Women Of The Vine & Spirits Founder Deborah Brenner, On Gender Diversity And Talent Development In 2020

Deborah Brenner, founder of Women of the Vine & Spirits, is committed to bringing the alcohol beverage industry into an era when every stakeholder feels empowered. When 750 of the group’s members meet next month for the annual symposium, they’ll discuss diversity initiatives, talent development, and transparency throughout every layer of the trade.

Brenner had been involved with the wine industry for several years when she conceived the idea for the gathering. Her work in wine was a second act after more than two decades in the male-dominated field of high-end technology. “I was ‘the only’ in management. My ideas weren’t being heard, my opinions weren’t being valued,” says Brenner. “My soul wasn’t shining because half of me couldn’t come to work.”

As Brenner shifted her career into the wine industry, she noticed other women having similar experiences, and that these impacted their economic performance and engagement: “If you don’t bring your full, authentic self to work, how can you bring your talents to life?”

After writing a collection of profiles on women in the wine industry, Women of the Vine: Inside the World of Women Who Make, Taste and Enjoy Wine, Brenner founded the Women of the Vine wine brand, a collective of women winemakers from California, but none of this really pushed the needle to the degree she’d envisioned.

According to the Women in the Workplace 2019 report by McKinsey Insights, men occupy 62 percent of manager-level positions, while women hold just 38 percent, according to survey participants. While this isn’t a figure tied specifically to the alcohol beverage industry, Brenner wanted to raise awareness on this reality, but she says it’s “not something that’s necessarily talked about.”

Brenner regrouped and launched the inaugural Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium in March 2015, and at the time she didn’t know if it would take off. When 500 participants from five countries attended, the event was judged a success and has become a vital element of the industry landscape. It’s now in its sixth year and aimed at corporate members in a position to make industry change at the organizational level. Many of these companies send women and men in charge of relative initiatives while others select “emerging leaders” to learn from the experience.

Women of the Vine & Spirits isn’t only the symposium. Members—on individual and corporate levels— enjoy year-round support in career advancement that fosters “gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large,” according to the organization’s website. Ongoing events such as online networking chats, regional gatherings, and web-based training opportunities are constantly developed and made available to members.

Brenner and her team have placed a priority on relationships and connections. Networking chats are structured so that each participant introduces themselves by sharing “what they can give and what they want to get,” according Brenner. “It’s not asking for help.” Talking to Brenner, it becomes clear that Women of the Vine & Spirits forms a safe place, for women and men of all backgrounds, to understand where problems lie in order to eliminate unconscious bias.

The organization also places an emphasis on scholarship, through a charitable arm funded through donors to finance professional leadership, student work, and continuing education for women in the alcohol beverage industry. “Education is a key pillar,” says Brenner. “Not just for the opportunity to learn, but to boost confidence, and be more comfortable when challenged.”

The organization also places high value on engaging male counterparts. “From day one we invited senior male leaders to join us,” says Brenner. “If we are going to make change, we have to collaborate.” Women of the Vine & Spirits also emphasizes the need to have all sectors and tiers of the alcohol beverage industry involved. “How many people touch a product from ground to glass?” says Brenner. “That’s when diversity gets really exciting.”

The symposium event is sold out, but individual and corporate memberships are available and more information can be found on the Women of the Vine & Spirits website.

Jill Barth, Contributor for Forbes

View Full Article Here.

Global Diversity Thought Leader Series™ 

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

Link to article

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 

Women of the Vine & Spirits and Distilled Spirits Council of the United States Collaborate to Provide Ongoing Industry Training on Workplace Harassment 
The series will provide effective training to prevent harassment in the alcohol beverage industry 

June 16, 2021 (New York, NY) – Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) and the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) announced today the two organizations are launching an ongoing training series in response to the disturbing reports of harassment, violence and discrimination faced by many in the alcohol beverage industry. Both companies condemn the perpetuation of harassment of any kind and stand in solidarity with those who have been impacted.  

