While enjoying all the festivities, our founder, Jerry Bailey, was asked by some of the women in his family for something different to drink. The cognac that most of the men were drinking was too strong and the wine was a bit too dry and bitter for them. They expressed that they wanted something that was sophisticated and complex while also fruity.

After some research, Jerry did not find anything in the market. So, he decided to create his own blend. His research took him to sangria which is derived from the Spanish word “sangre”, meaning “blood”. His first batch was well received! However, there was a need for some adjustments.

As Jerry continued to tinker in his kitchen he finally came up with an exceptional recipe. Jerry’s sangria became a hit at every family function, and soon, extended family and friends started to request their own batches of the delicious brew.

By 2019, Jerry had come up with three flavors and decided to take his sangrias to the world. When thinking about a name, he knew he wanted something that would be meaningful and impactful. When he considered the origins of his project, he realized the women in his family deserve the credit. His mother, aunts and cousins were the inspiration for his very first batch. Thus, he named the brand “Ayaba”, which means “Queen” in Yoruba.

The focus of Ayaba Wines is to celebrate and uplift Black women by using our wine label as a platform to highlight powerful and ambitious Black Queens throughout history. The brand represents the power, beauty, elegance and confidence of Black women. Our goal as a brand is to educate our consumers on the history of so many forgotten Black Queens, and to ultimately find their inner Ayaba!