SOCIAL JUSTICE,
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Join us at the CIA 2025 Wine & Beverage Summit before the RISE Climate & Wine Symposium. Use code RISE10 for 10% off CIA Wine & Beverage Summit registration.
Registration opens
Break with Sponsor Scavenger Hunt
Official Welcome: Charles Krug’s Dawn Moreci and Napa Green’s Anna Brittain
RISE Leadership Award
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 wine and sustainability culture, led by Cultique’s Sarah Unger. Unger will share “from the inside out” insights from spending two days behind the scenes with Opus One’s Michael Silacci and Treasury Americas’ Will Drayton. Unger will share thoughts and takeaways on best-in-class practices with internal teams, guests, and consumers, as well as open spaces for industry thought leadership. Unger will have a dialogue with Silacci and Drayton, digging into cultural and wine market trends, ways of communicating meaning, and how this understanding can build team and business success.
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.
Winemaker Michael Silacci has been at the helm of Opus One Winery for more than 20 years. He’s worked globally and acted locally, including serving as President of the Napa Valley Grapegrowers. Silacci is a tireless advocate for climate health and sustainability, including ensuring Opus One became the first estate certified under the new Napa Green Vineyard program, and recently becoming a member applicant to International Wineries for Climate Action.
Will Drayton is the Director of Technical Viticulture, Sustainability and Research at Treasury Wine Estates
(TWE), one of the world’s largest wine companies. Will has been with TWE since 2008, beginning in
viticulture at Etude Winery and has held many positions within the viticulture and winemaking groups.
In his current role, Will guides TWE’s US sustainability efforts in addition to technical and scientific aspects of winegrowing in California. He serves on the committee that guides the Sustainable Wine Roundtable, Chair of the PD-GWSS board for the CDFA and board member of the Los Carneros Water District.
Will holds a Master’s degree from UC Davis in Horticulture and Agronomy and undergraduate degree in
Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge. Will resides with his young family in Sebastopol, CA.
Featuring Jermaine Stone, Creator & Host of Street Somm and 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.
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.
Co-Fermented is an organization dedicated to creating awareness and facilitating representation for the LGBTQIA+ community within the wine industry.
As a community that has experienced historical barriers of acceptance, identity, and representation, Co-Fermented seeks to create inclusive and safe spaces, as well as challenge the status quo that limits our self-being and expression through the use of educational tools, representation, and community building. Co-Fermented is committed to using wine as a conduit for narratives within gender and sexual diversity while elevating LGBTQIA+ identifying individuals and embrace the queer experience.
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.
Puertas Abiertas Community Resource Center is a trusted home and advocate for the Latinx community in Napa County, dedicated to empowering individuals and families through equitable access to social services, cultural wellness, education, and civic engagement. Serving nearly 4,000 people annually, Puertas Abiertas provides essential programs in case management, mental health support, financial literacy, digital inclusion, immigration services, and community support.
With a bilingual, bicultural team and strong community partnerships, Puertas Abiertas ensures that Latinx residents—including immigrants, multi-generational families, farmworkers, hospitality workers, and essential contributors to Napa’s economy—have the resources and support needed to thrive. Through impactful programs, providing both immediate relief and long-term empowerment, Puertas Abiertas remains a vital force in fostering a healthier, more resilient community.
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.
Women For WineSense was founded in the Napa Sonoma area in 1990 to counter the anti-alcohol narrative taking hold at that time. Since then, Women For WineSense has grown to nine active local chapters across the USA, as well as a national membership option for those not living near a local chapter.
Women For WineSense members are winery owners, wine enthusiasts, wine makers, wine marketers, sommeliers, wine distributors, wholesalers and importers, credentialed consumers, people who just love wine…and more.
We feature events and programs for all interested in learning and fostering relationships at various levels with the promotion of the mindful enjoyment of wine at our core.
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.
Now is the time to come together and take bold action - are you ready to be inspired?
RISE brings together thought leaders with cutting edge insights from across the industry, U.S. and Globe. Every day of RISE there are speakers you rarely get to connect with here in Napa County. This includes beyond industry leaders who have been carefully curated for the power of their expertise and message.
➡️ Swipe to see all of these exciting speakers and join us April 29-May 1 and May 6-8 at Charles Krug Winery.
Ticket link in bio.
#wineindustry #winesymposium
Hear why @marisataylorwines is excited for the @risegreenwine Climate & Wine Symposium.
