DEI

In a climate of DEI backlash, drinks corporations are quietly reneging on their 2020 promises. What does this mean for the future of inclusivity in the beverage business?

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In January 2023, Erisse Peterson was hired as the head of community for a startup Napa wine brand. As part of her work, she launched a scholarship for historically underrepresented groups in the industry. The company positioned her as the program’s face “because it would be more digestible to have a Black woman speaking on diversity,” she says. It was a hit. “We were generating a lot of interest in our brand.” Yet, two weeks after the first scholarship cohort began in August last year, Peterson’s position was eliminated.

“The CEO said, ‘This is not performance related. We have to reallocate our resources.’ I was the only person to be laid off. I was the only person of color in the company,” Peterson recalls. “I had tried to help marginalized communities and felt punished for it.” The scholarship has since been removed from the company’s website. 

Afterwards, Peterson sought to start a diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consultancy. “But I noticed anti-DEI rhetoric on the internet, so I reached out to other DEI consultants, and they let me know we are in the wake of this anti-DEI war,” she says. “Companies were slashing DEI budgets and annihilating DEI teams. Consultants were pivoting to other careers. I pitched and got no response. This was the norm. Companies are not returning anyone’s emails.” In October, Peterson took a full-time role as the global social media manager for Lyre’s Spirit Co.

Peterson’s experience is emblematic of the tenuousness of DEI work in the drinks world today. In 2020, propelled by the Black Lives Matter movement after the police killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, the industry took stock. Activists called out discrimination. Companies launched initiatives and funded new nonprofits. 

Now, the winds have shifted again. Many nonprofits continue their work, and there’s energy at the grassroots level, as organizations like [ABV] Ferments and The Vinguardgather diverse, next-gen professionals and consumers to build an inclusive industry. But there has also been a backlash. In 2023, the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in higher education, and anti-“woke” activism has snowballed from there, attacking diversity programs across industries. 

With major industry players eliminating DEI programs altogether and funding cuts across the board, there are ramifications for the plethora of initiatives launched in 2020. Given difficult financial times for the beverage alcohol industry, and with a consequential election approaching, how committed are legacy drinks companies to the DEI work they trumpeted nearly five years ago? SevenFifty Daily spoke with advocates, academics, and executives about the current state—and hoped-for future—of DEI in drinks.

A More Difficult Landscape for DEI

“Since 2023, 81 anti-DEI bills targeting college programs have been introduced in [more than] 20 states and Congress,” says Maria Calvert, the cofounder of Hispanics in Wine and Spirits. “That trickles down into our industries. Companies are cagey because we are in a polarized nation.” 

This polarization was on full display in the boycott of Bud Light by anti-queer consumers over a 2023 social media campaign with trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which crashed the beer’s sales by nearly a third. 

This year, following an aggressive anti-DEI pressure campaign by far right activist Robby Starbuck, leaked emails revealed that Brown-Forman and Molson Coors had scrapped their DEI programs and ended their participation in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index, which tracks LGBTQ+ policies and initiatives. (Both Brown-Forman and Molson Coors did not respond to SevenFifty Daily‘s request for comment.)

Darwin Oniyx Acosta, the founder of Co-Fermented, which facilitates queer representation in the wine industry, isn’t surprised: “If you’re limiting queer people’s rights, you’re going to create a pause on the DEI efforts of everybody else.” 

Many drinks brands continue to support diverse community initiatives and nonprofits. But within corporations, DEI is waning. As alcohol sales slump, publicly traded companies are especially vulnerable to stockholders’ anti-DEI demands, and DEI programs are getting axed in the name of cost-cutting. 

“The industry is experiencing challenging times due to excess inventory, inflation, and people not going out as much, so we have been witnessing cuts,” says Deborah Brenner, the founder of Women of the Vine & Spirits, which works with corporate members to advance the role of women across the beverage alcohol sector. “DEI is seeing budgets and departments being cut. That is troubling because, to quote Mother Teresa, ‘No money, no mission.’”

The cuts, say advocates, are misguided. “Companies are having problems with attributing DEI to profitability,” says Peterson. “It’s a cop-out because there are ways to track the performance of DEI initiatives. And studies show that more equitable workforces lead to higher productivity and profitability.” 

