Overview: 1010 Wine & Events has been named USA Today’s Best Wine Bar for the second consecutive year, securing recognition in both 2025 and 2026. The Inglewood venue is owned by Black women Le Jones and Leslie Jones, who operate the establishment as a gathering place for locals since 2021.
The Full Story
The wine bar won the recognition in 2025 and 2026 as part of the “USA Today 10Best” series that provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage. Le Jones noted that because the venue was nominated the first year and won, it was automatically in the running for the next year. The award brings national attention to Inglewood as the city transforms into an international entertainment destination, building new transit infrastructure downtown and preparing to welcome millions of fans for the Super Bowl and the Olympic Games over the next two years.
The venue brands itself as Inglewood’s first and only wine bar that serves up more than just a glass of wine. It is owned and operated by Jones and her sister, Leslie Jones, who are both Inglewood natives. The wine bar currently offers the largest selection of Black-owned wines in California, including its own 1010 Wines brand. Robert Lewis, president of the nonprofit organization the Black Cooperative Impact Fund, described the venue as one of the most well-known, Black-owned wine bars in all of LA County.
Brand & Industry History
The establishment has been a gathering place for locals since 2021 and operates with a mission to support Black ownership in the wine industry. For now, 1010 Wine partners with Le Vigne Winery in Paso Robles, California, to create their signature wine. The goal is to purchase their own vineyard eventually.
What This Means
The recognition is especially significant for Le Jones, the wine bar’s co-owner, who said it is the community’s support of their vision that keeps them striving for excellence. Building community is important, according to Jones, as regulars keep the venue open while people see them online and come out to support them. The back-to-back achievement highlights the venue’s alignment with the Black Cooperative Impact Fund.
Consumer Takeaway
When not hosting private parties, 1010 Wine and Events offers lunch, dinner, happy hour, Sunday brunch and live music. The menu includes dishes like grilled prawns, mussels spaghetti, marinated skirt steak and frites, which are specifically designed to be paired with their collection of wines. They also offer vegan options.
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