Priyanka French, Kelly Mitchell, Shalini Sekhar, Julia Coney, and Theodora Lee at the Batonnage Forum.
With a female co-owner and a woman winemaker, Waits-Mast Family Cellars cares a great deal about the role of women in the wine industry, which is the focus of the Batonnage organization. For the past three years we’ve attended Batonnage Forum, where powerful conversations have taken place about what it’s like to be a woman in the biz. This year’s event, which just concluded this week, took place virtually, allowing for even broader discussion with folks from all over the world. It transpired during a very different time in light of the global coronavirus pandemic, which has greatly impacted the hospitality industry. Additionally, recent acts of racist violence and subsequent ongoing protests are leading to vital conversations in the United States about the impact of systemic racism and white privilege on every aspect of our lives.
Sadly the wine industry is not immune to racism and sexism and we are glad to see more and more folks speaking out about existing inequities. Our winemaker, Shalini Sekhar, eloquently addressed this topic during the “Stirring It Up: Color, Wine, and Feminism” panel. Moderated by writer Julia Coney, the session also featured Theopolis Vineyards winemaker and owner Theodora Lee, educator and sales professional Kelly Mitchell, and Signorello Estate winemaker Priyanka French.
During the panel, Shalini talked about her increasing desire to connect with other women and people of color in the wine industry and asked, “How do we connect with each other in a real, meaningful network?” She emphasized the importance of working to “mentor and lift people up.” In fact, one of the most inspiring outcomes from the Batonnage events is the forging of connections between women.
All of the speakers pointed out the need for more Black women and women of color in the industry, from winemakers to vineyard managers to sommeliers to sales managers to winery owners. Part of the movement forward is making sure that the voices of those already in the wine field are heard. Kelly stressed the importance of “showing up and being present and being visible,” sharing that as a rare Black woman in wine sales, she makes sure to sit in the first few rows at meetings. “I’m never in the shadows,” she added, explaining that the first thing that people need to do is “see me.”
Thankfully this panel is part of a growing dialogue about women of color in the wine industry. We’ve been doing a lot of reading and listening and wanted to share a few places to explore this topic further. While collectively we still have a long way to go to make the wine world more welcoming, we are encouraged by these conversations and actions:
Being Black in the White World of Wine by Dorothy Gaiter
Black Wine Professionals website
Wine Unify on Instagram
Three Black Wine Experts on Diversity, Representation and Inclusion within the Industry by Chelsea Davis
What Racism Looks Like Inside a Napa Valley Tasting Room by J’nai Gaither
Black Wine Professionals Demand to be Seen by Eric Asimov