McKinsey, Harvard Business Review, Deloitte, and Boston Consulting Group have all established as much. But, “when things get hard, people revert to what they know, which is the wrong, bad way that got you in trouble in the first place,” says Alicia Towns Franken, the executive director of Wine Unify, which fosters wine education for underrepresented minority groups. 

An Industry-Wide Reversion

All of this has left diverse drinks pros feeling betrayed. “Some people of color felt they were used to check a box,” notes Cramoisi Vineyards’ Sofia Torres-McKay, who is also the cofounder of AHIVOY, which provides professional development to vineyard stewards. 

“People expected longevity, but it fizzled out so fast. To live in this country, you must have hope because, otherwise, it will incinerate you,” says Tahiirah Habibi, the founder of The Hue Society, which increases Black, Brown, and Indigenous access to the wine industry. “You also have to manage expectations. Don’t mistake a moment for a movement.” 

Monique Bell, Ph.D., a marketing professor at California State University, Fresno, who studies Black wine entrepreneurs, agrees with Habibi’s assessment. “Many Black people in business realize there are limited points where you have these opportunities. But then there is this recursive regression,” she says. Not only that, but the reason for the opportunities was problematic to begin with. “People talk about survivor’s guilt: ‘We watched a person expire, and now you want to support me.’ It’s appreciated, but why did it have to get to this point?” says Dr. Bell. “Now we are seeing interest waning, so it’s like, please, don’t do harm. Don’t take away the bare minimum that we do have.” 

The presidential election, everyone agrees, will push DEI one way or the other. “If [former President Donald] Trump is in office, we’re going to see more leaning into comfort for white-dominant culture in workplaces,” says Akilah Cadet, Ph.D., the CEO of the DEI consultancy Change Cadet and the cofounder of the Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum. “Hopefully we get Kamala Harris in office, we see some systems change, and we learn that leadership doesn’t have to be the white guy. When [former President Barack] Obama was in office, there was a direct correlation to Black people starting businesses. We know it can have that profound impact.” 

Acosta agrees. “The parties are so drastic with what they want to do with DEI that the outcome can either be good or terrible,” they say. “The wine business and its bigger conglomerates with so many resources need to find ways to dismantle these older systems that don’t work for them anymore.” How they do that, according to advocates, comes down to their workforce and leadership.

Embedding Diversity in the Workplace

Back in 2020, “It was, ‘Let’s hire a diversity officer who makes sure we stay in line,’” says sensory expert and educator Hoby Wedler, Ph.D., who consults on accessibility and inclusivity. “But it’s not like a boardroom full of 60-year-old white males can just sit back and relax after writing a press release saying, ‘We did it.’ There are very few brands that said, ‘We are going to change our DNA and embrace that diverse team.’”

As  J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines‘ chief brand officer and co-owner Cynthia Lohr says, “DEI should be not something that can be taken away as a line item. It has to be embedded into the fabric of HR culture.” At J. Lohr, many changes have been cultural and basic, such as integrating Spanish into employee communications and celebrations, or launching social media campaigns featuring underrepresented workers. 

“You have to ask yourself, what is the ROI [return on investment] of employees that feel like they belong and bring full, authentic selves to work?” says Brenner. “They’re calling out sick less frequently, they’re more content in their jobs, they’re willing to speak up in meetings so you’re getting diversity of thought. When you have well-being in your employee base, you have it in your business.”

One pervasive DEI initiative has been employee resource groups (ERGs) for underserved demographics. Lynn House, the national spirits specialist and portfolio mixologist at Heaven Hill Brands, sits on the boards of several ERGs, which are confidential and run by employees. “That’s how growth happens, with safe spaces,” House says.

While declaring it’s “removing our quantitative workforce and supplier diversity ambitions,” even Brown-Forman is keeping its ERGs. But cultural inclusiveness can’t take the place of equitable practices in pay, promotions, and hiring. 

For hiring, Jackson Family Wines partners with Republic National Distributing Company(RNDC) on Accelerate, a sales leadership development program for recent college graduates designed “to incorporate diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences into our sales team, thereby cultivating the next generation of leaders who will contribute to our company’s growth,” according to Erika Hopkins, RNDC’s corporate vice president of culture and corporate social responsibility. 

