Are you interested in working at the management leadership level in the wine industry? Want to advance your wine career with top-level training? Prepared to invest your time in learning?
Do you identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour, and live in British Columbia?
Vinica Education Society hosts a comprehensive training, mentorship and internship program to support aspiring BIPOC wine professionals to advance their careers. Our life-changing Equity in Wine Leadership 13 week full-time training program is free for qualified participants. We have successfully run this program three times, in a hybrid format for participants living across BC, and we are applying for funding to run it again in the fall of 2026!
This intense, life-changing 13 week program includes three residency weeks in Kelowna, BC, two weeks of internship placements in various locations throughout BC, and online study, training and mentorship, including:
- WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust) Level 2 and Level 3
- BC Wine Ambassador Levels 1
- BC Wine industry-specific training
- Cultural empowerment seminars, DEI and Indigenous training
- Strong connections to BC and beyond wine industry employers
- Mentorship with top BIPOC leader in the global wine industry
- A project-based internship to make connections and build your resume
Be the First to Know
We are currently pursuing funding for a cohort program running September-November, 2026. If you are interested in participating please indicate your interest here!
Employers, thank you for filling out the support letter form below so we can submit your support to the funder.
Previous Program
For our 2023 cohort, funding was provided by the Government of Canada through the Canada-BC Workforce Development Agreement and the Province of British Columbia. Additional support is also provided by Wine Growers BC, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, and the Vancouver Wine Festival
Additional support provided by:
Participant Criteria
The Equity in Wine Leadership is a free training program for people who are passionate about wine, but experiencing barriers to participation or advancement in the industry. Participants may be from any part of British Columbia, but must be resident in British Columbia.
The 19 participants for our 2026 program will be selected based on the following criteria:
- identifies as Black, Indigenous, or a person of colour
- is 19+ years old
- has a keen interest in wine and loves learning
- would like to pursue a management or leadership-level career in the wine industry
- can commit to 5 full days a week in training, internship placement and study throughout the 13 week program
- is seeking training to find a new job, or preparing for changing job requirements or new job opportunities in the community
- is unemployed, employed part-time, employed casually, seasonally employed or precariously employed
- is a resident of British Columbia
- has a SIN (social insurance number)
- is a Canadian Citizen, Permanent Resident, or Protected Person entitled to work in Canada.