An Update from Bâtonnage
Katie Canfield here, your Bâtonnage board chair. As announced in our last newsletter, we’ve been taking a hard look at the organization to evaluate our vision and purpose in the industry. The organization has developed quite a bit over the years, and we felt it was high time to update our mission and values to reflect what we are today, and where we want to go.
This strategic planning process was led by our new Executive Director Elaine Chukan Brown and a board sub-committee appointed specifically for this task, with input from our entire board of directors. I am deeply grateful for the time and insights that each of these individuals contributed to this project. It was especially important that we were able to include fresh perspectives from folks that are newer to the organization, taking an objective look at our messaging to refresh and fine tune so that it’s relevant to the state of the industry today. Because it looks a LOT different than it did 8 years ago.
So, without further ado, here are the new mission and values for Bâtonnage Forum.
Bâtonnage is a not-for-profit, founded in Northern California, that supports woman-identifying wine professionals across industry sectors and career stages. Through advocacy, community-building events, and structured mentorship, Bâtonnage seeks to build a welcoming global forum.
Our mission is guided by four key values:
Community: We strive to foster an ongoing and engaged, service-driven community that values listening, open dialogue, and differing perspectives.
Transparency: We strive to openly share our purpose and values, with a willingness to listen, collaborate, and engage in challenging topics and conversations.
Integrity: We strive to be adaptable while remaining consistent in our values to create empowerment and mutual trust.
Respect: We strive to demonstrate honesty, integrity, and transparency in our interactions, approaching every relationship with care, professionalism, and a spirit of reciprocity.
Now that this first phase of our strategic planning process is complete, it’s full steam ahead as we plan our programming for the coming year. Stay tuned for dates and details.
In the meantime, we continue to actively seek sponsors, donors, and collaborative partners to support these future initiatives. If you can support or if you have ideas for potential partnerships that would be a good fit for Bâtonnage, please email us or make a donation online.
In gratitude, always,
Katie
From Our Community…
ROOTED & RISING WITH WOMEN+ IN WINE | APRIL 26
The 3rd annual Women+ in Wine Symposium will take place at the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science at UC Davis. The theme is Rooted & Rising, an exploration of resilience in a time of challenge. Our own Elaine Chukan Brown will give the keynote address and Terah Bajjalieh, our longtime mentee liaison for the Bâtonnage Mentorship Program, will speak on a panel about support systems within the industry. Wine reception to follow!
Women+ in Wine is a student-run organization at UC Davis with the mission of empowering and supporting women and other minorities from all backgrounds entering and working in the wine industry.
The symposium takes place on Sunday, April 26 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. PDT.
THE VERAISON PROJECT | PHILADELPHIA APPRENTICESHIP
The Veraison Project is expanding its apprenticeship programs, with new placements now open on both coasts.
The all-new East Coast opportunity is an immersive, year-long apprenticeship at Mural City Cellars in Philadelphia, complementing the existing program at Silver Oak in California’s Alexander Valley. Both are designed to create meaningful pathways into the wine industry through real-world experience.
If you identify as BIPOC and are looking to break into the industry or grow your skill set in a supportive environment, this is a great opportunity to explore. These rotational programs offer experience across winemaking, hospitality, marketing, and business operations—building both practical expertise and leadership skills.
Applications are open now.
Learn more and apply for the Mural City Cellars Apprenticeship (Philadelphia).
Silver Oak Apprenticeship (Sonoma County): read the job description and apply; deadline is May 10.