RNDC operated a similar program with Brown-Forman, which also co-ran the Nearest and Jack Advancement Initiative for diverse candidates. It’s uncertain whether those partnerships will continue.

The Need to Diversify Leadership 

Despite the importance of internships, “what true DEI looks like is decision-makers,” says Habibi. “Who is in those rooms? Is it authentic representation?” 

“A lot of companies say they have diversity, but that might mean entry level. We’re not getting them elevated into those [leadership] positions,” adds Brenner. McKinsey calls this the broken rung. For every 100 men promoted across all industries last year, only 91 white women were. For women of color, it was 73, down from 82 in 2022. 

Battling the downward trend, the investment and recruitment firm Pronghorn has placed 116 Black drinks executives since 2022. “Black Americans make up 12 percent of alcohol consumers but only two percent of leadership,” says Pronghorn cofounder Erin J. Hall. “This disparity highlights not only an employment gap, but also a lack of diverse representation in decision-making roles within the industry, underscoring the ongoing need for improvement in representation at the highest levels.”

It’s a catch-22. Brenner says that leaders tend to hire people who look like they do. If there are no diverse leaders to hire more diverse leaders, how will the demographics change? “We always hear this reason of the pipeline,” says Bell. “Companies say, ‘We don’t know where to find Black or Latinx business people.’ But even when presented with that pipeline, they are still resistant to it.”

Yet, companies with gender diversity on executive teams have a 25 percent greater likelihood of financially outperforming their less diverse peers, and those with racial diversity have a 36 percent greater likelihood. With the maturing of Gen Z, a generation more racially and ethnically diverse than any before, those numbers will increase. “If you don’t understand a community’s culture, how we eat, drink, and function socially, you will never reach that demographic because you haven’t hired the right executives in marketing, sales, and across the supply chain to help figure out your strategy,” says Calvert. 

That takes training. Hopkins says RNDC’s executive training includes a standard called Foster Diversity and Belonging, “a fundamental aspect of the skill set necessary for effective leadership.” It also takes time. “Our leaders go through DEI training, so recruiting is through that lens,” says Jackson Family Wines’ CEO Rick Tigner. “But we tend to promote from within, so it takes a minute to add diversity.”

Still, legacy C-suite executives have much to gain from the effort. “What’s in it for the tenured leaders who have been in their respective posts for many years? Engagement, less turnover, productivity—the holistic bottom line. People wed to the mission, coming to work every day,” says Lohr. “Who doesn’t want to work around happy colleagues who are giving their best?”

Global Diversity Thought Leader Series™ 

Deborah Brenner: Founder & CEO, Women of the Vine & Spirits

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June 19 2021

Deborah, Can you tell us about yourself?

I am a Social Entrepreneur and lover of wine from the ground to the glass, research, journalism, making connections and collaborating with people and companies large and small, and I am passionate about making a long-lasting, positive impact in the hospitality and alcohol beverage industries. I live in Rockland County, New York with my husband, Jack and have lived and breathed diversity, equity and inclusion for at least the last 15 years when I first wrote my book, Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine, highlighting the under-represented women in the wine industry. From there, my career in DE&I within the wine, beer and spirits industry really took off and became my full-time job.

Deborah's Website

What brought you to where you are?

After spending 20 years in the male-dominated television and film technology industry I decided to transition to pursue my passion, which was working in the wine industry. During a fortuitous trip to the Napa and Sonoma wine regions, I discovered that similar to the tech industry, women were significantly under-represented.

I was compelled to tell their stories and tapping into my love of research and journalism, I authored a bestselling collection of profiles of women in the wine industry, Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine, which Wine Spectator named a Critical Read. We are celebrating the book’s 15th anniversary this year!

Through the process of writing the book and championing these incredible women, I became inspired to enter the wine business, releasing wine from a first-of-its-kind collective of seven artisan women winemakers from Napa, Sonoma and Paso Robles, CA. For the following seven years, I learned the business inside and out. Ultimately, I could not foster women in the wine industry the way I had hoped, which led me to dissolve the wine brand and return to the drawing board.