Continuing WOTVS’ practice of tapping into experts, the organization contracted with RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, to provide their community and the industry as a whole with trauma-informed education to increase awareness around sexual misconduct and strategies for prevention. This customized training funded by WOTVS, held in April 2021, was open to the public and covered topics such as bystander intervention, how the brain processes trauma, and sexual violence and harassment prevention and response.  

With the goal of providing trainings with RAINN as part of an ongoing initiative to support those in the alcohol beverage industry, DISCUS committed to join the effort to fund additional training and education.  

“Women of the Vine & Spirits, together with DISCUS, pledge to continue to work to eradicate harassment and co-create a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace for all to succeed,” said Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner. “We hope that through greater access to educational training and development, we can collectively work towards a safer and more unbiased industry for all.” 

Through this partnership, RAINN will provide multiple training sessions tailored for all sectors across all tiers of the alcohol beverage industry. Each level of the training will be held five times on the WOTVS platform and will be open to the public. 

Level 1: Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Training: Participants will be educated on the complexities of sexual misconduct, with an emphasis on addressing misconceptions, understanding the role that participants play in shaping healthy communities, and identifying resources for those directly and indirectly impacted by these issues. 

Level 2: Sexual Misconduct Prevention and Response Training: Strategies for Creating Safe, Healthier Communities. Building on the education and skills learned in Level 1, this segment aims to provide participants with enhanced knowledge and skills around intervention and prevention strategies for creating safer, healthier communities. 

Participants will receive a resource guide that bridges the gap between the concepts discussed and actionable skills specific to roles of prevention and response. 

“Sexual harassment has absolutely no place in our industry,” said President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Chris Swonger. “On behalf of our member companies, we are fully invested in this work, alongside our partners at Women of the Vine & Spirits, to provide this best-in-class prevention and response education. The mission is to continue to build an industry community that is safe, open and inclusive for all.” 

Training Sessions for Level 1 are currently scheduled for: 

Monday, June 28: 9am PST/ 12pm EST 

Wednesday, July 14: 12pm PST / 3pm EST  

Wednesday, August 25: 7:30am PST/ 10:30am EST  

Wednesday, September 22: 9am PST / 12pm EST  

Monday, October 4: 12pm PST / 3pm EST 

Additional dates will be made available as they are secured. Visit the WOTVS Events page for more information and to register for one of the training sessions at womenofthevine.com/events. 

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides free, anonymous 24/7 support via phone at 800.656.4673 or chat via the online hotline. RAINN’s website (www.rainn.org) also provides information on supporting loved ones who are survivors, helping yourself heal if you’ve been directly affected by sexual violence, and how to be part of creating safer communities. 

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 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. 

About The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States  
The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States is the leading voice and advocate for distilled spirits in the U.S., advocating on legislative, regulatory and public affairs issues impacting the distilled spirits sector at the local, state, federal and international levels. DISCUS members are committed to responsibility and encourage adults who drink to do so in moderation. www.distilledspirits.org  

Corporate Membership Contact: 

Elizabeth Campbell Boyd 

elizabeth@womenofthevine.com 

(925) 980-7791 

Media Contact: 

Olivia Campbell 

olivia@womenofthevine.com   

(323) 610-2322 

Media Contact: 

Maggie Quinn 

Maggie.quinn@distilledspirits.org 

(267) 979-2135 

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

Inspiring Leadership Through Education: 24 Women Leaders Awarded Scholarships by E. & J. Gallo Winery’s Women Behind the Wine Educational Fund and the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation

HEALDSBURG, Calif., Oct. 22, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an inspirational virtual ceremony that emphasized diversity, community and a dedication to the advancement of women, 24 women leaders were awarded $80,000 in educational scholarships from E. & J. Gallo Winery’s Women Behind the Wine Educational Fund in collaboration with the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation.

