Cha McCoy in conversation with Camylle Coley

Presented by Siwani Spirits and Baltimore Read Aloud, this special event features a dynamic conversation with Cha McCoy, a certified sommelier and NAACP Image Award–nominated author of Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food and Culture from Africa and Beyond.

She will be joined in dialogue by Camylle Coley, founder of Siwani Spirits and a trailblazer in the premium spirits industry. While Cha unpacks the global communion of wine, Camylle brings the history of the diaspora directly into the glass. Camylle will share her unique insights into how terroir and intentional grain selection, specifically the rich agricultural legacy of Carolina Gold rice, serve as powerful contributors to both flavor and storytelling.

Together, they will explore the intersections of beverage, food, and community, centering the richness of African and diasporic traditions.

What to Expect:

🍷 A Thought-Provoking Dialogue: Explore how wine, spirits, terroir, and agricultural history shape our community and flavor profiles.

🥃 An Exclusive Tasting Flight: Experience the award-winning Siwani Spirits portfolio through a guided tasting, featuring neat pours of our terroir-driven Siwani Silva and our Cognac-barrel-rested whiskey, Siwani Clü, alongside two signature craft cocktails.

✍🏾 Signed Books & Bottles: Take the culture home. Bottles from the Siwani Spirits portfolio and copies of Wine Pairing for the People will be available for purchase on site. Guests will enjoy an exclusive opportunity to have their books personalized by Cha and Camylle.

📖 Expert Perspectives: Deep industry and cultural insights from an acclaimed sommelier and a trailblazing spirits founder.

📍 An Immersive Vibe: A uniquely curated setting inside a working Baltimore distillery.

Who Should Attend:

Perfect for wine and spirit lovers, book enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the rich cultural legacy that shapes how we gather, drink, and connect.

Tickets:
Tickets are required, and attendees must be 21 or older.

About the Special Guests

Cha McCoy, MBA, is an entrepreneur, educator, and a NAACP-nominated author. As a certified sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, she developed The Communion, a wine dinner series that offers an inviting, accessible approach to gathering and enjoying wine.

This experience inspired her to open her first brick-and-mortar, The Communion Wine & Spirits, and her debut book, Wine Pairing for the People: The Communion of Wine, Food, and Culture from Africa and Beyond. The dinner series was profiled in Food & Wine, and Cha was named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40. Cha has held coveted positions, including Cherry Bombe Magazine’s first beverage director, the head of beverage for the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and a sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant in Portugal.

Passionate about education, she spends her spare time mentoring and teaching at her alma mater, Syracuse University, where she served as an adjunct professor, educating and inspiring new wine drinkers. Catch Cha if you can in Harlem, New York—or on one of her international adventures.

Camylle Coley, a proud descendant of the Geechee people, founded Siwani Spirits in Fall 2022 to celebrate her heritage and the cultural significance of Carolina Gold rice. This heirloom grain, a staple of the American colonial economy, is at the heart of Siwani's innovative approach, blending tradition with creativity.

Siwani Spirits is a trailblazer in the premium spirits industry. Its flagship product, Silva, breaks convention, offering a spirit that is neither vodka, tequila, nor gin but entirely unique. Recognized for its boldness, Silva has won multiple accolades, including Gold at the 2024 Proof Awards. Building on that success, Siwani introduced Clü, a 100% Carolina Gold rice mash whiskey rested in cognac casks, reinforcing the brand's artistry and commitment to unapologetic self-definition.

Under her imaginative leadership, Siwani Spirits remains true to its Geechee roots by collaborating with Gullah Geechee descendants along the corridor and across the coastal South. The brand shares its history through storytelling and education, introducing new audiences to Gullah Geechee culture and contributions, while championing sustainable practices through cultural conservation.

Beyond Siwani, Camylle serves as an executive at a Black-owned tech firm in Maryland and brings expertise from her career in defense, international diplomacy, and STEM education.

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