Raise a Glass to Change

Scholarship programmes and foundations are intent on diversifying the wine world, but the rate of change has been slow

- Jeff Jenssen and Mike DeSimone

WINE IS MADE in almost every corner and continent of the world, and yet the industry built around it has been criticised for its homogeneity—created by, aimed at and telling the stories of white people, almost all of them male. Indeed, the lack of access to careers and education for interested and eligible candidates from other backgrounds, whether actively or by omission, has been all too apparent in recent years. When we attend large wine events, especially consumer galas and fundraisers, on behalf of Robb Report, we see a lot of people who, like us, identify as white.

So as we approach the third anniversary of the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, and of the ensuing nationwide protests that shone a light on the discrimination inherent in numerous aspects of American life, it seems an appropriate time to assess the progress that has been made in the small but not insignificant enclave that is the world of wine. While we’ve seen an encouraging uptick in efforts toward welcoming and encouraging newcomers to the industry who identify as Black, Indigenous and people of colour (BIPOC), the stories we’ve heard from friends and colleagues don’t always bear that out.