During this time, I quickly realized there was a void in the alcohol beverage industry that needed to be filled: to facilitate change we needed a collective voice to advocate for diversity and women’s initiatives across all industry sectors and engage with senior leadership; both men and women, willing to support our movement.

A year later, in March 2015, I organized the Inaugural Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, bringing women and male allies together to focus on actions the alcohol beverage industry could make to change the status quo. It was a sold-out success. The attendees eagerly supported the opportunity to connect through a global network and seek ways to accelerate their business and professional development. This forum allowed for collaboration across all industry sectors and inspired attendees to do business with like-minded women and men. It was clear to me that to make a positive impact on the alcohol beverage industry, women needed a voice year-round and Women of the Vine & Spirits was launched.

 Membership to the organization opened September 2015. What started off as a one-off event and grass roots movement quickly expanded into a global organization with corporate and individual members connected across the globe. Women of the Vine & Spirits has become a catalyst for creating a positive impact in the alcohol beverage industry by giving women worldwide a platform and a voice to thrive. 

To further foster education and career pathing, the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation 501(c)3 was launched in 2017 and to-date has awarded 99 women with more than $260,000 in scholarships.

In 2021, I launched another community called Badass Bartender™ to fill a void for female bartenders, giving them a safe space to unite, be empowered, support one another, explore career opportunities and network. 

I am eager to help foster a better industry for all to thrive and succeed with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion and business development and innovation. We have already witnessed so many improvements and changes industry-wide, but we have a long way to go.

What does DEI mean to you?  

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion means giving voice to those who have historically been disempowered or silenced. It’s acknowledging privilege and structures of power and intervening and speaking out against injustice. It’s creating a workplace and industry free of harm, where all feel comfortable to share their unique perspectives and thrive and succeed. 

DE&I also means success for business. I strongly believe that not only is DE&I the right thing for companies and our world, but it makes good business sense. DE&I leads to Business Development & Innovation (BD&I) because the more diversity we have in leadership and among decision makers, the more we look like our consumers and understand what our consumers want. This is something we emphasize at Women of the Vine & Spirits and work to instill and inspire in our members. It’s the right thing and its good for the bottom line.

What is your proudest moment as a DEI professional?

I am proud to have created a community that solidifies the legacies of women who have championed change in our industry. As part of our year-round membership, the women and men in our network have access to a myriad of resources, educational content, Live Chats, and mentorship opportunities. Seeing people take off their competitive hats and work across all three tiers of the industry has been incredibly inspiring to me. 

With the support of our members, I have been able to expand Women of the Vine & Spirits into a 510(c)3 Foundation, which is the charitable arm of our organization. Launched in 2017, we have already awarded 99 women with more than $260,000 in scholarships to further their education and professional development. In response to COVID-19, we launched our Foundation Assistance Program. Recognizing that those in the restaurant and hospitality industry were disproportionately impacted by the closure of businesses, this assistance program is completely free, and provides 24/hour confidential legal, mental health, and resource support to anyone who applies. I am most proud to be able to “pay it forward” and provide tangible, financial support to the individuals who make our industry so great. 

Why is DEI important to you as an individual?

 I want to create an industry that is safer and more inclusive for future generations. More women, which includes LGBTQ+ communities, women of color, and disabled women, means more opportunity for diverse talent to thrive in the alcohol beverage industry. Our consumers are incredibly diverse, but our industry is unfortunately not always reflective of that demographic. Diverse companies increase employee engagement and make more innovative decisions, which can provide a real competitive advantage. It’s simply the right thing to do. 

If you could change one thing in terms of Diversity and Inclusion, what would that be? 

 The pace! I am very grateful that Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is now at the forefront of our attention in many ways as a society. For companies small and large, DE&I has become a business imperative. We need more initiatives to help with implementation and long-term success. We need more education and engagement. 

We know that true equality cannot be achieved overnight, for example, data shows that in corporate America at current rates, it will take over 100 years to reach gender equality in the C-Suites. But we don’t have that kind of time. We are seeing surges in racial hate crimes, violence and harassment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, more women exited the workforce than we’ve seen in decades. These are major setbacks, and we need to work together to change the face of the industry and provide a safe, empowering and inclusive work environment where all can succeed. 

