Iris Rideau facts for kids

Iris Rideau (born around 1937) is a pioneering French Creole winemaker, businesswoman, and activist. She made history as the first Creole-American woman to own and run a winery in the United States. Her journey shows great determination and a passion for success.

Growing Up in New Orleans

Iris Rideau was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her family had deep roots in the area. Her ancestors included a Frenchman named Armand Duplantier. He sailed to America in 1777 and started a plantation.

Iris grew up in the Creole 7th Ward of New Orleans. Her mother and uncles ran a local restaurant called the Creole Bar and Grille. She remembers that education was not always the main focus in her community. Her parents both went to high school but did not finish.

When Iris was two years old, her parents separated. Her father moved to California. Iris initially dreamed of becoming a Broadway dancer. Her grandmother moved in with them and taught Iris to speak French.

During the summer, Iris visited her father's ranch in Corona, California. After several years, she convinced her mother to move closer to him. When Iris was 12, they moved into a small apartment in eastern Los Angeles.

Building a Future

Iris's mother found work at a nearby sewing factory. At 16, Iris became a mother to her daughter, Renee. She then found a job at her mother's factory. She also started taking night classes at a junior college.

Iris knew she needed an education to improve her life. She said, "I knew I'd need an education or I'd never escape." After a year, she graduated. She then started working as a receptionist for an insurance agency.

Iris was driven to succeed as a businesswoman. She wanted to provide a secure life for her daughter. She often said, "I never want to experience poverty again. That is what drives me."

A Career in Business

Iris Rideau began her business career in 1967. She opened her own company, Rideau & Associates Insurance Agency. Later, she also started Rideau Retirement Planning Consultants. She became a respected investment and securities broker in Los Angeles.

Iris also became very active in fighting for better rights for minority groups. From 1973 to 1976, she was chosen to lead the Mayor’s Affirmative Action Committee. This committee worked to help hundreds of minority women find jobs in the city. She worked under the then-Los Angeles Mayor, Tom Bradley.

She managed her insurance agency until 1999. In 1982, she started Rideau Securities Firm. This company grew to have two offices and 50 employees.

From Business to Wine

Iris Rideau had always loved food and drink. In 1989, she decided to try something new: winemaking. She bought a 6-acre piece of land in Solvang, California. This land was in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. Six years later, she added 24 more acres.

This land became Rideau Vineyard in 1997. Iris hired an architect and a winemaker. Together, they turned an old adobe house into a wine tasting center. It included a bathroom and kitchen for visitors.

Iris sold her insurance and brokerage companies in 1997. She explained her decision, saying, "There's nothing to do out in this country other than raise horses or develop a vineyard. And I don't ride horses, so the next thing to do was start a vineyard."

Iris is especially interested in making Rhone wines. She produces wines like Syrah, Mourvedre, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier. Black Enterprise magazine noted that she "effortlessly combines delectable grapes from the Rhone Valley of France with the savory taste of Creole cuisine in her winery."

In her first year, she sold 300 cases of wine. Today, Rideau Vineyard produces about 7,500 cases every year. Her wines have won major awards, including "Best in Show" at the Los Angeles International Wine Competition. Her success is remarkable, especially since she knew little about wine before starting her vineyard.