LIBBY U
Libby U aims to democratize the wine industry by creating educational development opportunities for individuals from historically underrepresented and minoritized groups. We believe there is joy in equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion. Learn more about our 2023 WSET Level 1 Wine Scholarship Initiative below.
OUR FIRST INITIATIVE
Libby Wines, founded on a desire to make wine more enjoyable and accessible, aims to challenge the conventions and antiquated methodologies that exist in the wine industry; an industry that has historically demonstrated a lack of visibility for communities of color. We strongly believe in the importance of diversifying the wine industry and its respective community. Our goal is to assist in providing opportunities to bring more people into the world of wine, as well as support those from underrepresented groups. We are committed to using our resources to equitably foster inclusivity and diversity.
As part of our mission to provide educational opportunities to make wine more equitable, inclusive and diverse, Libby U’s WSET Level 1 Wine Scholarship will prioritize awarding people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or from a community of color that are interested in exploring the world of wine, but have not previously had access to formalized programs.
We’ve worked internally as a team and with external partners, including a DEIB agency, to bring this initial version of the program to life. We recognize that as we evolve so will the program. We are excited to offer 10 scholarships to complete the WSET Level 1 Wine online course through Napa Valley Wine Academy. This is a beginner level course and no previous wine experience or knowledge is required – just a desire to learn more!
Learn More
What are the application requirements?
Must be 21 years of age or older at the time of application.
Must be a legal US resident, and currently reside in the United States.
When do applications close?
- Applications Open: May 2, 2023 at drinklibby.com/pages/libby-u
- Applications Close: June 16, 2023 (2pm PST)
- (10) Recipients Selected: Recipients will be contacted via email by no later than July 14.
Will I be notified If selected?
After applications close, our team will review applications internally and reach out to scholarship recipients by no later than July 14, 2023 via email. We will also reach out to all applicants via email to provide an update when all scholarships have been awarded.
If you are not awarded a scholarship for our 2023 WSET Level 1 Wine Scholarship Program, please keep an eye out for future initiatives and opportunities provided by Libby U!
What is WSET Level 1 in Wine?
About WSET Level 1 in Wine Course (from Napa Valley Wine Academy):
In this on-line beginner-level course you will be introduced to the fundamentals of wine through sight, smell and taste. You’ll awaken your palate and be introduced to WSET’s Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT). By the end of the course, you’ll be able to identify the main styles of wine and understand the basic principles of food and wine pairings.
Course Details:
- 4 Weeks, Self-Paced (6 hours of study), On-line
- Live and recorded training sessions
- Interactive quizzes/activities plus guided tasting seminars with 6 wines*
- Full course details available here: https://napavalleywineacademy.com/product/wset-level-1-four-4-week-online-course/
- Exam details provided during course
All Libby U Scholarship Recipients will be responsible for scheduling their desired course/exam dates through the Napa Valley Wine Academy. Courses are offered at various times/weeks throughout the year.
*Wine tasting kits are sent via the Napa Valley Wine Academy but are limited to the states in which they can be shipped. See NVWA wine kit disclaimer below:
“We are able to have wine kits shipped to the following states ONLY: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KS, KY, LA, MD, ME, MA, MN, MO, MT, NE, NH, NV, NM, NY, NC, ND, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, TN, TX, VA, WA, WI, WY, and Wash DC.
NO SHIP LOCATIONS: International, AK, AR, CT, DE, HI, MI, MS, NJ, RI, SD, UT, VT, and WV.”
What is Libby Wines & Why Libby U?
We are a new wine brand made up of a small, yet passionate, team with a mission to make wine more enjoyable, approachable and inclusive. You can read more about our purpose & values here or learn more about our wine products here.
Libby U is our new initiative aimed at creating educational development opportunities centered around wine for individuals from historically underrepresented and minoritized groups. The goal of Libby U is to democratize the wine industry and promote diversity and inclusion, beginning with a scholarship program serving as Libby U’s first initiative.
The Libby U 2023 WSET Level 1 Wine Scholarship is designed to make wine more enjoyable and accessible, while challenging the conventions and antiquated methodologies that exist in the industry. It will prioritize awarding people who identify as Black, Indigenous, or from a community of color that are interested in exploring the world of wine, but have not previously had access to formalized programs. The wine brand has worked internally as a team and with external partners, including DEIB agency Backstory and award-winning Sommelier Tahiirah Habibi, to bring this initial version of the program to life. The scholarship will begin taking applications on May 2, 2023, with applications closing on June 16, 2023 (2pm PT).
Libby U is committed to providing educational opportunities that make wine more equitable, inclusive, and diverse.
a team effort
We partnered with Napa Valley Wine Academy who will be hosting the courses as well as Backstory Consulting, a DEIB agency who supported the development of content. Learn more about each partner by clicking below.
