The Association of African American Vintners and Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institution announce the application process for the Online Wine Education Scholarship Program. The program awards 16 course scholarships in 2021-2022 to minority students who wish to begin their journey by pursuing an education or a career in the wine industry.
The scholarships will be awarded four times a year when the joint APWASI and AAAV scholarship committee meet to select the scholarship winners. This scholarship application period will be available during:
- October 15 – November 15, 2021. Winners will be announced by November 30, 2021. Only 4 applicants will be chosen for this round.
ELIGIBILITY AND ENTRY
To be considered, a recipient must:
- Have a strong interest in improving diversity in the wine industry
- Be at minimum a high school graduate and at least 21 years old.
THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
AAAV is partnering with Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute to assist and support the path for minority students to begin their journey pursuing an education or a career in the wine industry, and to assist those supporting diversity in the wine industry.
We are offering the following Scholarships:
- APWASI Wine Essentials I Certified Online Program
- APWASI Wine Essentials II Certified Online Program
- APWASI Winery Tasting Room Certified Online Program
- APWASI Wines of USA Certified Online Program
- APWASI Wines of China Certified Online Program
- APWASI Wines of South Africa Certified Online Program
How to Apply
Interested applicants must apply by submitting the contact form below and write an essay of 500-1000 words. Applicants will demonstrate through their essay what their professional goals in the wine, spirits, and hospitality industry are.
The essay for each APWASI course will have one general question that everyone needs to answer and one specific question related to each course. Be sure that your essay covers both the general question and the specific question so that you can be compared to the appropriate applicants.
General question for all applicants to answer:
How will this scholarship help you improve your current skill set and allow you to both advance and support efforts to improve diversity in the wine, spirits, and hospitality industry?
Specific question related to the Course Applicants are applying for:
APWASI Wine Essentials I Certified Online Program – Why do you believe you deserve this scholarship?
APWASI Wine Essentials II Certified Online Program – Who did you help the most in the last year and why did you help them?
APWASI Winery Tasting Room Certified Online Program – Who has been the most influential person in your life and why?
APWASI Wines of USA Certified Online Program – Where do you see the future of the American Wine Industry in the international market in the next 10 years? Give your reasons.
APWASI Wines of China Certified Online Program – Where do you see the future of the Chinese Wine Industry in the international market in the next 10 years? Give your reasons.
APWASI Wines of South Africa Certified Online Program – Where do you see the future of the South African Wine Industry in the international market in the next 10 years? Give your reasons.
*Note: Please email the essays with Subject Title “APWASI Scholarship + ‘Name of Course’ that you are applying to” to info@apwasi.com with your name.
Only one entry per participant.
About AAAV
Founded in 2002, the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) is a 501 (C) (6) Non-Profit organization formed for the following purposes:
a) Increase the quality of wine communications to all, and to grow awareness of AAAV.
b) Fostering a spirit of cooperation among all growers, wineries and industry groups.
c) Develop a sense of community among members of the organization through friendly and informal networking and social functions.
d) Increase awareness of diversity in our industry to all wine consumers through public pouring events and virtual tastings showcasing AAAV member wines.
e) Facilitate access to relevant viticulture, enological and related information through voluntary sharing among members.
The mission of Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) is to build diversity in the wine industry, bring awareness to present-day Black winemakers, and provide financial assistance to students from underrepresented minorities pursuing a career in the wine industry. Applicants must show how they will support efforts to improve diversity in the wine industry.
One of the current initiatives of the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV) is to promote, support, and pave the path for minorities to be successful within all fields of the wine industry. Our challenge is that minorities within the wine industry make up a very small percentage of the landscape and African-American winemakers/owners make up an even smaller percentage – less than 1% to give an accurate picture.