The newly incorporated nonprofit organization announces upcoming programming, key partnerships, new team members and strategic initiatives meant to amplify and support the Hispanic/LatinX wine communities
New York, NY – September 15, 2022 – Hispanics in Wine, a social organization, is thrilled to kick off Hispanic Heritage Month by celebrating its two-year anniversary with the announcement of its newly minted status as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and Board of Directors appointment: Lydia Richards, Maria Calvert, and newest team member Gabriela Fernandez.
As a nonprofit, Hispanics in Wine will focus on four main programming pillars: Financial Assistance, Community Drives, Wine Education and Mentorship, and Bilingual Events, to support its mission of providing educational assistance and fostering networking opportunities through culturally relevant activations, helping new and current Hispanic and LatinX professionals develop successful careers in the industry. Details of the new programming are released on Hispanics in Wine Mission.
“As the organization enters this new chapter, these pillars combined represent our 360-degree approach to reach and educate the different sectors of the wine industry while supporting and elevating our community. With these initiatives, we are cementing our footing in the industry, finding new pathways for Hispanic and LatinX professionals to grow and thrive. As both professionals and consumers, we have always been a vital part of the wine industry. Still, we must ensure that we are properly represented and communicated,” says Lydia Richards and Maria Calvert, Hispanics in Wine Co-Founders and Board Members. “Additionally, fundraising, renewing long-term partnerships, and creating new alliances with like-minded organizations working tirelessly to affect change, encourage diversity, and opening pathways within the wine industry and beyond, has never been more crucial as we continue to grow.”
Since its inception, Hispanics in Wine launched the first-ever nationwide Hispanic/Latinx professional directory, a Spanish-language educational resources page, and worked closely with key industry organizations to produce culturally relevant initiatives and empower community members, by providing resources and educational scholarships to those seeking to learn about wine and advance in the industry. These initiatives include:
- Sippd’s “Celebrating Hispanic and LatinX Wines,” a food pairing digital curation providing users with hyper-personalized wine pairing recommendations to traditional, cultural dishes
- The Roots Fund’s “Vino para la Cultura” offering WSET 1, 2, and 3 Level scholarships to the Hispanic/LatinX wine community
- Shitty Wine Memes’ “Wine & Empanadas” special edition pins celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, with proceeds donated to a non-profit organization focused on diversity and inclusion
Looking ahead, Hispanics in Wine is honored to be Trois Noix charitable partner in 2022 where the wine company supports a nonprofit organization dedicated to community, opportunity and possibility. Moreover, in collaboration with Uncorked and Cultured, and The Big Sip, the second annual LatinX State of the Wine Industry Summit themed Somos Visibles: Unheard Voices en Vino will be held on Thursday, December 1, 2022, in Napa, California in a hybrid format, with both in-person and virtual participation.
Hispanics in Wine will continue its presence in influential industry conferences, including as a community partner in the Napa Valley’s Climate Symposium Napa THRIVES and as a panelist at the Wine Executive Exchange (WEX) event on Friday, October 7, 2022, in San Francisco, California. Additionally, Vinitaly’s renowned international wine business forum, wine2wine in Verona, the nonprofit founders will host a panel on “How to Promote and Sell Your Wine Brand in the Hispanic Community in the US” on Monday, November 7, 2022.
Lastly, as part of the celebration, Hispanics in Wine officially announces its newest team members, Gabriela Fernandez and Roberto Rivera.
Born and raised in Napa Valley, Gabriela Fernandez joins the organization as a Board Member. Fernandez’s experience and influence in the wine industry has spanned over a decade. Beyond her career in wine, Gabriela is a true trailblazer, becoming the first Latina producer and host for Wine Down Media. Currently a Producer and On-Air Host for MegaMix, Napa Valley’s first all-Spanish radio station, bringing representation to a community whose population is almost half LatinX. In 2020, Gabriela launched “The Big Sip” podcast, highlighting and elevating black and brown individuals breaking barriers in the food, beverage, and arts. At the core of Gabriela’s work is the desire to build a community that reflects equity, inclusivity, and advocacy for marginalized groups.
Peruvian-born Roberto Rivera joins as the host of Hispanics in Wine newest series: Descorchando con Roberto/Uncorking with Roberto; this digital series is focused on making wine education accessible to English and Spanish-speaking wine professionals and enthusiasts. Having completed the WSET Level 3 Advanced Course and moving onto the Diploma program, Roberto’s dream is to become the first Peruvian American Master of Wine and inspire more LatinX wine professionals to pursue the program. As a new team member, Roberto will publish bilingual videos on wine roundups, educational wine content, and more.
“We are incredibly excited to welcome Gabriela and Roberto to the Hispanics in Wine family”, said Richards and Calvert. “Their passion and commitment to uplifting our communities, as well as bringing diversity and inclusion to the wine industry, is inspiring. Their current and future contributions to the nonprofit organization and the Hispanic/LatinX communities in wine will reverberate for years to come.”
To learn more about these initiatives, including ways to get involved, support and donate, please visit the Hispanics in Wine website here, or contact the team at hola@hispanicsinwine.com.
For updates on the LatinX State of the Wine Industry summit, including sponsorship opportunities, seminars, panelists, and more, be sure to follow @HispanicsinWine, @UncorkedandCultured, and @TheBigSipSeries Instagram pages, as well as the summit’s official page @LatinXWineSummit.
About Hispanics in Wine
Founded by Lydia Richards and Maria Calvert, Hispanics in Wine™ is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying Hispanic / Latinx roots in the beverage and hospitality industries. Rooted in community and representation, its mission is to provide educational and career-advancement opportunities to the ever-growing Hispanic and LatinX community of beverage professionals in the United States and worldwide. From a comprehensive directory of wine professionals and strategic partnerships to an industry LatinX wine summit, scholarship opportunities, and more, Hispanics in Wine aims to connect, amplify, and support the ever-growing Hispanic and Latinx community, including wine entrepreneurs, producers, sommeliers, retailers, restaurants, vineyard stewards, and consumers.
