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Located in Boston, Massachusetts and expanding to Washington, DC in 2025, The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award is designed to give you access to the entire wine industry via four, three month internships, in-depth wine education, and hands-on mentorship. Our program is not a quick fix. It takes 12 months of dedication and flexibility, but by the end of your time with us, you'll be part of a multi-billion dollar industry.
Education
All interns are expected to complete, with passing grades, three levels of classwork at Boston University's Wine Studies Certification program. These classes meet once per week for a year, not including study sessions. Classes are held in person on the Boston University campus.
Work Experience
During the course of this program, our interns complete four 3-month long paid internships at The Urban Grape, MS Walker, Row 34, and Jackson Family Wines. During this year you will gain valuable hands-on experience in retail sales and management, restaurant hospitality and events, sales and distribution, wine production, and marketing - to name just a few!
The Jackson Family Wines internship is located in Sonoma, California. Participants in the program receive a $5,000 stipend for travel and lodging while in California.
Mentorship
Throughout your year in the program you will receive hands-on mentorship with both TJ and Hadley Douglas, as well as upper level management at each of your internships. This mentorship creates the foundation off of which industry connections and job networking opportunities can be made. The goal of the program, and your time with the mentors, is to jumpstart your career in wine!
Throughout his 20-plus year career, Urban Grape co-founder TJ Douglas was often the only, or one of few, people of color at his job, at industry conferences, and even in his own wine store. As the 10th anniversary of The Urban Grape approached, TJ and his wife and business partner, Hadley, knew that they wanted to create a program that would increase opportunities for professionals of color to advance in the wine industry. TJ succinctly stated, “I don’t want to be the only one in the room anymore.”
The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color was founded on June 22, 2020, using contributions from our customers in response to the Black Lives Matter movement after the murder of George Floyd.
Meet our Cohorts!
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 graduated from the program in 2022. June completed a harvest internship at Talley Vineyards. Victor is pursuing a career in wine and cannabis events.
2022, Allie Kuo + Carmen Lucia "Lucy" Almirudis Penunuri
Allie and Lucy graduated in November 2023 and were our first interns to spend a full three months in Sonoma with Jackson Family Wines. Allie is pursuing Boston area beverage industry opportunities and Lucy hopes to join a winery real estate or hospitality team in California.
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!
Our Partners
Frequently Asked Questions
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- The Urban Grape Wine Studies Award for Students of Color is open to any BIPOC person with an interest in a career in the wine or hospitality industry.
- Applicants must be 21+ years of age, and be able to attend classes and internships in the Greater Boston area.
- Transportation to Norwood, Massachusetts, Burlington, MA and Portland, NH for portions of the internships will be required.
- The last internship takes place in California and lasts for three months.
- Those interested in a career change are welcome to apply!
- Applicants must commit to course work, regular mentorship meetings, and 40 hour work weeks.
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Yes! Coursework at BU begins at the end of May. Internships begin right after Labor Day. You will need to have a place to live in Boston, as well as transportation, from the end of May to the middle of August of the next year. Currently we do not have a relocation or accommodation stipend for the Boston internships, but our friends at The Roots Fund and The Veraison Project have supported past recipients with funding.
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Thanks to our partnership with Jackson Family Wines, we are able to offer you airfare to California, as well as housing and a transportation stipend. As part of this program you will be expected to live in California for the harvest season.
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Recipients will be expected to complete three levels of certificate wine studies at Boston University. Classes meet once per week and require wine tasting as part of the class. Completion of homework and outside assignments is expected. All recipients of the award are expected to maintain a passing grade.
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- Applicants need to apply with a current resume, a letter of intent, and a letter of recommendation.
- Finalists will need to make themselves available for a brief interview.
- The application process begins on January 1, 2024 and ends on March 30, 2024. Award winners are announced in April 2024.
- Classes begin at the end of May 2024, and internships in the week after Labor Day, 2024.
- All recipients will need to sign a media release and provide a headshot upon notification of winning.
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The internships will pay approximately $20 per hour and recipients will be expected to work between 32-40 hours per week.
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When available, externships opportunities will be scheduled for the cohorts. Past externships have included harvest experiences at Opus One Winery in Napa, CA and a travel experience to Burgundy and the Loire Valley with Becky Wasserman & Co. Externships are unpaid, and if they are overseas will require a valid passport.
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Our hope is that you will come out of this program with not just a job, but a well-paying career. A lot of that will depend on you. You will need to complete your coursework with a passing grade, put your all into your internships, and dedicate yourself to your mentoring meetings so that we can wholeheartedly recommend you for open positions in the industry. The more you put into the program, the more you’ll get out of it!
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- For questions on the course work or application process, please contact Potter Palmer at Boston University.
- For questions on the internships, externships, or mentorship opportunities, please contact Hadley Douglas.
- For press inquiries, please contact Tami Kelly PR.
Contact Us Today!
- For questions on the course work or application process, please contact Potter Palmer at Boston University.
- For questions on the internships, externships, or mentorship opportunities, please contact Hadley Douglas.
- For press inquiries, please contact Tami Kelly PR.
- For the above or anything else, you can also use the form here.