 At Women of the Vine & Spirits, we work as a catalyst for change to help prioritize and support DE&I initiatives across all three tiers in the alcohol beverage industry. 

What is stopping your community, organization or company from achieving a more equal and equitable world? 

 Unconscious bias. It’s pervasive, and often goes unnoticed or unrecognized. But it has grave consequences and must be confronted. I believe that having conversations about unconscious bias is the first step in achieving long-term change. Our institutions are embedded in histories of racism, sexism, ableism, homophobia and bias. Through education, training and hard authentic conversations, we can begin to confront as individuals how we have internalized many of these structures of power and where we have experienced privilege. In my opinion, awareness is the first step to changing behavior. It starts at the individual level, but if we can have these conversations company-wide, we have the possibility of implementing long-term change and creating more equitable institutions from the inside-out. 

That is the fundamental goal of our organization. Through educational content, networking and securing the legacies of those who are under-represented in our industry, we can work towards collective change. Seeing more and more companies joining our organization as Corporate Members signals to the industry at large that together, we have made a commitment to furthering equity in the alcohol beverage industry specifically. 

If you could say one thing to the leader in your community, organization or your company about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, what would you say?

Use your voice to champion change! If you are in a leadership position, capitalize on your position of power to speak out in support of underrepresented communities. Listen and learn from the experiences of others and be willing to challenge the status quo. 

Anything you want to share with your readers?

Women of the Vine & Spirits is the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era that empowers all to succeed. There has never been a forum like ours, for industry leaders to come together to support, mentor, educate and network with one another through a yearlong calendar of events, trainings, and live chats. Learn more about our organization at www.womenofthevine.com

Pernod Ricard USA Supports Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation’s DE&I Mission with a $82,500 Donation 
Applications for the Foundation’s Scholarships are Open through June 30 

June 22, 2021 (New York, NY) – In support of Women of the Vine & Spirits’ mission to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era for the wine, beer and spirits industry, Pernod Ricard USA, a Platinum Corporate Member of Women of the Vine & Spirits, has donated a generous $82,500 to the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)3, the charitable arm of the global membership organization. 

The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation provides scholarships for the purpose of helping women advance their careers in the food, wine, spirits, beer, and hospitality industries through education, leadership, and professional development. The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation was established in 2017 and since its inception has awarded 99 women with a combined total of more than $260,000 in scholarships and awards. 

“As part of our ongoing commitment to create a more inclusive industry and society, Pernod Ricard USA is proud to donate to the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation and its dedication to providing opportunities to help womxn advance in their careers,” said Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Lani Montoya. “We are thrilled that our donation will be able to help so many people achieve educational milestones and expand their professional development.” 

“The Foundation is key to supporting our mission of DE&I because it propels the equity component, giving more people a fair and impartial opportunity for continued education and financial resources to attain professional or personal development,” said Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits and President of Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Deborah Brenner. “We are so thankful for Pernod Ricard’s incredible gift and generosity as an Advocate Donor to the Foundation. With this donation, the Foundation can award more scholarships to deserving candidates, especially at a time that the industry is recovering from a very challenging year.” 

With scholarship applications open until June 30, those interested in applying are encouraged to visit the Foundation webpage to review the various opportunities available. The Foundation provides annual scholarships and awards to those interested in continuing their personal and professional development and education for careers within the food, wine/spirits, and hospitality sectors.

Made possible through donations like Pernod Ricard USA’s, this year, the nonprofit will award scholarships to qualified applicants across four categories, which include Professional & Leadership Development, Student Educational, Continuing Education and Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Scholarships. An additional four scholarships categories are being made possible through the “Women Behind the Wine Educational Fund” supported by Patron Donor, E. & J. Gallo Winery. Those scholarship categories include Master Sommelier, Masters of Wine, Elizabeth Smyth Student and Fuel Your Dreams.

For additional information about Foundation scholarship opportunities for 2021 or to apply visit womenofthevine.com/foundation.  

