Honoring Community, Mentorship & the Power of Our Voices
This month, we’re handing the newsletter over to Bâtonnage Board Director Maria Calvert, PR expert and owner of Maria Calvert Consulting. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, Maria brought together a group of Hispanic/Latine women in wine to talk about community, mentorship, and what they hope to pass on to the next generation.
Take it away, Maria…
For Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15), we’re taking a moment to recognize the many Hispanic/Latine women whose voices, experiences, and leadership continue to shape the wine industry. At its heart, wine has always been rooted in community. It brings people together around a table, creates connections across cultures and generations, and gives us a reason to share stories, traditions, and experiences. For many of us, that sense of connection extends beyond the glass. It is reflected in the importance our culture places on family, relationships, and showing up for one another.
Community and mentorship are powerful forces in both wine and Hispanic/Latine culture. We often learn through the people around us and the generosity of those who came before us. In an industry that can sometimes feel difficult to navigate, having someone who believes in you, advocates for you, shares their knowledge, or simply opens a door can make a lasting difference.
That spirit of connection is also at the heart of growth. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we invited a group of Hispanic/Latine women in wine to reflect on the communities and mentors who have shaped their journeys, as well as what they hope to give back to the next generation. Their stories are a reminder that, much like wine itself, it truly takes a village.
MC: How has community or mentorship shaped your journey in wine, and what is one thing you hope to give back to the next generation of Latina/women in the industry?
Jesica Vargas
Founder, Andes Uncorked; Writer-at-Large, Wine Enthusiast
JV: The Latino wine community has been a source of motivation for me. Not only because it’s great to see people who look like me thriving, but because their presence and success means something is changing. As a wine professional, I believe the industry must embrace change and diversity to authentically connect with multicultural consumers. That’s why I hope to inspire the next generation of Latinas to be themselves and do things their way, so we can keep making room for our community and serving consumers better.
Yumilka “Yumi” Ortiz
Sommelier; Traveling Winemaker; Wine Educator; WSET Level 3
YO: I started my wine journey in 2009. I had to put aside my seasoned career experience (TV Production, Non-Profit, and Licensing) to start from zero. It took a lot of outreach to find the right mentors that continue to guide me even today. I was lucky to find great people that dedicated time to help me grow in my wine journey. As a Dominican in the wine business, it’s important to stay connected to your identity and celebrate each accomplishment earned. I hope that I can continue to give back in passing on wine knowledge and connecting Latina women through networking.
Lydia Richards
Owner, Teffy Wines; Co-Founder, Hispanics in Wine & Spirits, Inc.
LR: Community and mentorship have been completely invaluable to my journey. I know it can feel daunting, even scary, to put yourself out there and ask for help, but seeking guidance and building meaningful relationships can truly change the game. The knowledge and support I’ve received have helped me build the career and life I envisioned, in a way that feels authentic to me.
I want to show the industry that women belong not only in conversations about wine consumption and trends, but also in ownership, leadership, and generational wealth creation. Representation matters now more than ever, and I want to make the path easier for the women who come after me by demonstrating that success in this industry is possible without compromising their values. To me, that means building a profitable and sustainable business while authentically investing in community, creating pathways for underrepresented professionals, and making people from all backgrounds feel seen, heard, and welcome in an industry that has too often been defined by exclusivity.
Gabriela Fernandez
Brand Strategist and Marketing Communications Consultant; Co-Jefa, La Lucha
GF: My mentors came in the form of people who saw my potential before I could really see it in myself. They challenged me, pushed me, brought me into rooms and conversations where I didn’t know anyone, and helped me build connections that changed the trajectory of my career and my confidence. When I felt defeated or frustrated, they reminded me that I could be an agent of change.
That has been one of the most beautiful parts of my journey: realizing that relationships are our greatest currency. Not in a transactional sense, but because there is so much power in people investing in and uplifting one another. In our cultura, it’s honoring our dicho: tu lucha es mi lucha. There is something incredibly special about someone sharing your name in a room you aren’t in, making an introduction because they believe it could help you grow, collaborating with you or simply saying, “you should know this person.” The people who have done that for me are some of the greatest treasures in my life, and they’ve shaped the kind of person I want to be for others.
I want to be a co-conspirator. I want the next generation of Latina women in wine to know they can come to me with a question, an idea, an opportunity, or even a problem they don’t know how to solve. And if I don’t have the answer, I’ll help find someone who does.
Introducing Bâtonnage @ Decant Napa: Office Hours
SUNDAYS, 2:00-4:00 PM (PACIFIC TIME) | DECANT NAPA, 2999 SOLANO AVE, NAPA, CA 94558
Buy a glass, ask a question, stay a while. Swing by Decant Napa on Sunday afternoons for pop-in mentorship, community, and connection. Come with a question or come with nothing at all, either way, you’re welcome at the table.
Upcoming Office Hours:
September 13: Elaine Chukan Brown & Monika Bielka-Vescovi
September 20: Michelle Egan
September 27: Katie Canfield
No RSVP required; register to let us know you’re coming and get updates on future guests.
Register here. No cost to join. Donations accepted to support future Bâtonnage programming.
