SOCIAL JUSTICE,
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Join us at the CIA 2025 Wine & Beverage Summit before the RISE Climate & Wine Symposium.
Registration opens
Partner Bingo
Official Welcome
Break
Asking the Critical Questions Forum: Does Diversity Improve Business Performance & Resilience?
Happy Hour with wine & snacks
Two parallel workshops. Choose 1.
Engage with the process and outcomes of a powerful mentorship between Soil and Shadow CEO Nikki Silvestri and Dominus Estate’s Tod Mostero, facilitated by Napa Green’s RISE program. Building on their vulnerable 2023 dialogue, these leaders share how principles of regenerative agriculture can inform and transform workplace culture and team dynamics. Learn how Mostero applies these insights at Dominus Estate to cultivate an environment where every team member – from vineyard to cellar to management – feels empowered to contribute. Silvestri brings her innovative “social fertility” framework to demonstrate how natural systems can inform more inclusive, resilient organizational structures.
Action Opportunities:
Nikki Silvestri is, first and foremost, a mother of two, wife, and sci-fi nerd. Nikki is also a serial non-profit executive director and entrepreneur (currently the CEO and founder of Soil and Shadow), a board member of Greenpeace USA, and an international keynote speaker.
Nikki’s unique approach to inclusion, leadership and organizational development takes cues from nature, building models of “social fertility” to weave them into a Joy and Impact™ framework. Her work also encourages a rigorous and shame-free approach to acknowledging our societal shadows and blind spots, especially when attempting to balance the triple bottom line (ecology, economy, and equity) in times of uncertainty, climate/health feedback loops, and increasing volatility.
Nikki’s wide-ranging career has taken her from presentations at the White House and negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency to intimate workshops with local businesses and small retail organizing. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including ELLE Magazine’s Gold Award and OxFam America’s Act Local, Think Global Award, and she was named one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans.
You can find out more at www.nikkisilvestri.com and www.soilandshadow.com
Director of Viticulture and Winemaking, the French connection runs strong through Mostero, who studied in Bordeaux and trained at Château Haut-Brion, Domaine de la Romanée-Conti and Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix. He worked with Baron Philippe de Rothschild in the Languedoc and at Almaviva in Chile before returning to his native California to join Dominus Estate in 2007.
“Christian Moueix has been my guide throughout my career and has been my greatest example of a perfect winemaker. He is clear, precise and is profoundly attached to the vineyard. He has guided me from the beginning.”
Featuring Sarah Unger of Cultique
Two parallel workshops. Choose 1.
Experience a fascinating exploration of how current and emerging cultural trends inform and shape sustainability engagement, led by Cultique’s Sarah Unger. Drawing from immersive research at two Napa Green Certified Wineries, paired with broader wine market insights, Unger will share thoughts and takeaways on leveraging sustainability commitments and stories with internal teams, guests, and consumers. Unger will have a dialogue with leaders from the two participating wineries, digging into cultural trends, ways of communicating meaning, and how this understanding can build team and business success. Unger will share examples of messaging, terminology, and visual communication that are resonating with today’s audiences and positioning brands for tomorrow’s cultural shifts.
Action Opportunities:
Sarah Unger is the Founder and COO of CULTIQUE, a cultural insights and strategy partnership founded in 2020 with Linda Ong, the company’s CEO. The female-led firm helps media, entertainment, tech and consumer businesses navigate fast-moving times with clarity and confidence, leveraging the changes in external culture as a competitive advantage and creating bespoke strategies to claim and own impact in the larger conversation.
