Easy Actions to start supporting Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion in the Wine Industry.
As wine industry professionals, we must promote diversity, equality, and inclusion. Meaningful change takes time and influential individuals who are accountable for the big challenges. Still, we can also make a significant impact ourselves.
After just recording an episode on Voices with Cynthia Chaplin for the Italian Wine Podcast, I realized the shift towards a more inclusive and diverse industry need not be daunting. Small, immediate steps can effect positive change, regardless of our role.
This was further affirmed last night at a session on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion with Hallgarten and Novum Wines, led by Quenna Wong.
By acting, we foster a more vibrant and inclusive industry while improving our connection with diverse consumers. The best part? These actions are simple, free, and don't necessarily demand dramatic efforts.
Here are some practical actions that can have a significant impact on promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in our industry, starting today:
1. Acknowledge the issues
By reading this, you are already on the right track! The first step is recognizing that the wine industry is not yet a genuinely diverse, equal, and inclusive industry.
If we continue to deny and pretend otherwise, we'll only support these structural problems. Classism, racism, discrimination and gender inequity are real(as much as in any other industry and aspect of our lives). And we must work together to close these gaps.
If you aren't entirely convinced yet, here are some stats on the gender pay gap I shared on my Instagram a while ago:
SWIPE TO SEE MORE STATS ->
Follow me on my Insta for more content like this.
2. Ask Questions and Open Conversations
Engage in discussions on diversity with friends and colleagues in a safe space. Listen to their perspectives and experiences. Ask questions. Ask very difficult questions. Initiating open and respectful conversations might be scary as we come from a space of vulnerability. Still, these conversations will help create awareness, empower us with new tools and encourage further dialogue.
On top of that, you have Google!
Research, read articles, listen to podcasts, and follow diverse wine professionals to gain insights and expand your understanding of the challenges faced by minority groups.
Listen to diverse voices.
Explore how others relate to wine, and ask friends and colleagues for advice on new movies, shows, books, or people to follow.
Here is a list of people I enjoy following on Instagram that can open your perspective on diversity in wine:
Elaine Chukan Brown 🇺🇸
Ntsiki iyela🇿🇦
Miguel de Leon🇵🇭🇺🇸🏳️🌈
Luma Monteiro 🇧🇷
Amrita Singh 🇮🇳🇫🇷
Sonal Holand MW
Fikayo🇬🇧
Mags Janjo 🇨🇲 🇬🇧
Maryam Ahmed🇺🇸
Manny 🇬🇭🇬🇧
3. Check for Small Actions within Your Circle of Influence
Regardless of your role, there are actions to take TODAY.
If you are a business owner or manager:
Check your company's diversity status
Assess the male/female ratio, racial diversity, LGBTQ+ representation, and pay gap within your organization. This provides a starting point for progress.
Evaluate your recruiting process
Review your job offers for biases and inclusive language. This is a simple action that can have a tremendous impact on debunking gender bias. Also, examine your recruiting questions to ensure they are fair and inclusive for different genders and ethnic minorities.
Offer training for your team
If you have that extra budget, provide diversity and inclusion training to your employees. You can do this through online courses or by bringing in specialized professionals from the industry. Reach out to experts to organize tailored training for your team.
If you work in marketing and communications :
Rethink your target consumers
Analyze whether you genuinely reach a diverse audience and inclusively communicate with them.
Review your language
Ensure that the language used in your marketing materials and communication is inclusive and avoids stereotypes.
Diversify your campaigns
Avoid relying on clichéd images and representations. Explore what other industries are doing to promote diversity and draw inspiration from their approaches.
If you are an individual looking to make a difference:
Leverage your network
Get out there and find your people! Networking is an easy way to extend your reach. At the same time, you can help connect younger professionals with opportunities within the wine industry. Share job postings, introduce mentees to influential individuals, and promote their work.
Women in Wine Communities I love!
In London : Curious Vines
https://curiousvines.co.uk/
In Napa: Batonnage
https://www.batonnageforum.com/
In Argentina: Club de mujeres profesionales del Vino
https://www.linkedin.com/company/club-de-mujeres-profesionales-del-vino/
Repost diversity advocates
Use your social media platform to amplify the voices of activists and advocates who promote diversity in the wine industry. Something simple like sharing, commenting or reposting their content has a great impact on them.
Donate for scholarships
If you have the chance, support diversity and inclusion programs by donating to scholarships that provide access to education and opportunities for underrepresented groups.
Be a mentor
Offer mentorship to aspiring professionals. Mentorship is a powerful tool for empowering others and helping them unlock their potential. I love a quote from Oprah Winfrey "A mentor is the one who shows you the hope inside of you." And I couldn’t agree more since I’ve had the incredible luck to have amazing women as mentors.
I want to express my gratitude to the mentors who have influenced my career significantly, including Linda Hansen, Caro Maurer MW, and Madeleine Stenwreth MW. Their guidance has shaped me personally and professionally and made me aware of how much you can impact others through kind actions.
Also, being a mentor at Battonnage in 2021 taught me so much that I look forward to becoming a mentor again soon. By becoming a mentor yourself, you can embark on a rewarding journey of inspiring and empowering others.
If you are a student from an underrepresented minority, explore scholarship opportunities and show up to increase visibility.
Don't let yourself get stuck in the application process, as it can be scary. Reach out to individuals who have already won the scholarship you're interested in and seek their advice—approach senior professionals in the industry who have successfully obtained scholarships and tap into their knowledge and experience. Take advantage of the numerous resources available to teach you how to create an outstanding application. Utilizing these resources and seeking guidance can enhance your chances of securing a scholarship.
Wine Unify
Gerard Basset Foundation
In conclusion, promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion in the wine industry does not always require monumental actions. The simple steps outlined above have the potential to create a significant impact. By taking action today, each one of us can contribute to a more diverse, equal, and inclusive wine community. Let's work together to foster positive change within our industry and empower future generations. If you have more ideas, please tell us in the comments or contact me to keep chatting.
Note: This article was inspired by my recent conversation with Cynthia Chaplin on the Italian Wine Podcast's Voices series. I felt compelled to put these ideas into writing to encourage immediate action towards building a more inclusive wine industry.
Click the image to listen the whole episode!
