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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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We sat down with Paola Ramirez, a 2024 alumni, and now sommelier @littlespain, to talk about how a philosophy student from Colombia became one of the most quietly formidable wine people in New York. She works seven days a week. She studies on the train. And there was one line in particular that stuck with us during her interview: wine deserves better than exclusivity.

Link in bio to the full interview! by @wineempowered

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3 days ago

Congratulations to the Wine Empowered class of 2026! 🍷

Last week, we celebrated our nine newest graduates (future sommeliers and wine buyers!) at the James Beard House. After six months of rigorous training across every major wine region, viticulture, and vinification, they did it. Their dedication and hard work inspire us all, and we can’t wait to see what they do next.

Thank you to our alumni, instructors, sponsors, and partners for being there. We couldn’t do this without you. Special thanks to @champagnelaurentperrier for the 🍾, @sanpellegrino_us for keeping us hydrated, and @beardfoundation for hosting our graduation year after year.

Remember these faces. They’re going to lead our industry! ✨

Applications for the 2027 class are NOW OPEN and closing soon. If this could be you, apply today (link in bio)!

📷 @iammoustache taken in James Beard Foundation by @wineempowered

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6 days ago

Ready to apply? Here’s exactly what it takes to join the 2027 class:

📋Step 1: The application. Tell us who you are, where you work, and why you’re hungry for this.

Step 2: A referral from an industry mentor. A wine buyer, sommelier, chef, GM ~> someone in the industry who can vouch for your work ethic and drive. 👉 This is the step people underestimate. Asking for a referral takes time, so start that conversation TODAY, not the night before the deadline.

Step 3: The interview. If your application stands out, we’ll want to meet you. Come as yourself ~> we’re not looking for polish, we’re looking for fire.

Hundreds apply. Around a dozen get in. The ones who make it are the ones who start early.

📲 Application at the link in bio · wine-empowered.com
🏷 Know the perfect mentor–mentee pair? Tag them both.
💛 Donations keep this 100% tuition-free ~> link in bio by @wineempowered

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11 days ago

So what actually is Wine Empowered? 🍷

It’s a rigorous, six-month sommelier training program ( completely tuition-free ) for women and BIPOC professionals working in hospitality.

What that looks like:
📚 Serious academics- this is real sommelier training, not a crash course
🤝 Mentorship from some of NYC’s top wine buyers and sommeliers, who teach the weekly in-person classes themselves
🗓 Weekly half-day, in-person classes + 10 or more hours of studying a week
🎓 A community of alumni now working as top somms, buyers, and restaurateurs across the city.

We won’t sugarcoat it: the course is HARD. We’re looking for people who find that exciting, not scary.

Applications for the 2027 class are open now. If that’s you ( or someone you know ) the link is in our bio.

🔁 Share this to your story
🏷 Tag a future sommelier
💛 Donate to make the 2027 class possible ~ link in bio by @wineempowered

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17 days ago

In 2017, three young women were working together at COTE in the Flatiron, each trying to build a career in wine- and each running into the same wall. The wine world was an old boys' club. So we made a quiet promise: when we got into positions of power, we'd change the industry for the better.

We started small. Free wine classes for everyone on the team- dishwashers, food runners, servers, cooks. We figured our people would sell more wine.

What we didn't expect? They were empowered into whole new careers. Dishwashers became servers. Servers became somms. 🍷

That's when it clicked: free education is the key to breaking down the barriers in wine- making this industry more accessible, more dynamic, and more reflective of the people who actually power it.

In 2018, we co-founded Wine Empowered, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit offering tuition-free sommelier training to women and BIPOC hospitality professionals. We've been small and mighty ever since.

Today, we're thrilled to announce: applications for our 2027 class are officially OPEN - and donations are live. 🎉

📲 Apply or donate at the link in bio
🔁 Share this post with someone who's been waiting for their shot
🍇 More info: wine-empowered.com by @wineempowered

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20 days ago

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! by @wineempowered

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4 months ago

When Camille started @wineempowered she was working in a casino in Connecticut - and commuted hours weekly for the program.

A little over a year later, she is running some of the most respected restaurants in New York (and therefore, the world!). We talked on a Monday afternoon at @saga_nyc - Kent Hospitality Group’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant on the 63rd floor of a 1932 skyscraper in downtown Manhattan.

Link in bio to the full interview! by @wineempowered

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4 months ago

What a wonderful last couple weeks for Wine Empowered! We will be so sad to see our class of 2026 go!

We had our last class, our grand finale, Champagne and Sparkling at @skurnikwines with @jhonelfaelnar!

And finally, one of our favorite days of the year, career day sponsored by @culinaryagents! The students had a wonderful time hearing about the careers of @imnotyourmom93 @rajvine and @annie.h.shi! Thank you all for your time and commitment to helping our students continue to flourish in the wine world! by @wineempowered

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4 months ago

🍷 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 taken in Coqodaq by @wineempowered

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5 months ago

Another excellent class with @christy.frank.wine on Australia, New Zealand and South Africa with hosting and wine pairing from @skurnikwines! Thank you so much! by @wineempowered

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5 months ago

Huge thank you to @sardonic_maceration for tackling our Loire, Alsace, Jura and Savoie class with the amazing wines from @grandcruselections! We are so grateful for all the special wines that you allowed our students to try! by @wineempowered

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5 months ago

Still feeling the liebe of German and Austrian wines this week! The students had an amazing time with @caitypantelones and wines from @vomboden! We’re so grateful for your time and wines! by @wineempowered

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6 months ago