The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)(3) is looking for donations to award scholarships in 2021 and 2022. To donate, and learn more about donor levels and benefits visit womenofthevine.com/foundation or contact Executive Director, Tara Davey at tara@eastwood-partners.com.  

2021 Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation Donors 
Patron ($100,000+): E. & J. Gallo Winery; Advocate ($35,000-$99,999): Pernod Ricard USA; Benefactor ($15,000-$34,999): Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Beam Suntory, Skrewball Spirits; Affiliate ($5,000-$14,999): Republic National Distributing Company, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Vintage Wine Estates, Cycles Gladiator, Riboli Family Wines; Supporter ($1,000-$4,999): Scott Laboratories, Inc., Coravin, Gabriel-Glas, Grounded World. 

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About the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation  
The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. 501(c)(3) is the charitable arm of Women of the Vine & Spirits. The Foundation provides scholarships and awards for the purpose of helping women advance their careers in the food, wine, spirits, beer, or hospitality industries through education, leadership, and professional development, as well as fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com/foundation.  

About Women of the Vine & Spirits 
Women of the Vine & Spirits is the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era that empowers all to succeed. Our members connect through our global network and collaborate across all industry sectors. We provide our members with benefits that include education, training, mentorship, and networking as well as tools, services and resources toward DE&I, and personal and business development. For more information, please visit  womenofthevine.com. 

Media Contact: 

Olivia Campbell 

olivia@womenofthevine.com  

(323) 610-2322 

Lodi Collective Is Early Leader In Efforts To Increase Wine Industry Diversity

By Liz Thach, MW

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June 16 2021 - “When I saw the George Floyd tragedy on TV, I wondered what can we do to help here in Lodi?” said Rodney Tipton, Managing Partner of Acquiesce Winery. “After working so many years internationally, I knew that people of color were underrepresented in the wine industry, so that seemed like a logical starting place.”

As a retired manufacturing executive turned winery owner, Tipton was not one to sit around and muse about issues too long. Instead he jumped on the Internet and began searching for people and associations that could provide advice on how he and others in the Lodi wine region could help. One of the first groups to respond to his email was The Roots Fund, a non-profit organization with a mission ‘to invest in communities of color to provide opportunities to those seeking a career/education in all aspect of wine.’

“I still remember when I first opened Rodney’s email,” said Ikimi Dubose, Executive Director of The Roots Fund. “I could tell he had a passion to make a difference, and that he was action-oriented.”

Dubose, like Tipton, has a strong motivation to effect positive change. As a world-traveler and graduate of Johnson & Wales University, she was one of the youngest and first woman to complete the Marriott & Ritz Carlton management training program. Her career path eventually led her to open Leo Market in Washington DC, focusing on global cuisine and wine. Known for her leadership and mentoring ability with women and minorities, she is often quoted as saying: “When there is no room for me at the table, I usually stand on the table.”

So when Covid hit and most of her friends in the hospitality industry lost their jobs, she knew the timing was right to follow a new dream. “There is a lack of opportunity for people of color in the wine space,” she reported. “When Covid hit and so many of us lots our jobs, I realized that we now have the time to talk about this…., and the world was watching.”

Therefore Dubose started The Roots Fund in the Summer of 2020, along with Tahiirah Habibi, CEO of Hue Society, and Carlton Mccoy Jr., one of the youngest and the second African American to become a Master Sommelier (M.S.).  In a very short time they had recruited more than 30 wineries and wine associations as partners in helping to make the global wine industry more diverse.

Formation of the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective (LAIC)

With advice from Dubose, as well as conversations with other BIPOC professionals already in the wine industry, including the Association of African American Vintners , Tipton founded LAIC – a non-profit organization called the Lodi Appellation Inclusion Collective.

The mission of LAIC is to increase diversity in the Lodi wine region and the industry at large. In a very short time, Tipton was able to recruit ten Lodi wine businesses to donate funds to host their first 3.5 day Enrichment Program. The educational experience included visits to Lodi vineyards and wineries to learn all aspects of the industry, from grape growing to winemaking, sales and marketing.

