CH-CH-CH-CH-CHANGES: The 2027 Mentorship Program
Rebecca Hopkins here, reporting on behalf of the Bâtonnage Board’s Mentorship Committee.
It’s October, and for some of our community here, harvest is finally coming to an end (phew!), while for others, the dreaded “O-N-D” (October, November, December) peak selling season is just getting started.
Either way, it feels a little “extra” on the work stress right now.
So while 2027 may seem eons away, we wanted to take the opportunity to share some good news about our beloved Mentorship Program!
The Mentorship Program has been one of the most enduring and successful aspects of Bâtonnage. Since 2021, the program has forged more than 2,300 mentor and mentee connections and facilitated multiple networking events and online seminars and workshops, reaching thousands of women across the U.S.
That said, we heard it was time to adapt the format of the program to better serve the community, so we have tweaked a few things.
Here’s what’s NEW for 2027:
The program will offer one single program of one-to-one mentor and mentee pairs, supported by year-round events that are open to everyone in the Bâtonnage community (replacing our former multi-level format).
Mentorship will cover three Sector Focus areas of specialization:
Production - Viticulture; Winemaking & Operations (cellar / production)
Brand Management - Marketing & Communications; Wine Business & Finance
Sales - Sales (wholesale & DTC); Retail & Distribution; Hospitality
Each match will complete a minimum of six contact hours in person, online, or by phone.
The program will run for eight months with scheduled check-ins from program leaders.
Streamlining to one program doesn’t mean narrowing who it’s for. Whether you’re just starting out in wine, building toward your next career step, or bringing years of experience from another field to wine for the first time, there’s a place for you here.
Applications for the 2027 intake will open in March 2027, with a group welcome in May and program kickoff on June 1.
Curious to learn more?
Interested Mentees: join our informational webinar in January, 2027. Stay tuned for more details and to sign up.
Our goal with the Mentorship Program is to help our community members build confidence and leadership skills, build a supportive professional network, and create value for both mentees and mentors through career advancement. Ultimately, to help women grow, learn and thrive in their wine careers.
To stay up to date, please follow our social channels on Instagram, Facebook and through the website.
We look forward to welcoming you and stirring up conversation!
All the best,
Your Mentorship Team
Jessica Koga, Winemaker, Schramsberg Vineyards
Maria Calvert, PR Expert, Maria Calvert Consulting
Rebecca Hopkins, Founder, Rebecca Hopkins Wine; Mentorship Director
Community Toolkit
Understanding Mutual Aid
The simplest way to understand mutual aid is community members helping each other. Sharing food, shelter, skills, and supplies are examples.
Mutual aid is defined by community sharing without expectation of immediate (or later) repayment. The core idea is that eventually we all need help in some way. When we have the means (time, money, skills, resources) to share, we share. Eventually, others share with us too.
Why mutual aid and philanthropy or charity are not the same:
Mutual aid is a locally led, grassroots activity. Even if outside help is on the way, mutual aid starts with you and your neighbors, coworkers, and area volunteers. In mutual aid, we are helping each other. It’s a kind of collaboration, or partnership, a ‘horizontal system.’
Philanthropy and charity, on the other hand, are vertical programs. In charity, someone with more provides for someone with less. It’s a valuable contribution that also maintains a distance or difference between those who donate and those who receive.
How to be part of mutual aid in your community:
Food shortages happen for almost anyone. But asking for food can be difficult. Possible solution: work with a discreet location in your area (like, next to a recycling or garbage disposal center; the back of the local grocery store; outside the post office; or at a local grange hall) to create an open access food kitchen. It’s a straightforward version of establishing a cabinet and refrigerator where people can bring and exchange food. How can we share food that is more than cans?
Pool money for times in need. Some groups (the community center, fellow employees, family members) start a fund that everyone contributes to when possible, at the amount possible for that person. When someone has an unexpected need like medical bills or being furloughed from work, the fund is available to help.
Collaborate for care. Caring for children, elders, family members recovering from injury or illness, or someone with a temporary or long-term disability can be an enormous demand. Some people form community efforts, mom groups, or friendly partnerships to set up a schedule of providing meals, friendly visits, reading time, house cleaning and more for each other. Online calendars make it easier than ever to sign up and see what days are needed. Or, set up a weekly plan: you help out on the day you have available (say, Mondays), and a friend or neighbor takes another day each week or month.
Come Party With Us!
SAVE THE DATE: BÂTONNAGE HOLIDAY SOIRÉE | HEALDSBURG, CA
Mark your calendars! On December 9, we’re closing out 2026 together with a festive holiday celebration and a toast to what’s ahead in 2027. Expect bubbles, wines, and bites from J Vineyards, a welcome from Elaine Chukan Brown, a New Year’s toast from J Vineyards Head Winemaker Nicole Hitchcock, and a sneak peek at our all-new Mentorship Program.
Early bird tickets ($50) go on sale October 19 and are available through November 9; get yours at batonnageforum.com/events. Every ticket supports Bâtonnage’s nonprofit work. This event is 21+ only.
When: Wednesday, December 9 | 4:00-7:00 pm (Pacific Time)
Where: J Vineyards, 11447 Old Redwood Highway, Healdsburg, CA 95448