An award-winning cultural expert, Unger and her team of analysts provide intel and POVs to businesses such as AMEX, GBT, AARP, Airbnb, YouTube, Apple, WarnerMedia, Disney/ABC, and NBCU to navigate fast-changing times, recalibrate for new audiences, minimize risk, and cultivate growth in an uncertain world. Unger has been a frequent commentator in media such as The New York Times, Fortune, The Atlantic, Forbes, and The Daily Beast. Previously, Sarah was SVP, Cultural Insights & Strategy at CIVIC Entertainment Group, now an investor in CULTIQUE. Unger also led brand strategy as Vice President of Marketing Strategy, Trends & Insights at Paramount (formerly Viacom) across its portfolio of Paramount Pictures, Paramount Network, MTV, Comedy Central, BET, Nickelodeon, and more. She was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in 2015 during her tenure at Ketchum as Vice President, Insights & Strategic Planning where she launched the Millennial and Gen Z division.
Featuring Jermaine Stone, CEO of Cru Luv Wines & Author of “Wine Barz Vol. 1”
Join wine cultural innovator and changemaker Jermaine Stone for a dynamic exploration of how hip-hop culture can open new doors to wine appreciation and industry inclusion. From his early days as a Bronx rapper to managing $60 million in fine wine logistics at Zachys, co-founding Wally’s Auctions, and launching Cru Luv Selections, Stone brings a fresh perspective to wine education and engagement. Through his new book “Wine Barz Vol. 1: For the Love,” he demonstrates how blending musical storytelling with wine knowledge creates authentic connections across cultures. Discover how his innovative approach makes wine more accessible to new audiences while honoring its rich traditions.
Action Opportunities:
Twenty years ago, Jermaine Stone went from rapping to packing boxes in the shipping department at Zachy’s to becoming the first black commercial wine auctioneer. He has since been heralded as one of Wine Enthusiast’s 40 under 40. The Bronx native’s rise in the wine industry has been driven by one key mission: to challenge the narrative about and for black men in America. In founding Cru Luv Selections, an innovative creative agency based in NYC, Stone has found a space that can use marketing, brand partnerships, and content creation to connect wine and hip-hop cultures and bring wine to an audience that has traditionally been ignored. In 2023, Stone was featured in the New York Times, on Sway in the Morning, and in Us Weekly. He also became the star of the Tastemade original streaming series Street Somm, which has been nominated for both a James Beard Award and an Emmy Award.
Additionally, he was a guest lecturer at Cornell University for the second year in a row and hosted the first-ever Wine & Hip Hop event at the Clos de Vougeot, arguably the most historic site in one of, if not the most prestigious wine regions in the world, Burgundy, France. This year, Stone plans to elevate his efforts to bring wine and hip-hop culture together by being more hands-on with the direct integration of wine and hip-hop culture in a way that only he can.
Join moderator Nikki Silvestri for an evidence-based discussion of how diversity strengthens business success and adaptability. Gabriela Fernandez shares insights from multiple vantage points – from The Duckhorn Portfolio’s trade and events marketing to pioneering media platforms that elevate diverse voices in wine. Javier Zamora shares how his immigrant experience and commitment to worker equity helped build JSM Organics into a thriving 200-acre operation. Dr. Rosalind Conerly brings both academic rigor as an Associate Dean & Director at Stanford University and practical insights from RDC Consulting to examine the benefits of engaging diverse communities and consumers. Together, these leaders illuminate the tangible ways diversity enhances innovation, market reach, and organizational resilience.
Action Opportunities:
Nikki Silvestri is, first and foremost, a mother of two, wife, and sci-fi nerd. Nikki is also a serial non-profit executive director and entrepreneur (currently the CEO and founder of Soil and Shadow), a board member of Greenpeace USA, and an international keynote speaker.
Nikki’s unique approach to inclusion, leadership and organizational development takes cues from nature, building models of “social fertility” to weave them into a Joy and Impact™ framework. Her work also encourages a rigorous and shame-free approach to acknowledging our societal shadows and blind spots, especially when attempting to balance the triple bottom line (ecology, economy, and equity) in times of uncertainty, climate/health feedback loops, and increasing volatility.
Nikki’s wide-ranging career has taken her from presentations at the White House and negotiations with the Environmental Protection Agency to intimate workshops with local businesses and small retail organizing. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including ELLE Magazine’s Gold Award and OxFam America’s Act Local, Think Global Award, and she was named one of The Root’s 100 Most Influential African Americans.
