United States’ wine scene is about to make history. Ifeoma Clyopatra Onyia, a Nigerian-born entrepreneur and designer, is set to open Clyopatra Winery and Vineyard in Laurel, Maryland, the first African immigrant-owned winery and vineyard in the United States.
From her roots in Udi, Enugu State, to the lush fields of Maryland, Onyia’s journey is one of courage and conviction. “People asked if I could really do it,” she said. “I told them, the same people you sell your wine to will buy mine.”
After studying business and finance in London and running a healthcare company in Maryland, Onyia finally followed her lifelong passion for winemaking. The dream deepened after losing three brothers — one of whom shared her vineyard vision. “Planting those vines was my promise kept,” she reflected.
The winery will debut with a soft opening on October 1 — Nigeria’s Independence Day, featuring cabernet sauvignon, chambourcin, chardonel, and SK77, paired with Agege bread, goat curry, and jollof rice.
For Onyia, Clyopatra Winery is a tribute to heritage, perseverance, and the bold spirit of Africans redefining excellence across the world.
