The Program

Increasing Diversity in the Wine Industry.

Founded in 2020 by TJ and Hadley Douglas, The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color uses the three-pronged approach of education, work experience, and mentorship to break down barriers to the beverage industry, to create opportunities for career advancement, and to prepare BIPOC students for long and prosperous careers in the wine industry.

The goal of the program is to create career-focused opportunities for its participants to grow generational wealth while increasing diversity in the wine industry.

One dollar of every bottle sold goes to support our program recipients. As part of the team that makes PWC's wines, current interns pave the way for future cohorts to join them in the industry.

Education
Participants in the program complete four levels of education at the Boston University Certificate Program in Wine Studies. These full semester classes include seminars and tasting sessions, and provide a working knowledge of wine varietals and regions, the history of wine, and the wine industry.
Paid Internships
During the program, participants complete four paid industry internships with our partners The Urban Grape, MS Walker, and Row 34 in Boston and Ross Road Custom Crush in Sonoma. This allows our participants to learn four sides of the beverage industry: retail, restaurants, distribution, and winemaking. From here, our students are able to clearly evaluate which segments of the industry interest them most for career opportunities.
Mentorship
A key component to any successful educational program is mentorship. Learning how to navigate the beverage industry, create opportunities for growth, and plan for long term success in a new career are all key components to this program’s success. Mentorship meetings take place every two weeks throughout the program.
Job Placement
Upon completion of the program, participants use industry connections for informational and job interviews and are supported throughout the job placement process. Particular emphasis is given on finding jobs with career advancement opportunities.

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Our Cohorts

Learn More + Apply

2020, Suhayl Ramirez + Amanda Best
After their successful completion of the program, Suhayl was hired as the Director of Customer Engagement at Trois Noix Winery in Napa, and Amanda was hired as the Communications Coordinator for O’Donnell Lane, based in Sonoma.
2021, Tatiana “June” Glenn + Victor Medina Ferrer
June and Victor joined the program in 2021 and will graduate in 2022. Victor is keeping his career options open, while June has her eyes on a career in winemaking.
2022, Allie Kuo and Carmen Lucia "Lucy" Almirudis Penunuri
While Allie is our youngest recipient, she already knows that she wants to be a powerful voice in the movement to make the wine industry less homogeneous. Lucy has a passion for restaurants and knows that her year in the program will propel her to new heights in the industry.
2023, Ralph Roldán + Steph Koenigsberger
With a focus on education, Ralph is on a mission to uncork the stories of unique and underrepresented winemakers while he explores fascinating people behind the vibrant world of grapes. Stephan enjoys combining his natural sciences background in academia with his passion for food and drink, particularly how environmental factors impact the unique flavor profile of a given wine!
2024, Bipashyana Shrestha
Bipashyana fell in love with wine while working at Dawa’s in Queens, and further realized her obsession at @comfortkitchenbos in Dorchester. She hopes to become a sommelier, but also realizes this program may lead her to unexpected career paths within the industry.