September is National Hispanic/LatinX Heritage Month and I am so excited to announce and share a wonderful partnership I’ve formed alongside two phenomenal powerhouse organizations amplifying BIPOC voices in the wine industry – Uncorked & Cultured and Hispanics in Wine – for the first-of-its-kind LatinX State of the Wine Industry Summit. Both of these organizations are led by women of color in the industry whom I’ve also had the pleasure of interviewing on my podcast and radio show series The Big Sip – Maria Calvert and Lydia Richards from Hispanics in Wine, and Angela McCrae from Uncorked & Cultured. This month, celebrate Hispanic/LatinX Heritage Month by hearing and sharing their stories alongside many others and supporting programs/initiatives looking to expand the conversation in wine. 

The 2021 LatinX State of the Wine Industry Summit will take place virtually on Wednesday, October 13th from 4pm – 7pm ET/ 1pm – 3pm PT. Presented by Hispanics in Wine and Uncorked and Cultured, and hosted by myself of The Big Sip, the one-day summit serves as an educational vehicle to share the impact of the Hispanic and LatinX contributions to the wine industry, and amplify leaders ensuring inclusion in the world’s oldest industry. Programming includes:

• Voices of the Vineyard – a panel discussion on Labor Rights, Vineyard Management, supporting farmworkers advocacy, and resources.

• Marketing and Media for Hispanic Consumers – a panel featuring leading digital content creators as well as marketing/PR executives providing insights on LatinX wine consumers.

• Disruptors Shaping the Future of Wine – a panel spotlighting Hispanic and LatinX  innovators, from all areas of the wine industry, from producers to retailers, distributors, and hospitality professionals
• One-on-One Conversation – an intimate discussion with a Hispanic/LatinX winemaker and/or vineyard owner, hosted by Gabriela Fernandez of KVON’s The Big Sip
• Speed Networking – attendees will have a chance to meet & greet with other attendees to deepen community building and connections.

 

Through a series of panels, speed networking, special guest speakers, virtual booths, and giveback incentives, sponsors will have multiple opportunities to connect with attendees and support the growing Hispanic and Latinx wine entrepreneurs, professionals, and consumers. Brand alignment with Hispanic consumers’ values has never been more important, and it’s clear that the Latinx influence is shifting—and will continue to shift—overall consumption trends across the U.S. – Nielsen, January 2021

Here are the facts!

• With the growing LatinX population in the U.S., there is a strong need to investigate the Hispanic impact on the wine industry since data is currently scarce.
• Research shows that year-over-year Hispanic wine consumption increased and rose by 31% over one year, in a Wine Market Council survey conducted in 2005.
• By 2023, we expect the buying power of the U.S. Latinx population to top $1.9 trillion, which is higher than the gross domestic product of countries like Australia, Spain, and Mexico. 
• Since 2020, there’s been an industry effort to increase diversity in wine to create pipelines for professional development and opportunities for BIPOC wine workers & entrepreneurs.

 

If you’re in a position looking to support and sponsor, please see below for Sponsorship Tiers:

1. Gran Reserva ($5000) – 1 Social Media Post & 1 IG Live, Mention in press release & communications, logo on invitation flyer & event page, Data capture through event polling, 15-sec ad & interview on radio, and 4 tickets, virtual booth spot
2. Reserva ($2500) – 1 Social Media Post, live mention on the radio, product giveaway, Mention in press release & communications, logo inclusion on event page & flyer, and 4 tickets, virtual booth spot
3. Crianza ($750) -1 Social Media Post, Mention in press release & communications, logo inclusion on invitation flyer & event page, and 2 tickets, virtual booth spot

 

Valuable Opportunities + Product Giveback Incentives 

• A percentage of proceeds to be donated to Hispanic/LatinX-focused organization
• Media ad placement and social media promotions across multiple BIPOC platforms
• Recruitment opportunity targeting diverse candidates interested in the wine industry
• Leverage virtual booth for live engagement with the attendees during the summit
• Opportunity to donate products to give away during IGTV live to drive engagement
• Opportunity to provide wine education sponsorship and/or industry discounts
• Brand visibility to the growing BIPOC wine professionals and dedicated consumers

 

About Hispanics in Wine

Founded by Lydia Richards and Maria Calvert, Hispanics in Wine™ is a social space dedicated to showcasing Hispanic / Latinx roots in the beverage and hospitality industries. Whether it’s a producer, sommelier, retail store, restaurant, or vineyard steward, we are committed to supporting the great work and business ventures our communities are doing within the industry.

 

About Uncorked & Cultured

Uncorked & Cultured is a media company that curates original content, consumer research, e-commerce, and global retreats to connect conscious consumers with brands that share the same ideals. Our platforms are a destination to share content and experiences that are centered in Culture & Elevation, as a marketing solution to the lack of inclusion in the global luxury, travel, and wine industries.

 

About Gabriela Fernandez

“The Big Sip” is an audio-podcasting series hosted through Wine Down Media’s KVON 1440AM radio that spills knowledge on “sip” that matters, by highlighting and amplifying black and brown trailblazers breaking barriers in the food, wine, and arts industry. Each show provides listeners with an opportunity to learn about diverse leaders, trailblazers, and risk-takers pioneering a more equitable and inclusive world by centering a wine-full and mindful conversation around their experiences, challenges, achievements, and efforts to address the lack of diversity and inclusion throughout industries that have historically and systemically capitalized on their labor without equal representation.