Everett Ridge Winery and Vineyard, one of the few vineyards in the U.S. owned by an African-American family and whose award-winning wines have been served at White House dinners, has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy amid a dispute with its bank, Dow Jones Daily Bankruptcy Review reported today. Located in Northern California's Sonoma County, the winery has been trying to negotiate with its lender for several years to no avail, said Stephen Sterling, one of four brothers that owns the business with their parents. The bank loan requires a payment of nearly $1 million to refinance, Sterling said, leaving Everett Ridge and sister winery, Esterlina Vineyards & Winery LLC, with few options.
