Women of the Vine & Spirits, the world’s leading organization dedicating to the support and advancement of women in the alcohol beverage industry, officially launched the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation and is now accepting scholarship applications to be awarded this summer.

The Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation, Ltd. provides scholarships and awards for the purpose of helping women advance in their careers in the food, wine, spirits, hospitality, or viticulture industries through education, leadership, and professional development, as well as fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large.

“Selling out this year’s Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium to 700 attendees in only 24 hours was a telling sign that women in our industry are thirsty for education, advancement and support,” says founder & president, Women of the Vine & Spirits Deborah Brenner. “We are proud to announce the formation of this Foundation which will continue to advance and bolster women in our industry for years to come.”

The Foundation offers scholarships each calendar year to recipients of either a Professional & Leadership Development Scholarship or an Educational Scholarship as described below. Applications are now being accepted with the deadline to submit, June 1, 2017; recipients will be selected July 15, 2017.

Professional & Leadership Development Scholarship: This scholarship awards recipients with attendance at the Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium. Each year the Foundation will announce the number of scholarships to be awarded. For 2018, the Foundation will award two scholarships for recipients’ attendance at the Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, March 12—14, 2018. The Foundation will award each recipient with a symposium ticket, lodging for the duration of the symposium, and transportation to and from the San Francisco airport. The Foundation will also reimburse recipients for airfare up to $500 upon proof of the recipients’ purchase of the airline ticket.

Educational Scholarship: This scholarship awards recipients with either a student scholarship or a continuing education scholarship as described below. Each year the Foundation will announce the number of scholarships to be awarded. For 2018, the Foundation will award two scholarships to recipients to assist with their tuition, course materials, lodging, and related educational expense. The dollar amount of each Educational Scholarship will range from $500 up to $2,500, and will fall under either one of the following categories:

Student Scholarship—Award for applicants already enrolled in an accredited food, wine, hospitality, viticulture, or other alcohol beverage industry related postsecondary program.

Continuing Education Scholarship—Award for applicants towards the cost of professional advancement courses regarding the food, wine, hospitality, and/or viticulture industries.  Courses awarded may include, but shall not be limited to, the California Wine Appellation Specialist course, WSET Wine Certification course, Somm Essentials, Court of Master Sommeliers’ courses, Advanced Tasting programs, public speaking courses, and career development courses.

Women of the Vine & Spirits Scholarship Fund in Honor of Edward H. Brenner

“When I started my entrepreneurial endeavor, I enticed my dad out of retirement to work with me. We worked together for seven years and I was blessed to have him lend his expertise and share his wisdom to guide me. Unfortunately, my dad passed away in 2014, just four weeks before we held the first ever Women of the Vine Grand Tasting in Napa. His unwavering support gave me the courage to step up and step out. As a father of three daughters and grandfather of three granddaughters, I am honored to name the scholarship fund after my Man of the Vine, Edward H. Brenner,” says founder & president, Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner.

In addition to being the Founding Partner of Women of the Vine & Spirits, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is the Founding Partner of the Women of the Vine & Spirits Scholarship Fund.

“We are proud to be a part of this group that is dedicated to celebrating achievements and advancement of women in the business,” says executive vice president, general manager of the Wine Division, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Steve Slater.