At the corner of 13th and Webster in Downtown Oakland, CoCo Noir Wine Shop & Bar is redefining what a neighborhood wine space can be: a welcoming place to gather, learn, and discover bottles you will not always see on mainstream shelves. Founded and led by Alicia Kidd, CoCo Noir operates as a wine retailer, tasting room, and bistro, with a clear goal to expand representation in the wine industry while creating a community-centered hospitality experience.
A mission grounded in diversity, inclusivity, and social impact
CoCo Noir describes its mission as a triple bottom line model centered on diversity, inclusivity, and social impact. In practice, that means curating wines made by BIPOC, POC, and women winemakers and negotiants, while also carrying beer, non-alcoholic beverages, and small bites from BIPOC, POC, and women-owned companies. The shop emphasizes an “open to all” approach, aiming to pair strong customer service with an environment where more people can feel at home in wine culture. The company also notes a commitment to offering sustainable and environmentally conscious products.
CoCo Noir’s roots trace back to Kidd’s earlier venture, The Wine Noire, launched in 2017 as an online shop dedicated to creating retail space and visibility for women winemakers, BIPOC winemakers, and winemakers of color. That mission expanded into a brick-and-mortar vision in 2020, culminating in CoCo Noir’s official opening in December 2022 after an extended buildout. Pacific Community Ventures documents the financial and operational challenges Kidd navigated to open the storefront, including inflation and rising labor and material costs, and notes support through a small business loan that helped cover buildout expenses.
What to expect when you visit
CoCo Noir is designed as a “multi-level experience” that can meet you where you are, whether you are picking up a bottle, trying a flight, joining a tasting, or settling in for a relaxed evening with small bites. The goal is approachable education without gatekeeping, paired with a curated selection that highlights producers and brands too often overlooked.
Upcoming: Net Impact SF Bay mixer at CoCo Noir on Thursday, January 22
Net Impact SF Bay will be hosting an intimate evening for professionals passionate about social and environmental impact in the San Francisco Bay Area, featuring a conversation with Alicia Kidd about entrepreneurship and impact.
Event details
- Date: Thursday, January 22
- Time: 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm PST
- Location: CoCo Noir Wine Shop & Bar, 360 13th St, Oakland, CA 94612
- Ticket: $15 (includes one glass of wine; non-alcoholic options available)
If you have been looking for a gathering spot that aligns commerce with community impact, this is a strong entry point: you will leave with new connections, a clearer view of how values-driven entrepreneurship can thrive in hospitality, and a better understanding of what inclusive wine culture looks like in practice.