You can find out more at www.nikkisilvestri.com and www.soilandshadow.com
Gabriela Fernandez is a visionary leader, storyteller, and innovator deeply committed to bridging the gap for underrepresented communities in both the wine industry and media. Recognized in Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious Future 40 list and as the first Latina to grace its cover, Gabriela’s remarkable work spans across initiatives like The Big Sip Podcast, Sip & Sabor Festival, La Lucha Wines, The LatinX Wine Summit, Hispanics in Wine & Spirits, and The Duckhorn Portfolio. Known for her spirit of collaboration and strategic leadership, she has cultivated impactful business relationships that create lasting value for both consumers and stakeholders. As one of Latino Leader Magazine’s Top 100 Latinas of 2024, Gabriela’s influence continues to grow. In 2021, she played a key role in launching Napa’s first all-Spanish radio station, becoming Wine Down Media’s first Latina producer and On-Air host for MegaMix radio. With a powerful blend of expertise in wine, media, and an unwavering dedication to inclusivity, Gabriela uses her platform as a first-generation Latina to amplify diverse voices and build authentic, meaningful connections. Her work inspires transformative, results-driven experiences that leave a lasting legacy for generations to come.
Immigrating to the United States in 1986, Javier Zamora worked in the service industry in southern California for 20 years before going back to school at the age of 43, earning his GED and a degree in landscape design before enrolling in the horticulture program at Cabrillo College. Sharpening his farming skills through the Agriculture and Land-Based Training Association (ALBA), he started farming organically in 2012 on 1.5 acres. Today, as owner of JSM Organics, he farms over 100 acres on California’s Central Coast. He also is a mentor to other farmers and a leading voice in the local organic community.
He frequently speaks on farmer panels and at events, including, most recently, at The Organic Center’s 2018 Organic Confluences Summit. He is a strong advocate for beginning farmers and federal conservation programs. Zamora sits on the Boards of ALBA, Ecological Farming Association, and Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency, and is a member of USDA’s Advisory Committee on Beginning Farmers and Ranchers.
Dr. Rosalind “Roz” Conerly, a Southern California native, is a scholar practitioner based in the San Francisco Bay Area with over 15 years of experience in roles focused on creating strategy to affirm and highlight the nuanced experiences of Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) within an organization to contribute toward culture shift. She has held roles in organizations focused on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives and has taught college courses focused on DEI and career exploration. She also had a brief stint in the hospitality industry while living in Las Vegas. She is the Associate Dean & Director of the Black Community Services Center within the Centers for Equity, Community and Leadership at Stanford University. Her expertise and scholarship are focused on creating and developing identity affirming spaces to assist with retention and belonging. She has co-authored several notable works including, “Who is Going to Mentor Us? Black Women Administrators and Our Leadership Journeys”.
Dr. Roz is the founder of RDC Consulting, LLC., a boutique firm driven by her dedication to community building, education, and passion for wine. Her consultancy specializes in strategic planning and fostering DEI across a range of industries, including wine and academia. A freelance wine writer and vibe creator, Dr. Roz enjoys crafting intimate wine tasting experiences for her clients while championing the stories of underrepresented winemakers and brands.
The CIA Wine & Beverage Summit is an annual program designed to empower wine professionals with the tools, insights, and connections needed to thrive in the dynamic world of wine. The summit provides a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application through out-of-the-box programming, including immersive tastings and insightful discussions. This annual conference empowers wine professionals with the essential skills and knowledge needed to bolster their creativity, enhance their business acumen, and become industry leaders and tastemakers. Learn more about the program here.
The Glancy Wine Education Foundation was established in 2020 to assist wine and hospitality professionals in furthering their career goals, even as many lost their jobs during the Pandemic.
As of 2025 we now offer scholarships to students nationally via relationships with three of America’s top wine-education programs.
