It’s no secret that the Canadian wine industry is lacking diversity. Years of white men as the primary makers, buyers and so-called experts have created an intimidating and near-impenetrable business. There are many reasons behind the current state of the industry: colonialism, racism, the patriarchy. But, in 2023, a lack of acknowledgement and drastic change within the industry is a combination of laziness and conscious ignorance.
Luckily, a few individuals and organizations are demanding difference, focused on creating a wine experience that accurately reflects the multifaceted Canadian consumer. Here are three women working to identify and celebrate diversity in the wine industry, making wine a more inclusive and accessible space for everyone.
First up, Beverly Crandon, a current CMS-certified sommelier, wine lover and founder of Spice Food & Wine Group in Ontario. Crandon is dispelling divisive myths on how we consume wine by pairing them with international cuisines and exploring the diversity in these relationships. Last year, she launched Spring into Spice, an outdoor festival that brings together winemakers and dishes from around the world.
Throughout her wine education, Crandon noticed other students of colour in class but, as time went on, representation dwindled. Determined to see more people that looked like herself in the industry, she began volunteering for organizations that provided scholarships and mentorship support for BIPOC individuals entering the wine industry.
In fact, Crandon started her career as an international operations director for Fortune 500 tech companies before expanding to the world of traditional media, always with a strong focus on product development and strategy. With this experience, she effectively combined her love of wine with wine education, broadening wine appreciation in those not previously considered the “traditional” wine consumer or professional. She lives by her statement that “wine should be inclusive and, through that, approachable. No one should be denied the pleasures of vino!”
Next, Chanile Vines, founder of Vinesplay, a Toronto-based wine club and importing firm with more than 3,000 members. She is former president of the Ontario Wine Society’s Toronto chapter and a founding member of Vinequity, an organization that has created a public directory of all BIPOC individuals in the Canadian wine industry while also providing education, financial support and opportunity. A dementia researcher and wine entrepreneur, Vines uses her extensive education to understand people and their intimate connections to wine. Through her company and volunteer work, she provides an enriching space for businesses and people to grow, connect and have fun, using wine as the catalyst.
Finally, Nabilah Rawji, an advanced sommelier accredited through the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). She was most recently one of only four Canadians, and the only woman of colour, to achieve the CMS Advanced designation, and this year will be participating in the first-ever Women’s Sommelier Symposium. Rawji has led the wine programs for esteemed outposts like Shangri-La, Terroni and Oliver & Bonacini, and is a founding member of Vinequity, mentoring up-and-coming BIPOC members of the wine industry while providing advocacy and resources. Her constant ability to break barriers and lead by example is inspiring young BIPOC women in wine around the world. Her current wine goal: to create accessible lists that “enable people to experience the classic wines of the world while leaving room for an adventure into lesser-charted territories.” —Natalie Preddie
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