Identifying 5 Scholars for the First LAIC Enrichment Program

Through their outreach program, The Roots Fund was able to identify five scholars to attend the first LAIC 3.5 day Enrichment Experience held June 6-9, 2021 in the Lodi Wine Region. A second Lodi Enrichment program is planned for later this year.

“We recruit,” said Dubose, “via the internet, newsletters, social media, and utilizing HBCU buzz. Since our start in summer of 2020, we have had about 200 applicants, and have accepted 67 scholars to date.” Scholars are eligible to receive scholarships, mentoring, and attend educational programs, such as LAIC.

A major focus is to assist the scholars to obtain professional salaried positions in the wine industry, rather than hourly positions. “People working in restaurants and vineyards often have low wages, and many have no healthcare,” explained Dubose. “But who is the voice of these people? That is why we decided to start the Roots Fund, to help our scholars achieve professional positions.”

Results of the First LAIC Enrichment Program

The five scholars that were selected already had some experience in the wine industry, but were still early in their careers. After completing the 3.5 day program, their feedback was uniformly positive:

1. Daren Clark (Winemaking Intern at Haynes Vineyard, Napa Valley) – “The networking was a blessing, the Lodi wine community was so welcoming. I learned the importance of the farming practices in the community and what it means to help out each other.”
2. Chris Salcedo (Sommelier in Training, Irvine, CA) – “The main benefit was it opened up my eyes to the fact that that there are so many different paths in the wine industry, and if I see something in demand I can go and build that company / business.”
3. Lindsey Rose (Sommelier, Seattle, WA) – “For me personally, this trip helped to open my eyes to the bounty of the less hyped and talked about domestic regions, while also pulling back the curtain on what wine production looks like. Seeing how a community of growers is working collaboratively to share their stories, enhance their community and make change, was inspiring.”
4. Andrew Mihm (Completing M.S. in Viticulture & Enology, UC-Davis, CA) – “Getting the chance to immerse myself in a region I did not know in depth. I got to see how the winemaking community in Lodi allows for creativity and lower barriers of entry to young winemakers aspiring to own their own brand.”
5. Jamila Janneh (Law Student Transitioning to Wine, NY) – “I truly got to immerse myself in multiple areas of the industry. My biggest takeaway is learning that there is so much room for creativity in the wine industry. As a millennial, and someone who craves innovation, this trip fed my creative spirit.”

Measurement: When asked how LAIC plans to measure progress towards achieving their mission, Tipton simply responded, “Our key metric is how many new faces we will see in the Lodi wine business in the future.” He is also hopeful that some of the other 80 wineries in Lodi will consider providing financial support to help host more LAIC educational scholarships, wine education, mentorship, and job placement.

Other Laudable Diversity Efforts in the Wine Industry

The Lodi Wine Region isn’t the only appellation providing support for inclusivity. Napa Valley Vintners just announced a $1 million scholarship with United Negro College Fund to increase diversity in the wine industry, with an application deadline of June 30, 2021. Sonoma County Vintners are also beginning efforts to address this issue with the formation of a Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee to analyze data and identify resources to increase diversity.

Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering women in the global alcohol-beverage industry, offers annual educational scholarships, with a June 30 deadline. In 2020, there were 42 recipients, with 45% from BIPOC identifying communities. Additionally in 2020, the Women of the Vine & Spirits global membership organization started a People of Color Alliance and added related content events to their Live Chat platform.

The Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University has raised over $3 million from wine industry partners to support underrepresented students since 2017. To date more than 100 scholarships have been awarded, with 26 specifically targeted for students pursuing a wine degree. University of California-Davis also has a Broadening Horizons program to recruit more Latinx students, and has achieved a 25% increase in the past few years. They also recently hosted a Zoom conference on “The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Grape and Wine Industries,” which attracted 184 participants.

Women of the Vine & Spirits Launches a New DE&I Leadership Series Engaging Senior Male Executives in Wine, Beer and Spirits
The series will address diversity barriers through authentic and complex conversations

April 22, 2021 (New York, NY) – Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS), the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive era announced, today, the launch of a new ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion (DE&I) leadership series, called “Breaking Barriers” featuring senior male executives and DE&I leaders in the alcohol beverage industry. 