We are dedicated to assisting underserved communities across the country with scholarships to further their professional wine education with the goal of raising their earning power and increasing diversity in the wine industry.
Hispanics in Wine™ is a nonprofit organization dedicated to amplifying Hispanic/Latinx roots in the beverage and hospitality industries. Rooted in community and representation, its mission is to provide educational and career-advancementopportunities to the ever-growing Hispanic and LatinX community of beverage professionals in the United States and worldwide. From a comprehensive directory of wine professionals and strategic partnerships to an industry LatinX wine summit, scholarship opportunities, and more, Hispanics in Wine aims to connect, amplify, and support the ever-growing Hispanic and Latinx community, including wine entrepreneurs, producers, sommeliers, retailers, restaurants, vineyard stewards, and consumers.
The mission of the NV Farmworker Foundation is to support and promote Napa Valley’s vineyard workers through education and professional development.
The Farmworker Education Committee has been active in the community, hosting the Spanish Brown Bag Series and Napa County Pruning Contest, since 2001. The organization realized its full potential when founder, Arnulfo Solorio, presented his dream of creating a foundation to provide educational opportunities for farmworkers year-round. With overwhelming support, his vision became a reality, and the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation was established in 2011, the first grower-supported organization of its kind in the United States. Today, the Napa Valley Farmworker Foundation provides a wide range of annual programs that focus on developing skills in the areas of adult literacy, vineyard operations & safety, leadership & management, mentorship, and family life. The farmworker community is critical to the success of the wine industry and the foundation is dedicated to creating a better future for all Napa County farmworkers and their families.
Arnulfo Solorio is a partner at Silverado Farming Company and recognized as NVG Grower of the Year in 2022. He continues to serve as the Vice President of the Farmworker Foundation Board and Chair of the Education Committee.
The Tinfoil Recycling Project is an exciting endeavor. The idea centers on the concept of recycling tin capsules from wine bottles. TRCNB supplies participating wineries with collection buckets to recycle the tin from the neck of each wine bottle. We collect the donations on a quarterly basis or earlier as needed and deliver to a local recycling business.
Click below to see our growing list of 40+ participating wineries and restaurants and how you might get involved.
Thank you for Helping Teachers Help Kids.
A vibrant and dynamic 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, passionately committed to reshaping the beverage industry. We are a collective of devoted professionals, united by a shared vision of creating an industry that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
The name ‘Veraison’ is not just a term; it’s a metaphor symbolizing our mission. In viticulture, ‘veraison’ marks the pivotal moment when grapes begin to ripen, changing color from their initial green hue to deep shades of purple or gold. It is a period of transformation, of maturation, and of potential realized. This is the change we aim to inspire within the beverage industry – a transition from mere growth to true equity, from blossoming to ripening.
Napa Green is a global leader in sustainable winegrowing, setting the highest bar for sustainability and climate action in the wine industry. Napa Green facilitates systematic soil to bottle certification for wineries and vineyards, and provides the resources, tools and connections to continuously level up leadership. In 2021, Napa Green was the first sustainable winegrowing program in the world to redevelop Vineyard certification standards to focus on climate action, regenerative carbon farming, and social equity. In 2022, Napa Green and community partners launched a first of its kind, six-event Climate & Wine Symposium (Napa THRIVES now RISE) with over 65 speakers and 600 total guests.
Slide for Speakers ➡️
Unfortunately, wine cannot flow directly from the barrel to your glass. It takes a lot of materials and packaging to get that elegant wine bottle to your table. Wineries have significant purchasing power and can green their supply chain and shift to environmentally preferable products.
Join Cathy Corison & Grace Corison Martin in Conversation: Heritage & Horizon: A Mother-Daughter Vision for Wine’s Climate Future with Cathy Corison and Grace Corison Martin. Learn about reuse and upcycling opportunities, dive into how wineries can leverage their purchasing power to drive sustainability innovation, and hear experts weigh in on the critical question, Do Consumers Care about Sustainability & Climate Action?
