladouceur.
Hi A. Jazmine, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
As a Los Angeles native, I’m well aware that California is famed worldwide as a premier wine-growing region. I grew up with wine enjoyed in my household, so naturally, I developed an appreciation and a curiosity to want to learn more about wine. International travel began for me in high school with a trip to Europe which is where I first noticed that wine was very much enjoyed culturally often times shared with a group of friends or with family surrounding the dinner table. Witnessed both in my home and during my travels, I really loved the feeling of connection that a bottle of wine always seemed to provide.
I’ve visited Napa Valley over the years but a trip to Napa Valley with some friends in 2021 was different. During our visit to a tasting room trying the wines, I was a bit disappointed at the selection and the lack of diversity represented in the selection of wines/winemakers. That disappointment quickly turned into my “aha!” moment as I was instantly inspired to create and carry out my own vision of a wine-tasting experience that I felt would better reflect myself, the diversity of my own community and of our world. Art is another love of mine and I believe that wine and art perfectly complement one another. So I wanted to create what I didn’t see and is the reason I started NOIRE. I founded Noire Wine Lounge | NOIRE in 2021, hosting my first wine-tasting experience which was a wine tasting & solo art exhibition (in December of 2021) introducing the concept to the public for the very first time. NOIRE is the intersection of Wine & Art focused on spotlighting artists, vintners, wineries and wine brands of color.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The role of entrepreneurship is new for me with a steep learning curve. I’ve been able to pull from my past work experiences that have aided me in navigating my journey as an entrepreneur. No matter the journey you only realize when the situation arises that “you don’t know what you don’t know” so learning as I go and allowing myself grace has been really important for me.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am an entrepreneur and wine professional specializing in BIPOC wineries, vintners and wine brands. Since I started my journey as a wine professional, I’ve been cultivating relationships with amazing individuals creating their own wines and wine brands. During the current iteration of Noire Wine Lounge | NOIRE I have been curating and hosting wine-tasting experiences in venues located in my hometown here in Los Angeles that allow attendees to enjoy a selection of BIPOC-produced wines enjoyed alongside amazing artwork by artists of color. As the name suggests, Noire Wine Lounge will one day be a lounge where you can come and enjoy an amazing selection of quality wines produced by passionate BIPOC wine creators.
I’m most proud that I’ve moved past my fear of achieving perfection. Since starting out and creating something from the ground up on my own, I wanted everything to be flawless. But I’ve realized that perfection isn’t realistic, especially in business and even more so now that I’ve realized that even as an entrepreneur I am also a creative. Carrying out my creative vision as an entrepreneur means that there is a piece of myself that I’m sharing with the world that’s equal parts passion and vulnerability. But betting on myself, following my intuition and walking by faith has shown me that perfection isn’t required to be well-received, appreciated and recognized by others.
What matters most to you?
Authenticity & Integrity. I pride myself on showing up as my authentic self and living with integrity no matter the situation. It’s important to me because as long as I am journeying with authenticity and integrity, I am equipped to navigate any challenges that may come my way. My faith reassures me that by leading a life of authenticity and integrity, I’ll be aligned with the community, opportunities and goals that I seek.
Link to Article here: http://voyagela.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-a-jazmine-ladouceur/