the original

wine and hip hop

Wine and Hip-Hop is a critically acclaimed podcast that was created by Jermaine Stone (host), with the sole purpose of bringing wine and hip hop together through finding the similarities in both cultures. it started five years ago to showcase the appreciation the hip-hop community has always had for fine wine, as well as to highlight the love the wine culture has always had for the hip-hop community. As we blend the finest of both cultures, our podcast has become the ultimate safe space for both worlds.

about jermaine

A Bronx native, Cru Luv Wine's President and CEO Jermaine Stone was raised worlds away from wine country with plans to become a rapper. By age 19 he had already made appearances on XM Radio, BET and Hot 97, and had the attention of prominent figures in music including Chris Lighty and LL Cool J.

A temporary job packing boxes in the shipping department at Zachys Wine Auctions, though, persuaded him to make a career in fine wine. There, Jermaine would begin an accomplished 9-year career with them, learning the intricacies of fine wine warehousing and shipping, client service, and auctioneering. He rose to the position of Logistics Manager, overseeing the inbound and outbound transport of $60 million worth of fine wine annually.

In 2013 Jermaine left Zachys to become one of the founding Directors of Wally’s Auctions, the New York-based subsidiary of a major Los Angeles wine retailer. At Wally’s, he used talents and expertise in auctioneering, operations, and business development to co-create and implement the full client experience, including the auction website and online bidding application; live simulcasted auction bidding; warehousing of collections for sale; and distribution and fulfillment of client purchases. In addition to these major operational roles, he served as an auctioneer and public speaker at commercial and charity auctions and provided strategic advice to Wally’s President and Vice President.

After leaving Wallys, Jermaine founded Cru Luv Selections,  a New York-based wine branding and marketing firm dedicated to blending the best elements of wine and hip hop culture.