The scholarships, which will empower and support the professional development of the next generation of women in the wine, food and beverage business, are supported by an annual donation by E. & J. Gallo Winery’s Women Behind the Wine platform. The scholarship winners include three who earned $10,000 grants for Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and university-level studies. The 21 Fuel Your Dreams Award winners received up to $3,000 each to help provide education, resources and opportunities to thrive in wine, spirits, food and related industries.

“It is an honor to represent E. & J. Gallo Winery and the work that we are all doing to ensure that our industry attracts the next generation of women leaders,” said Stephanie Gallo, Chief Marketing Officer at E. & J. Gallo Winery. “The foundation of success is knowledge. These scholarships will help you focus on your talent and your education, not your funding. These awards will help support you and make you even more powerful leaders.”

Winners, many with their families or friends alongside in support, were brought together on Thursday, October 15th for a virtual awards celebration. In a video played at the ceremony, many winners spoke of how earning the scholarships gave them the confidence and means to continue their educational path in a year that has been challenging for many in the wine and spirits industry.

“From day one, we’ve put education, personal development and professional development at the forefront because these are critical to advancing women in this industry,” says Deborah Brenner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Women of the Vine & Spirits. “Thanks to the incredible generosity of the Gallo family and the Women Behind the Wine Educational Fund in giving both their expertise as well as financial support, we are able to take our scholarships to another level.”

“I’m especially proud of the diversity among our scholarship winners,” says Gina Gallo, Vice President of Estate Winemaking at E. & J. Gallo Winery. “They represent the strong, thriving community of women at every level and in every discipline within the wine and spirits business and we are proud to help support them. Through these funds, we are helping to deepen their education and empower their unique voices. Education gives us power and every new voice makes our industry stronger and more dynamic.”

The $10,000 Elizabeth Smyth Student Scholarship was earned by Martha Vicedomini CS, CSW, a student at Sonoma State University’s Global Wine Executive MBA Program as well as a Strategic Projects Manager at importer Empson USA, Inc. “The benefits are endless when everyone has the opportunity to live and work in an environment that values authenticity and diverse voices,” she says. “I am deeply encouraged by the dedication of individuals like Elizabeth, industry leading companies like E. & J. Gallo Winery, and advocacy groups like Women of the Vine & Spirits. I see every dollar in scholarship funding as a temporary loan — one which must get paid back by extending investment and opportunity to the women who come after me.”

The $10,000 Master Sommelier Scholarship was awarded to Elli Benchimol. An Advanced Sommelier studying for Master Sommelier in the Court of Master Sommeliers. She is the Head Sommelier at Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak and Stone Crab in Washington, DC as well as the Owner-Partner-Sommelier of Apéro DC, which is slated to open in spring 2021. “I’m so honored to be part of such a talented and inspiring group of women,” she says. “It’s such an amazing piece of positivity and light during such incredibly dark times.”

The $10,000 Master of Wine Scholarship was earned by Florencia Gomez. Originally from Mendoza, Argentina, Florencia earned her winemaking degree from Universidad Tecnológica Nacional before working harvests across the world. She then worked as an Export Sales Manager for Grupo Peñaflor before settling in London as a Master of Wine student and freelance brand strategist. “In today’s challenging context, it is a tremendous motivation not only to keep moving forward with my MW studies, but also an invitation to keep engaging with important topics such as gender equality, cultural diversity and sustainable practices within the wine industry,” she says.

For more information about the scholarships or to learn the inspiring stories of each winner, contact Kristina Kelley at kristina.kelley@ejgallo.com.

About E. & J. Gallo Winery
Founded by brothers Ernest and Julio Gallo in 1933 in Modesto, California, E. & J. Gallo Winery is the world’s largest family-owned winery with more than 7,000 global employees and is the acclaimed producer of award-winning wines and spirits featured in more than 100 countries around the globe. A pioneer in the art of grape growing, winemaking, sustainable practices, marketing and worldwide distribution, Gallo crafts and imports wines and spirits to suit a diverse range of tastes and occasions, from everyday offerings to boutique, luxury bottlings. The Gallo portfolio is comprised of more than 100 unique brands.

