meet chasity.
Chicago, IL
Chasity | Chicago, IL
For nearly a decade, Chasity Cooper—author, writer, and wine culture expert—has been reshaping the narrative around who belongs in the world of wine. Her work bridges storytelling, culture, and community, offering refreshing clarity in an industry that often feels opaque from the outside. From Madrid vineyards to Chicago wine shops, her journey is as intentional as it is joyful. I hope you enjoy her expertise and love for 90s music!
A Journey Rooted in Curiosity
Chasity’s love affair with wine began unexpectedly, nearly 15 years ago, during a study-abroad semester in Madrid. One weekend she experienced her very first visit to a local winery. She still remembers stepping off the bus and walking toward the vines, their symmetry stretching across the Spanish landscape.
“It was my very first visit to a winery,” she recalls. “Getting off the tour bus, seeing vines up close, walking through the cellar room, pairing Spanish wine with Spanish cheese… it was such an approachable experience and a core memory.”
But her journey didn’t fully ignite until a few years later, when a certain fictional fixer that many of us love, inspired a deeper curiosity. “Watching Scandal and seeing Olivia Pope’s affinity for fine wine made me think, Okay, where are the Black women in this space?” With her lifelong love for writing, Chasity began posting tasting notes on Instagram, which led to blogging, and eventually, to working part-time at a wine shop. “Traveling, writing, tasting, and staying curious—those are the things that drew me into the industry, and what have kept me here.”
Heritage in Every Glass
When it comes to heritage, Chasity’s work is anchored in honoring the culture and communities that shaped her. Whether through writing, platforming Black and brown entrepreneurs in wine and spirits, or amplifying opportunities she cannot take herself, she sees her work as a collective act of empowerment.
“I want to continue to reiterate that we can take up space in this industry,” she explains. “If I’m not able to take advantage of an opportunity, I share it with my peers. There’s room for all of us to succeed.”
Her connection to food is equally rooted in heritage. She carries wonderful memories of her grandmother’s gumbo—a family tradition built from fresh Gulf Coast seafood and a meticulously tended roux. “Those memories are priceless,” she says. “Every Christmas, we reminisce about the way she would make that gumbo.”
Pulling Back the Curtain
The three-tier system is what comes to mind when Chasity thinks about what she would reveal about the wine world. The structure that governs how alcohol is distributed in the United States remains a persistent obstacle for both consumers and small producers and she sees that as troublesome for the future of consumption.
“It truly grinds my gears,” she admits. “Wine is an agricultural product and should have better regulations so we can all have access to the hard work and creativity of winemakers and distillers.” She makes the point emphatically: the system doesn’t just affect what lands on shelves. It shapes whose stories get told.
Taste, Spice, and Soundtrack
Her tastes reflect a balance of comfort and discovery. When the temperatures drop in the fall, she reaches for a spiked hot cider; in winter, a bold Malbec or Zinfandel. Her spice preferences, however, lean unmistakably toward heat. “If there’s a spicy version of lemon pepper or garlic parmesan? Inject it into my veins!”
And the soundtrack of her life? Pure 90s brilliance. From Destiny’s Child to Boyz II Men, from Mariah to Kirk Franklin, the decade’s R&B and gospel still sit at the top of her musical hierarchy. “Everyone had their own sound,” she says. “But they still understood the assignment of the era.”
A Seat at the TFLUXÈ Table
Lastly, if she could curate her dream TFLUXÈ dinner gathering, Chasity would bring together Barack and Michelle Obama, Ryan Coogler, and her mother. She imagines an evening set on a Napa Valley vineyard in late fall or early winter, lit by golden lights and cooled by a gentle breeze. Chef Aaron Leroi would prepare an elevated farm-to-table feast, accompanied by smooth jazz and R&B floating through the vines.
A Legacy of Access and Celebration
Through every story she tells and every bottle she uncovers, Chasity remains committed to widening the pathways into wine especially for those who historically haven’t been seen or served by the industry. Her mission is simple, powerful, and ongoing: to make wine feel like a place where everyone belongs.
You can find Chasity on Instagram at bychasitycooper!
xoxo,
Ty-Juana L. Flores