Diversity in Wine

For the past 27 years, I have dedicated my work to supporting the underrepresented and women creators in wine and spirits—helping them build loyal consumers through curated events, conferences, travel experiences, and media exposure. The pioneering efforts of Divas Uncorked in the early 2000s laid the foundation for this mission, and I’m proud to continue the journey through the Sipping Sense brand.

At Sipping Sense, our mission is to increase the number of underrepresented people and women professionals across the wine and spirits industries. Despite the growing diversity of today’s marketplace, representation remains alarmingly low—Blacks make up less than 1% of industry professionals, and women only 2%. Meanwhile, the conversation around diversity is increasingly challenging making equity work even more critical.

We advocate for fair distribution of resources, equitable employment opportunities, and stronger industry accountability in supporting diverse talent. In a global market made up of people of all backgrounds, it is both possible and necessary to ensure the same diversity among those who make, sell, and celebrate these products. This business imperative helps the bottom line as it brings more revenue, creativity and lived experiences to the marketplace.

My vision is to see greater corporate leadership in creating pathways for the underrepresented communities and women professionals—through funding, education, mentorship, and partnerships that foster business development and career advancement in the industry.

We’ve built an engaged online community of consumers committed to buying and supporting underrepresented groups and women-owned brands.

Alicia Towns Franken, Towns Wine Co.

Join us at www.sippingsense.com and listen to the Sips N Swigs Podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts to learn about programs, people, and initiatives advancing this vital work. This month's guest Alicia Towns Franken, Executive Director of Wine Unify will discusses her programs and life’s work in wine.

Ways to advance your expertise and your business:

Program Name	Program Description
Wine Unify	Wine Unify is a nonprofit that promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion in the wine industry by providing education, mentorship, and community support for people of color.The organization offers scholarships for WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) courses, pairing recipients with mentors and professional development opportunities to foster long-term success in the industry.
McBride Sisters SHE CAN Professional Development Fund & Scholarships	Created by Robin and Andréa McBride, the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund provides scholarships, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for women in the wine and hospitality industries. The fund supports career advancement and leadership training, particularly for women of color, and reflects the McBride Sisters’ broader mission to promote diversity and equity in the wine world.
Black Ambition Prize (Opportunity Fund)	Founded by Pharrell Williams, the Black Ambition Prize supports Black and Latinx entrepreneurs through mentorship, community, and capital. The annual Prize Competition awards funding from $20,000 up to $100,000, with finalists eligible for a grand prize of $1 million. Participants also receive mentorship, business coaching, and access to a powerful entrepreneurial network. The program includes a dedicated HBCU Prize track to support student and alumni founders.
Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) — Grants & Scholarships	The AAAV offers several funding opportunities designed to support diversity in the wine industry. The Wine Entrepreneur Grant awards $5,000 to Black-owned, AAAV-member wine businesses to assist with operations, marketing, or innovation. The organization also manages scholarship programs that help students pursue wine education, viticulture, and enology training.AAAV’s mission is to foster community, mentorship, and visibility for Black wine professionals and entrepreneurs.
Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program	The Tory Burch Foundation Fellows Program is a year-long fellowship that supports women entrepreneurs through education, community, and funding. Each Fellow receives a $5,000 business education grant, access to workshops and mentoring, and the opportunity to participate in networking and pitch sessions. Fellows also gain access to interest-free loans and the broader Tory Burch Foundation entrepreneur network. Eligibility includes being a U.S.-based, majority-women-owned, for-profit business.
Glancy Wine Education Foundation	The Glancy Wine Education Foundation is a nonprofit that provides scholarships for wine and hospitality education to individuals from underserved and underrepresented communities across the United States. Its mission is to increase diversity and access within the wine and hospitality industries while improving participants’ career and earning potential. Scholarships typically cover 50–100% of tuition for professional certification programs, including those offered by the San Francisco Wine School and similar institutions.
Mac McDonald — Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund	Legendary winemaker Mac McDonald, founder of Vision Cellars and a co-founder of AAAV, established the Black Winemakers Scholarship Fund to help African American students pursue studies in viticulture and enology. The fund partners with universities and organizations such as the United Negro College Fund (UNCF) to expand access to wine education and promote diversity within the U.S. wine industry.
Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS) Foundation – WSET Certification Scholarships	Women in the beverage alcohol industry. Covers the cost of WSET courses (levels 1-4 in wines, spirits, sake, beer) created by Deborah Brenner.
The Roots Fund (with WSET Global partnership)	Ethnic minority groups / people of color looking to enter or advance in the spirits industry (also wine). Education funding, internships, mentorship, other supports like materials and mental health counselling.