The night the whale sang: Flying Whale Wine, velvet truths, and a ritual worth remembering

There are few individuals in the world of modern luxury who move with the gravity of a poet and the precision of a producer. Maba Ba is one of them. He is a rare visionary who has braided radical presence, lyrical expression, impeccable taste, and an uncompromising devotion to impact into a single, unforgettable creation. With Flying Whale Wine, he has not launched a brand—he has birthed a movement. A philosophy. A velvet-gloved revolution of truth, love, and ritual.

What unfolded on the sixth floor of Spring Place was not simply a gathering—it was a consecration. The “sunken place”—a metaphor once synonymous with absence—was reborn in hot pink velvet, transformed into a sanctuary of warmth and creativity. The room pulsed with candlelight, possibility, and devotion. Laughter flowed easily. Music filled the air. Stillness wrapped itself around every sincere exchange. Love, real and earned, passed between collaborators, friends, and strangers who had touched Maba’s life across time and industry.

This was not a launch. This was a homecoming.

The Ritual: Sip & Tell

At the heart of Flying Whale Wine lies Sip & Tell, a ritual that feels both timeless and revolutionary. It begins with a simple directive:
Take a sip. Tell a truth. Pass it forward.

Each bottle—whether the luminous RoséGold, crafted for the big-bodied red wine lover who still wants summer in the glass, or the Gold red, velvety with just enough structure to seduce—carries more than flavor. It carries intention.

The ritual unfolds like a confession and a blessing:

Buy a bottle.

Sip & Tell—record a short video, share a truth, tag @flyingwhalewine.

Nominate someone to receive a bottle or join the chain.

This is not performative giving. It is anonymous to anonymous, written into the very ethos of the brand. The practice rejects clout and embraces quiet generosity. It asks nothing but sincerity. It gives everything in return.

Every purchase becomes a gift. Each bottle sets a ripple in motion. Every spoken truth adds weight to the wave.

The impact extends far beyond sentiment. A portion of each purchase supports three extraordinary nonprofit organizations, each helmed by visionary women who are not only leaders in their fields but also investors in Flying Whale’s mission:

Kim Godwin, President of ABC News and the first woman to lead a major American news network, founded The Winning Foundation, which champions access and equity in education.

Yvette Miley (MSNBC) and her wife Arletha Miller co-founded The Miley Miller Foundation, focused on leadership, media justice, and generational opportunity.

Corina Weikl, founder of #BottleNo30, leads a bold initiative reimagining sustainable social impact in underserved communities.

These women are not silent partners. Each one is a co-dreamer who walks beside Maba Ba in ensuring that every glass poured supports a future shaped by generosity, intention, and truth.

Flying Whale Wine.

A Velvet-Lit Night of Firsts

The night Maba gathered us at Spring Place was saturated with intimacy, joy, and resonance. The velvet walls absorbed the sound of clinking glasses and low laughter. What echoed loudest was presence. The kind of presence that fills a room when every person feels seen. The kind that only arises when a space is held with love.

Later in the evening, Maba took to the stage for the first time to share his music. His voice moved like a current through the room, carrying verses born of reflection, pain, and healing. Each piece was poetry set to hip hop. The rhythm held his truth. His lyrics did not announce themselves—they unfolded, soft and sharp, offering fragments of a life shaped by depth, struggle, and the quiet kind of power that never begs to be heard.

This was not a performance. This was a reclamation.

The ritual of Sip & Tell came alive. It was no longer a concept. It was embodied in that velvet-lit moment. We were not attendees. We were participants. A community in motion. A shared breath in the name of beauty and truth.

Photo: Kees @kees2life

A New Definition of Luxury

Flying Whale Wine is now available in NY, CA, FL, and NJ through flyingwhalewine.com and ReserveBar. The bottle in your hands is more than wine. It is a philosophy wrapped in glass, sealed with purpose. The experience you receive is never just yours. It belongs to someone else, waiting to be touched by your truth, your story, your generosity.

Maba Ba is not simply building a company. He is crafting a legacy rooted in reflection, creativity, and care. His wines are designed for sipping. His rituals are designed for remembering. His mission is one of soulful luxury, given without spectacle and received with awe.

Sip. Tell. Pass it on.

Someone is waiting to feel a little less alone.