The impetus for VOICES was the New York Times article that exposed the sexual harassment scandal in the Court of Master Sommeliers USA in late October 2020. Stevie Kim, the founder of Italian Wine Podcast and Managing Director of Vinitaly International says, “We saw an immediate need to create space for difficult conversations including perspectives and points of view that have previously gone unheard in the wine industry.”
The first episode was recorded in November 2020, with guest sommelier Rania Zayyat hosted by Rebecca Lawrence Dip WSET. Zayyat was one of the 20 women who came forward to share her experiences at the Court.
As the founder of Lift Collective, Zayyat brought attention to the gap between the many women working in the wine industry and the limited number leading it, as well as advocating for gender equality by fostering networking and discussion in forums.
Since that episode, VOICES has become an aggregate of the world of podcasts concentrating on issue of diversity, equity and inclusion. Guests have come from all over the world, speaking out for under- represented communities in the wine sector.
The next episode, airing on 23 March, features Phil Long, founder of Longevity Wines in California and current President of the Association of African American Vintners in the USA. VOICES host Cynthia Chaplin, sommelier and Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador, interviews Long for a compelling discussion about garage wine, recovery from injury and loss, and creating awareness about Black winemakers and the need to welcome BIPOC people into the wine industry in a meaningful and sustainable way.
VOICES aims to fulfill the promise of its name, bringing previously unheard stories to the forefront. Upcoming episodes include Dr. Akilah Cadet, founder of Change Cadet and Diversity Wine Forum, Jason Mikami of Mikami Vineyards, Amanda Thomson of Noughty alcohol free sparkling wines, MJ Towler aka The Black Wine Guy,Alicia Towns Franken of Wine Unify, Lisa Granik MW, and Elaine Chukan Brown of Hawk Wakawaka Wine Reviews.
VOICES continually seeks to expand the seats at the table, shedding light and sensitivity on uncomfortable topics such as exclusion, discrimination, misogyny, inequality, glass ceilings, and under-representation in the wine sector. The focus is not only on obstacles and difficulties faced by women, the LGBTQ community, and people of color trying to enter the wine world, but also on the positive progress being made and ambitious strategies being developed to include and support everyone who wants to be part of the international wine scene. The roles of influencers, mentors, leaders, allies, advocates, and accomplices are addressed, and achievements are celebrated, with the goal of informing, teaching, supporting, and calling listeners to action to make the global wine sector a better, more inclusive and welcoming place.
About: The Italian Wine Podcast: Cin Cin with Italian Wine People! launched in 2017 as a project dedicated exclusively to the Italian wine world. The program uncovers the unique world of Italian wine in conversation with some of its key protagonists. Under the umbrella brand of Mamma Jumbo Shrimp, Italian Wine Podcast aims to inform, educate, and entertain listeners with content for wine professionals and casual listeners alike.
The only daily wine podcast in the world, content includes wine business, food & travel, diversity and inclusion, wine producers, science, and marketing and communication. Italian Wine Podcast is available on SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, XimalayaFM (for China), and on the official website. It now boasts almost 800 recorded episodes with a growing online following of over 2 million listens. Donations to the show are welcomed and help fund a portion of the show’s equipment, production, and publication costs.
This article was shared with Prittle Prattle News as a Press Release by PRNewswire
