Featured Maker: Ngozi Elobuike — Wine Entrepreneur & Cultural Broker

This month at DesignYard we’re doing something a little different. Instead of a jewellery maker, we’re shining a light on an inspiring wine entrepreneur and her sparkling new project. Meet Ngozi Elobuike, cultural broker, innovator, and creator of Épistèmê, a limited edition sparkling pink wine.

From California to Dublin — A Fortunate Twist of Fate

We first met Ngozi at one of our Meet the Maker evenings and were immediately struck by her infectious enthusiasm and her bold ventures in the wine world.

A first-generation American of Nigerian descent, Ngozi grew up in California’s wine country. By a stroke of sheer luck, she won an Instagram lottery that brought her to Ireland for a year—and she jumped at the chance. Once here, she found a thriving community of first-generation Africans: well-educated, entrepreneurial spirits carving out their place in Irish culture and society. People very much like herself.

Founding Hi Spirits — A Platform for Inclusion

With her deep knowledge of wine, her cultural heritage, and a sharp eye for emerging technologies, Ngozi spotted a gap. She founded Hi Spirits, a membership club and inclusive platform for enthusiasts of wine and spirits. At its heart, Hi Spirits champions Black-led, small-scale wine and spirits producers—primarily from Africa and the Caribbean.

These producers are unbound by Old World traditions and terroir, instead pioneering fresh approaches: innovative production techniques, redefined flavour profiles, and a strong commitment to sustainability. Too often overlooked by the global wine industry, their work is now being brought to the forefront through Ngozi’s vision.

Opposites Attract — A Collaboration with Domaine Heitz-Lochardet

Ngozi’s academic path is as impressive as her entrepreneurial one. With degrees in Science and Emigration Studies already under her belt, she is now completing her MBA in Wine & Spirits Business at the Burgundy School of Business.

During her studies, she met Armand Heitz of Domaine Heitz-Lochardet, a French winemaker deeply rooted in traditions of permaculture and agroecology. Though opposites in background—Old World heritage versus New World innovation—their meeting sparked a cross-cultural collaboration.

The result is Épistèmê, a sparkling pink wine released in February 2025. Limited to just 1,000 bottles, this cuvée embodies dialogue between generations, cultures, and philosophies. Demand is already strong, and the vintage is expected to sell out this year.

Bridging Old and New — A Cultural Mission

Ngozi’s work bridges not just Old and New World winemaking, but also tradition and modernity, heritage and technology. Her goal is nothing short of a cultural shift—one that acknowledges and celebrates the excellence of the global Black diaspora in wine and spirits.

She believes, much like the supper clubs of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1950s, that wine and spirits can be a vibrant platform for cultural expression and community in our time.

Join Us at DesignYard

We are delighted to welcome Ngozi as our newest Featured Maker. Together with DesignYard, she invites you to a very special wine tasting evening.

On the night, Ngozi will share insights into the world of Black-led wine producers, the story of Épistèmê, and—most importantly—she’ll pour this rare and remarkable sparkling wine for you to experience firsthand.

Save the date - September 18th  - and make sure you are signed up to our newsletter for the booking link.