WeRise Wines: Raising a Glass to Who Makes It
WeRise Wines opened in Belltown in December 2024, two blocks from Pike Place Market, with a clear mission: bring access and awareness to wines made by people the industry has historically overlooked. Most of the list comes from Washington, with bottles from Oregon, California, South Africa and beyond, and each one carries a tag that tells you who made it.
What makes it different is how personal the list is. Jamila has met most of the winemakers she pours, and many of them come in to pour it themselves during the weekly winemaker tastings on Thursdays. You don't just order a glass here. You learn the person and story behind it.
It's fun to see people open up their palette, and not be afraid to order something new.— Jamila Conley · via Seattle magazine
From tech leadership to a wine bar with a mission
Jamila Conley spent more than 25 years in tech, leading work in talent acquisition, M&A integration, business transformation and IT strategy. She is a CPA with an MBA in Management Information Systems, and that operator's discipline shows in how WeRise runs.
The idea came from a dinner celebrating Black women in wine. Of the wineries represented, she recognized only two. That led to months of conversations with winemakers about what kept them off shelves: distribution, visibility, and access to the right audiences. WeRise is her answer to all three.
Inclusion, long before wine
Inclusion has been the through-line of her career well before wine. She is a Board Trustee of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, has served as Board President of the Technology Access Foundation, which introduces students of color to STEM, and took part in the Black Boardroom Initiative. While still in tech, she also sat on the One Seattle Civic Partnership committee working to revitalize downtown after the pandemic. Opening a bar on Second Avenue brought those threads together.
Happy hour, rewritten
After COVID, happy hour stopped meaning the same thing. With hybrid schedules, plenty of people now leave the office early, meet up for a drink, and finish the workday from home. The long, late wine-and-dine evening has given way to something shorter and more intentional.
People also want a reason to go out. A tasting, a drag bingo night or a chance to meet a winemaker gets them through the door more reliably than an open table. WeRise is built for that shift: doors open at 3pm Wednesday through Saturday, and the calendar does the rest.
Built on collaboration
WeRise works as a platform as much as a bar. Many of its producers sit outside the traditional distribution pipeline, so a weekly pop-up, a spot on the list, or a feature in the wine club gives them direct access to Seattle drinkers. The partner roster keeps growing, with more than 100 wineries represented.
I want to do this in a way that drives meaningful impact and engagement with communities through an inclusive experience.— Jamila Conley
Build something with WeRise
If you run a diverse winery, a creative business or a community group, WeRise is a strong partner for an event. The room is set up for it, the audience shows up for it, and the mission gives every collaboration a reason to exist. We recommend reaching out.
Pitch a pop-up tasting or apply to join the list and the wine club.
Pair your art, food, music or workshop with a wine night in the event room.
Five nonprofit partners are picked monthly for reduced rates. Companies can book team events and gifting.
What's on at WeRise
A rotating calendar of pop-ups, themed nights and community gatherings. Check the live listings before you go.
Raise a glass with us this week
WeRise is at 1913 2nd Ave in Belltown, two blocks from Pike Place Market. Come early for happy hour, stay for an event, and take a bottle home from the shop on your way out.
Life is short. Do cool shit. 🛹🍷