Join the conversation May 7, 2025. Ticket link in bio.
Join us at RISE on May 7th for Supply Chain & Waste Prevention Day featuring @cathycorison & @gracecorisonmartin!
Slide for speakers ➡️
Sustainability is about caring for the health and resilience of nature and environment, the health and resilience of employees and community, all of which contributes to the success and longevity of businesses. We cannot have environmental or economic sustainability without social sustainability.
Join us for Breaking Down Barriers: Where Hip-Hop Meets Wine featuring Jermaine Stone, CEO of Cru Luv Wines & Author of “Wine Barz Vol. 1.” Learn about building regenerative social systems, explore of how current and emerging cultural trends inform and shape sustainability engagement, and hear from experts on the critical question: Does Diversity Improve Business Performance & Resilience?
🌟 Apply now 🌟
We are offering six RISE Leadership Awards that will be given out during the six days of the RISE Symposium.
One award may be given out for each of the Six Pillars of Sustainable Winegrowing Leadership:
⭐️ Outstanding water efficiency & savings
⭐️ Outstanding energy efficiency & savings
⭐️ Outstanding whole farm regenerative practices
⭐️ Outstanding strides in caring for employees and building a more diverse and inclusive team
⭐️ Outstanding greening of supply chain & waste prevention
⭐️ Outstanding strides in climate action and/or regenerative, climate smart farming
Those who win the award will be given the chance to give a 5-7 minute version of a “TED Talk” at the RISE Climate & Wine Symposium.
Reach out to megan@napagreen.org for details!
Slide for speakers ➡️
In the vineyard, nature is our ally. We can use cover crops that attract beneficial insects that eat the nasty bugs we don’t want in the vineyard and release vineyard-friendly insects like ladybugs. Putting up bluebird and owl boxes and raptor perches, helps with bugs, rodents, and scares away unwelcome birds that eat the grapes, like starlings.
Join Chris Renfro, Founder of The Two Eighty Project, for Building Community, From the Vine Up. Learn about the critical importance of soil health and biodiversity, the benefits of our furry and flying vineyard workers, and discuss the critical question, Is Regenerative Ag Our Future?
Join us May 1, 2025 for Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Biodiversity. Ticket link in bio.
🌱 Join us for Proactive Farming, Soil Health & Biodoversity Day at RISE on May 1st, 2025 at @charleskrugwinery!
🐑 Tickets may be found at www.risegreen.org or at the link in our bio.
💡Making wine is actually quite energy intensive. It takes a lot of refrigeration to cool, ferment, and age wines. A lot of hot water to sanitize tanks, barrels, and bottling lines.
Join acclaimed wine journalist @rayisle for a multifaceted exploration of “energy” in wine – from the vitality of healthy soils to the skilled work of vineyard teams, from production and supply chain to market momentum.
Attend workshops for an actionable exploration of nascent opportunities for the wine industry–solar thermal hot water and energy storage and understand the lifecycle analysis comparing EVs to conventional vehicles, examining crucial factors like battery production, grid electricity sources, and vehicle usage, and hear from industry experts address the critical questions, “To Till & EV or Not to Till & EV?”
⬆️ Find tickets at the link in our profile!
➡️ Scroll for Speakers!
💦 Water is gold in California, where we continue to face increasingly frequent and intense droughts tied to our changing climate.
Join the acclaimed journalist and storyteller Mark Arax as he unravels the complex tapestry of California’s relationship with water, lean how to transform your water management through proven metering and monitoring strategies, hear grower experiences of transitioning to dry farming, and listen to industry experts speak about the critical question “Is Water the Solution to Heat Stress?”
Ticket link in our bio for Water Efficiency & Savings on April 29, 2025 at the Charles Krug Carriage House.
Water Efficiency and Savings Day is April 29th at @charleskrugwinery. Find information and tickets at the link in our profile ⬆️
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