Chris Wachira is the first Kenyan-born winemaker in California, United States.
Wachira, who obtained her nursing doctorate degree in healthcare system leadership from the University of San Francisco, owns Wachira wines - a thriving wine business in the US.
She founded the winery business in 2017 following her commitment to improving science and exploring cause and effect, spilling over into viticulture, the study of the science of grapes and their culture.
As her passion for winemaking peaked, she started collecting varietals that celebrated Kenyan culture and values. That helped her craft wine that evoked memories of the special moments she shared with her family back in Nairobi.
With the help of mentors, the healthcare specialist expanded Wachira Wines to become among the top-selling brands in California.
Wachira produces five varietals which are all reminiscent of Kenyan culture and values. Wachira wines are fruitier and light and are usually served chilled.
She produces muscat, sparkling wine, cabernet sauvington, zinfandel black label wines and chardonnay. The Kenyan entrepreneur sources grapes from Napa, Paso Robles and Lodi.
Each of her brands is associated with the big five safari animals from Kenya (elephant, rhinoceros, buffalo, lion and leopard).
"We would like to say that we are taking Californian grapes on an African safari," Wachira stated in a past interview.
"I struggled to identify wines that complemented my mother's and grandmother's cuisine. It also bothered me that I did not see myself represented behind the counter as a winemaker or as a wine expert," she added in the Wachira Wines company profile.
Despite her success in winery, Wachira has also made strides in the healthcare field. Her family is more akin to cross-cultural ambassadors, building community bridges and cultivating memorable experiences worth savouring.
"Representation matters not just in seeing ourselves in positions of power but in how it’s able to shape our perceptions of what we’re capable of," Wachira told The Manual.
"How it’s able to turn even our most outrageous dreams into attainable realities. Representation allows us to hope. But more importantly, it gives others permission to dream in technicolor," she added.
