Breaking Wine Barriers: Rita Rosa's Journey from Nigeria to Bordeaux

Wine Talks has been watching this woman. She is making waves in a part of the wine world that one might not consider in daily converstaion: Nigeria. 

How does one become a Bordeaux specialist in Nigeria? Where does that inspiration come from? 

I have to tell you, having Rita Rosa on Wine Talks was like catching a warm breeze off the Mediterranean—unexpected, lively, and full of stories you want to tuck away for a rainy day with a glass of red. I started our conversation, as I often do, thinking I'd heard most things about the global wine world, but Rita took me right to the heart of Nigeria, weaving its vibrancy into the fabric of Bordeaux's storied cellars.

Let's be honest: when you hear "African wine market," most folks in the business still think it's in its infancy, maybe a curiosity for big European houses sniffing after emerging markets. But Rita set me straight right from the jump—Nigerians have been drinking wine for quite a while, thank you very much. She explained that Lagos, with its 30 million people and a nightlife that rivals New York, is a place where wine shops mingle with the energy of a city that never sleeps.

What struck me most was Rita's insistence that wine, at its core, is about what makes your heart beat and your mouth feel alive—forget the technical jargon for a moment, and just savor the connection it brings between people. I've always found wine to be the great equalizer at the table, but Rita has this beautiful ritual, telling her guests—ministers, commissioners, presidents—to leave their titles at the door and just be human, united by the "elixir which brings all of us joy."

And talk about insight—she moved from banking into wine through a happy twist of fate, marrying into a family that started an actual wine store in Nigeria. She didn't just open the doors; she redefined what a wine shop was in Lagos by bringing Bordeaux's best right to West Africa. Rita didn't mince words about what it felt like to be a black woman in the predominantly male, white-dominated world of wine—walking into tasting rooms in Bordeaux and feeling the eyes on her, questioning her authority and knowledge. And yet, her sense of pride in being Nigerian, in holding space for herself and others like her, was palpable. That same energy she poured into her business, her studies, and later into programs like Bordeaux Mentor Week, aiming to open doors for young hopefuls from emerging wine countries.

One of my favorite moments was when she shared her disdain for wine pairing rules. Rita throws caution (and orthodoxy) to the wind—she's out there pairing Bordeaux with Nigerian meats and letting guests explore, taste, and challenge all the old conventions. As someone who's never shied from having strong opinions about pairing, I found her approach utterly refreshing. It reminded me of my own tendency to resist being put in a box, especially by tradition-bound French winemakers.

Throughout our conversation, Rita kept tying things back to connection, humanity, and the healing power of wine—how her own store in Lagos became not just a business, but a sanctuary during grief. I resonated with that, having seen the same in my own shop over the years. In a world where the market is consolidating, distributors are cautious, and cell phones threaten genuine interaction, Rita's approach stands as a glowing reminder that the heart of wine is, and always should be, its power to bring people together.

So here's to Rita—her infectious energy, her resilience, and her vision for a new, more inclusive wine world. I count myself lucky to have had a front-row seat to her story, and if you ever get a chance to pair Amarone with plantains or taste Bordeaux alongside cassava ravioli, take it. That's the kind of experience that makes Wine Talks more than just a podcast—it's a journey.

 

Or watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CVimDZmf_4g

 

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