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 fosters gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation is “Crafting a Better World”™ for Women in Wine, Beer & Spirits. For more information and to donate, please visit womenofthevine.com/foundation.

Media Contact: Kristina Kelley
209-606-5020
kristina.kelley@ejgallo.com

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SOURCE E. & J. Gallo Winery

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New Leadership Series Examines How Female Leaders Are Finding Success & Leading their Business Now and into the Future
The series takes you inside the minds of some of the most respected visionaries, thought leaders and entrepreneurs in the alcohol beverage industry.

July 1, 2020 (New York, NY) – Women of the Vine & Spirits, the world’s leading membership organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the alcohol beverage industry, announced, today, the launch of a new online leadership series, called “C-Suite Insights” featuring global business leaders in the wine, beer and spirits industry. The first installment is taking place next week, July 9, featuring Stephanie Gallo, Chief Marketing Officer of E. & J. Gallo Winery.

A complement to the Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) C-Suite (the first-of-its-kind list of female leaders in the alcohol beverage industry, worldwide), the new virtual series takes you inside the minds of some of the most respected visionaries, thought leaders and entrepreneurs in the alcohol beverage industry. These live, one-on-one interviews, with interactive audience Q&A, will provide WOTVS members with insights on how to lead through uncertain times and take action for a better future, while diving deep into valuable lessons learned along the way.

“The headline of a recent article (“What Do Countries with the Best Coronavirus Responses Have in Common? Women Leaders”) struck me and this new leadership series was created,” said Deborah Brenner, Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Women of the Vine & Spirits. “Through this series, we aim to inspire others and shine a light on the qualities that make women great leaders, not only through times of crisis, but in their everyday lives.”

Upcoming “C-Suite Insights” interviews, highlighting those in the WOTVS C-Suite database, include a powerful lineup of well-known women in the industry, including:

Leading with Flexibility, Empathy and Compassion with Stephanie Gallo, Chief Marketing Officer, E. & J. Gallo Winery. Interviewed by Kristina Kelley, Senior Director of Corporate Communications, E. & J. Gallo Winery (July 9)
Register  Here

Lessons in Leadership & Life with Maggie Henriquez, President & Chief Executive Officer, Krug Maison de Champagne. Interviewed by Beatrice Cointreau, Owner & Chief Executive Officer, byBC Wines (July 29)

Register Here

Reshaping History and Paving a New Future with Fawn Weaver, Chief Executive Officer, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey. Interviewed by Kate Jerkens, Senior Vice President, Global Sales, Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey (August 12)

Register Here

100 Years of La Scolca: Staying Positive & Looking Forward in Challenging and Uncertain Times with Chiara Soldati, President & Chief Executive Officer, La Scolca. Interviewed by Bruce Anthony Hunter, Managing Director, Shaw-Ross Intl. Importers (August 25)

Register Here

Building Effective Teams through Inclusive Leadership with Kelly Soendker, Executive Vice President, Sales, Deutsch Family Wines & Spirits. Interviewed by Cindy Leonard, Senior Vice President, Supplier Management, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (September 15)

Register Here

Bringing to Life a Values-Driven Culture with Cynthia Lohr, Co-Owner & Chief Brand Officer, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines. Interviewed by Kathleen DiBenedetto, Senior Director, Premium & Luxury Marketing, Beam Suntory (October 8)

Register Here

Leading with Confidence at the Helm of a Rapidly Changing Industry with Michelle Korsmo, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America. Interviewed by Cheryl Durzy, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, LibDib (November 10)
Register Here

Leading through Uncertain Times with Mallika Monteiro, Executive Vice President, Chief Growth & Strategy Officer, Constellation Brands. Interviewed by Julie Kinch, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, JK Leadership Advisors (December 8)

Register Here

Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members include Founding Member, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits; Diamond Members: Bronco Wine Company; Brown-Forman; E. & J. Gallo Winery; Moët Hennessy USA; and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Platinum Members: Beam Suntory; Breakthru Beverage Group; J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; Pernod Ricard; Republic National Distributing Company; Shaw Ross; 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.

