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Wine Empowered

@wineempowered

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A 501c3 nonprofit that diversifies the hospitality industry by empowering women & BIPOC with free 🍷 education. 💪🏽
APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR 2027 👇

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I came into @wineempowered hoping to learn more about wine, and I’m leaving with so much more than I ever could have imagined.

I’m walking away with a wealth of wine knowledge, a deeper appreciation for the industry, and experiences that have expanded my understanding of what’s possible. But most importantly I’m taking with me a group of women who have quickly become some of my favorite people and lifelong friends.

Wine Empowered has given me the confidence to dream bigger, take up space, and explore my career further. It’s inspired me to step into rooms I may not have felt ready to enter before.

To the incredible women who created Wine Empowered, thank you for building something so much bigger than a wine education program. You’ve created the kind of learning environment where women feel supported, celebrated, challenged, and empowered to grow. You’ve created a community, a movement, and a mentality that reminds us that we don’t have to compete to succeed.

Together, we are stronger. We belong in the rooms where wine is being discussed, poured, studied, and celebrated. Not because someone gives us permission to be there, but because we SHOULD be, we are wine professionals.

I’m leaving with more knowledge, more confidence, new best friends, and a renewed excitement for what my future in this industry can look like. My heart is so full, and I’ll carry the lessons, friendships, and spirit of Wine Empowered with me wherever this journey takes me.

Here’s to women supporting women, opening doors for one another, and changing the industry one glass at a time. 🥂❤️

#WineEmpowered #WomenInWine #WineEducation #WomenSupportingWomen

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summer has been better and better and better 🍇

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A great day celebrating the end of our 2026 Wine Empowered class!

Thank you, @wolfferwine for hosting our annual Field Trip for our students, for many this was the first time they’ve visited a vineyard. We learned about canopy management, different types of vine training, got to see a fancy new destemmer, and tasted through some great wine!

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🍷 Looking for career advice from people who’ve been there?

This past Monday, our Founder & CEO @AliceCheng411 moderated a panel at @WineEmpowered’s 2026 Career Day with wine industry leaders Sydney Fusto (@imnotyourmom93), Raj Vaidya (@rajvine), and @Annie.H.Shi. The conversation was packed with real talk on leadership, growth, and navigating a career in today’s wine and beverage world.

A few gems we took away:
✨ Stay curious—learning never stops
✨ Great leaders help others grow
✨ Soft skills matter more than ever
✨ Career paths aren’t always linear—and that’s okay

Big thanks to Wine Empowered for bringing together the next generation of hospitality and beverage professionals for a day of connection, learning, and inspiration. 💚🥂

#WineEmpowered #CulinaryAgents #HospitalityCareerPaths #NotJustJobs #ConnectingTheIndustry

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Bordeaux class!
Thank you @maisonbarriere for hosting our students today and @cocomyway for teaching.
Also, what a line-up of tasting wines!

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Thank you @sanpellegrino_us for sponsoring our @wineempowered alumni with tickets to the @beardfoundation Financial Literacy Workshop last week!

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FREE WINE CLASSES!
Are you a busser, server, host, cook, or a woman / BIPOC in hospitality who wants to build their career!? At @wineempowered we are now accepting applications for our 2026 class (until 10/20- hurry!!) - link in bio to apply!! Tag someone below who would be a good fit for free wine classes!!

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Career Advice from Victoria James

🎧 Tune in now (@Apple, @Spotify, @YouTube)! Link in @CulinaryAgents bio. New episodes every Tuesday.

🎙️ Drawing from her own journey, @Victoria___James—Partner and Executive Beverage Director at Gracious Hospitality Management, author, and Co-Founder of @WineEmpowered—offers timeless advice: take a breath and trust things will work out, define the healthy way forward when challenges arise, and lead with legacy in mind. 🍷✨

#HospitalityOnTheRise #VictoriaJames #WineEmpowered #COTE #COQODAQ #HospitalityWisdom #WomenInHospitality #RestaurantLeadership #SommelierLife #CareerGrowth #Mentorship

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Victoria James: Taste, Learn, and Find the Right People

🎧 Tune in now (@Apple, @Spotify, @YouTube)! Link in @CulinaryAgents bio. New episodes every Tuesday.

🎙️ Looking back on her journey, @Victoria___James tells host @AliceCheng411 that success in wine starts with surrounding yourself with the right people—and tasting relentlessly. From finding strong workplace cultures to building an educated palate through 50+ wines a day, her advice is clear: growth comes from community, discipline, and education. 🍇

#HospitalityOnTheRise #VictoriaJames #WineEmpowered #HospitalityWisdom #SommelierLife #CareerGrowth #Mentorship

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Victoria James: Why Restaurant Experience Sets You Apart

🎧 Tune in now (@Apple, @Spotify, @YouTube)! Link in @CulinaryAgents bio. New episodes every Tuesday.

🎙️ @Victoria___James explains to host @AliceCheng411 why restaurant experience matters in any career. The ability to serve others, stay adaptable, and create meaningful connections builds dynamic individuals who stand out well beyond hospitality. 💡👩‍🍳

#HospitalityOnTheRise #VictoriaJames #CareerBelonging #HospitalityWisdom #SommelierLife #RestaurantLeadership #TransferableSkills

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Victoria James: Proving Women Belong in Wine

🎧 Tune in now (@Apple, @Spotify, @YouTube)! Link in @CulinaryAgents bio. New episodes every Tuesday.

🎙️ @Victoria___James—Partner and Executive Beverage Director at Gracious Hospitality Management, author, and Co-Founder of @WineEmpowered—tells host Alice Cheng how she fought to be taken seriously as the youngest sommelier in the U.S. In an old boys’ club industry, she worked 80-hour weeks, entered competitions, and proved that women could thrive in fine wine. For Victoria, restaurants are not a stopgap—they’re a serious profession that deserves respect. 🍷

#HospitalityOnTheRise #VictoriaJames #WomenInHospitality #SommelierLife #WineCulture #CareerBelonging #HospitalityWisdom

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HOSPITALITY ON THE RISE (EP. 28) VICTORIA JAMES

🎧 Tune in now (@Apple, @Spotify, @YouTube)! Link in @CulinaryAgents bio. New episodes every Tuesday.

🎙️ @Victoria___James—Partner and Executive Beverage Director at Gracious Hospitality Management, author of Wine Girl and Drink Pink, and Co-Founder of @WineEmpowered—tells host @AliceCheng411 how she went from a Jersey diner to leading groundbreaking wine programs at @COTEKoreanSteakhouse and @COQODAQ. From breaking barriers as the youngest sommelier in the U.S. to creating pathways for equity and education in hospitality, Victoria reveals the determination, vision, and passion behind her remarkable journey. 🍷✨

#HospitalityOnTheRise #CulinaryAgents #HospitalityCareerPaths #VictoriaJames #COTE #COQODAQ #WineEmpowered #WineGirl #DrinkPink #HospitalityLeadership #SommelierLife #WineCulture #RestaurantLeadership #HospitalityWisdom #CareerBelonging #WomenInHospitality

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