Join us for 6 action packed days April 29-May 1 and May 6-May 8 at Charles Krug Winery.
#climateaction #wineindustry #winebusiness . #regenerativeag
Join us on May 7, 2025 with keynote speakers, @cathycorison and @gracecorisonmartin to hear insights spanning five decades of winemaking wisdom, discuss the rising generation of industry leadership, and hear the compelling case for why embracing sustainability and climate action leadership is essential for the wine industry’s future.
#climateaction #wineindustry #sustainablewine #climatesmart #regenerativeag #winesymposium
Regenerative practices yield mensurable benefits.
Join us to hear leading voices sharing evidence for regenerative agriculture’s ability to improve soil health, farm resilience and store carbon.
Join us May 1, 2025.
Ticket link in bio.
#wineindustry #sustainabilty #climateaction #regenerativeag #regenerativeagriculture #wineandclimate #climateandwine #regenerativevineyard #soilhealth #carbonfarming #winesymposium
Part 2 of the evolution of @napagreen through the stewardship and support of @napavintners.
As @jaimekaraujo says, “The creation of the Agricultural Preserve, Napa Green and the RISE Symposium, aren’t separate initiatives, they are chapters in a continuing story of stewardship in our community.”
Join the @risegreenwine symposium to help us write the next chapter together.
🎥 @robot_productions
#climateaction #napavalley #napavalleywine #wineindustry #symposium
Join visionary @caviarburrito for an inspiring exploration of how viticulture can transform communities and create pathways to wine industry inclusion. Through The @280project, Renfro is reimagining San Francisco’s relationship with urban agriculture and wine, turning public spaces into hubs of opportunity and learning.
Join us May 1, 2025 in St. Helena, CA.
Ticket link in bio.
#climateaction #regenerativeag #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativeviticulture #community #wineindustry #climateandwine #winesymposium
🔈Sound on for this beautiful message from the inspiring @elizvianna of @chimneyrockwinery!
Pick up your tickets for RISE Climate & Wine Symposium beginning April 29th, 2025!
#wineindustry #winebusiness #winemaker #winecountry #napa #napavalley #napawine #sustainability
The @napavintners has been cultivating excellence since 1944, inspiring members to not only produce wines of the highest quality but also to provide environmental leadership and care for this extraordinary place we call home.
We are grateful for their continued support of @risegreenwine and @napagreen and for championing social and environmental leadership in our community and industry.
Stay tuned for part 2 of this video!
🎥 @robot_productions
#climateaction #napavalley #napavalleywine #wineindustry #symposium
Did you catch @abrittain talking with @barrymartin77 this morning on @993thevine? Catch the highlights here! 🎧
#localcontent #localradio #climateaction #wineindustry #winebusiness #winesymposium
Join acclaimed journalist and storyteller Mark Arax as he unravels the complex tapestry of California’s relationship with water.
Hear the critical context behind today’s water challenges, future considerations, and opportunities for agriculture and viticulture including strategies to build resilience.
Join us April 29, 2025 in St. Helena, CA
Ticket Link in Bio.
#climateaction #regenerativeag #regenerativeagriculture #regenerativeviticulture #watersaving #waterefficiency #climatesmartvineyard #climateandwine #climateandwinesymposium
Please join us at RISE Climate & Wine Symposium beginning April 29th and running through May 8th with six half day events in Napa Valley.
Michelle Novi works with the @napavintners and is a board member for @napagreen.
She adds: “In the face of a changing world.. the thing we can really count on is each other & RISE is an incredible place to meet people, be with your peers, engage with new ideas and build the community that’s going to be the key to our resilience moving forward.”
Find ticket info at the link in our profile or at www.risegreen.org and don’t forget Napa Green Members receive a 15% discount. See you there.
#wineindustry #winebusiness #napavalley
To till or not to till? That is the question.
Learn how growers are realizing the documented benefits of dramatically reducing tillage–from enhanced soil health and water retention to reduce erosion–while successfully navigating site-specific challenges like cover crop selection and weed management. Plus, get candid insights about where electric tractors excel, and where traditional equipment may still play a role.
Join us April 30, 2025.
Ticket link in bio.
#wineindustry #sustainability #symposium #climateaction #wineandclimate #climateandwine #sustainablewine #regenerativeag #regenerativeagricture #regenerativevineyard
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