About Women of the Vine & Spirits
Women of the Vine & Spirits is the world’s leading membership organization dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the alcohol beverage industry. Women of the Vine & Spirits is an organization for members to connect through our global and diverse network and collaborate across all industry sectors. Providing members with resources and opportunities to thrive is the cornerstone of our organization and success. We offer steadfast support for women at every position in the field with membership benefits that include education, training, mentorship, entrepreneurship and networking as well as tools, services and resources for personal and business development. Together, we are a committed community taking action and making a positive impact on the alcohol beverage industry, worldwide. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.

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CONTACT:
Kyndal Korsgaden
Kyndal@womenofthevine.com
805-779-0301

WSET Forms Strategic Alliance with Women of the Vine & Spirits

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has formed a strategic alliance with Women of the Vine & Spirits, the membership organisation that promotes the empowerment and advancement of women in the alcohol beverage industry, worldwide.

The mutual alliance aims to improve the visibility of progression paths and opportunities for women in the wine and spirits industry. This will be achieved primarily through the development of shared content for WSET alumni and Women of the Vine & Spirits members.

In recognition of the alliance, Women of the Vine & Spirits will become WSET’s 49^th Corporate Patron, while WSET will support Women of the Vine & Spirits as one of its Corporate Members.

WSET’s Corporate Patron programme helps organisations add value to their business by maximising the benefits WSET education provides, whilst providing essential support to enable WSET to continue to develop its world-class qualifications and maintain its global alumni programme. It also offers businesses facilitated engagement with WSET’s network of over 700 Approved Programme Providers worldwide that reach thousands of wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts. Similarly, Corporate Membership of Women of the Vine & Spirits provides a portfolio of benefits for businesses, and signals to employees, and the industry at large, that the organisation supports gender diverse leadership teams and talent development.

Women of the Vine & Spirits and WSET will generate opportunities for collaboration and education to benefit their members and alumni, respectively, including co-hosted webinars, resource downloads, Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation Scholarships to contribute to WSET course fees, and more.

As a notable supporter, Ian Harris, WSET Chief Executive, will be speaking at the Women of the Vine & Spirits International Summit in London on 28 June 2018. The first-of-its-kind gathering of industry professionals is dedicated to collaborating, supporting and advancing women in the alcohol beverage industry, providing attendees with a unique opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals taking action to promote diversity and equality, raise awareness of unconscious bias, foster mentorship for future generations, and create a world-wide, all-inclusive industry. The Summit is open to all to attend and tickets are available on the Women of the Vine & Spirits website.

Ian Harris, WSET Chief Executive, comments, “WSET is a champion for equal opportunity in the industry, emphasising the value of education for all professionals and enthusiasts, men and women. 43% of WSET Diploma graduates are women and eight out of the past 10 highest scoring Diploma students have been female. We look forward to collaborating with Women of the Vine & Spirits to develop further opportunities together for the benefit of our students, our partner’s members and the industry at large.”

Deborah Brenner, Founder & CEO of Women of the Vine & Spirits, says, “Education is vital to empowering women. We value and recognise the benefit that higher knowledge gives to an individual seeking to progress their career. We are thrilled to be working with WSET as a leader in the field and are excited for the new prospects our alliance will create for a successful future.”

As an additional benefit in appreciation of WSET’s support, WSET Diploma students and alumni will be entitled to 20% off Women of the Vine & Spirits membership. In addition to membership benefits, members of Women of the Vine & Spirits are eligible to apply for scholarships through the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation 501(c)(3). For information on membership, email info@womenofthevine.com.

Looking ahead, WSET has also confirmed participation at the fifth annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium in Napa Valley, CA,  11-13 March 2019.