This new series is in direct response to the requests received following our March 8^th  WOTVS CONNECT! Male Allies Roundtable, where we realized this was a topic that needed to be a continuous conversation. To kick the series off, and honor the requests we received to do so, WOTVS invited the male leaders that were part of the March 8th panel to come back so we can have a deeper dive. 

WOTVS is committed to making this a permanent series. Corporate Members that have Senior Male Executives or DE&I leaders that would like to participate in future segments are welcome to Contact Elizabeth, Director of Corporate Membership & Engagement.

The first installment is taking place next week, April 29, and will include from Ste. Michelle Estates: David Dearie, President & CEO, Dan Heller, EVP of Sales and Melody Zhang, Chief Human Resources Officer.

WOTVS Corporate Members will hear from senior male executives why they are committed to DE&I and what we can all be doing to break barriers and create a culture of inclusivity in our communities and companies. Joined by a DE&I leader, together, these unscripted live chats will dig into the topic through authentic conversation about why DE&I is important to them, who has influenced them along their life and career path, and their vision for the future of the alcohol beverage industry. Expect frank questions, honest answers and real-life lessons on how these senior male executives commit to taking action as an individual, a community member, and a corporate leader.

“DE&I is not a ‘she’ thing or a ‘he’ thing, it is a ‘we’ thing, which is why since the inception of Women of the Vine & Spirits in 2015, we have engaged men to actively participate year-round in the organization,” said Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner. “We know that change starts at the top and that the alcohol beverage industry is still primarily led by men. Together, we can accelerate the pace to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive industry for all to thrive.”

Upcoming “Breaking Barriers” Live Chats will be facilitated by Deborah Brenner and include a powerful lineup of respected leaders in the industry, including:

April 29
David Dearie, President & CEO, Ste. Michelle Estates
Dan Heller, EVP of Sales, Ste. Michelle Estates
Melody Zhang, Chief Human Resources Officer, Ste. Michelle Estates

June 16
Terry Arnold, SVP, Chief Human Resources Officer, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits
Barkley J. Stuart, EVP, Director, Government Affairs, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits
Marbet Lewis, CEO & Partner, Spiritus Law

August 18
Carl Carlson, President, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey
Bruce Hunter, Managing Director, Shaw-Ross International Importers
Lauren Mutti, VP, Labor & Employment Counsel, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits

October 13
Gus Bozzo, EVP, National Accounts, Breakthru Beverage Group
Joseph Bruhin, CIO, Breakthru Beverage Group
Kate Jerkens, SVP, Global Sales, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey

December 15
Steven Billey, General Manager, Bronco Wine Company
Marc Hirten, President, Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd.
Clarice Turner, President, Joseph Phelps Vineyards

The series is open to Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members and their teams. To learn more, register for the events, or join as a member visit womenofthevine.com.

Interested in Corporate Membership? Contact Director of Corporate Membership & Engagement, Elizabeth Campbell Boyd at elizabeth@womenofthevine.com.

Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members include Founding Member, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Diamond Members: Breakthru Beverage Group; Bronco Wine Company; Brown-Forman; E. & J. Gallo Winery; Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd.; Moët Hennessy USA; Republic National Distributing Company; Shaw-Ross International Importers, Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Platinum Members: Beam Suntory; Constellation Brands; J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; Pernod Ricard USA; and William Grant & Sons. For a full list of Corporate Members including those at the Gold, Silver, Bronze and Associate level, visit the Corporate Members tab at womenofthevine.com.

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About Women of the Vine & Spirits
Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) is the leading membership organization, worldwide, dedicated to boldly pushing the wine, beer and spirits industry toward a more diverse, equitable and inclusive (DE&I) era that empowers all to succeed. WOTVS and its members recognize a diverse team leads to successful business development and innovation (BD&I). Our members connect through our global network and collaborate across all industry sectors. We provide our members with benefits that include education, training, mentorship, and networking as well as tools, services and resources toward DE&I, BD&I and personal development. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.

Corporate Membership Contact:
Elizabeth Campbell Boyd
elizabeth@womenofthevine.com
925-980-7791

Media Contact:
Olivia Campbell
olivia@womenofthevine.com  
(323) 610-2322