Category Archives: Wine School

Glancy Wine Education Foundation Welcomes New Board Members

Brandon Ford and Annie Shi join board to advance fundraising and community initiatives

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 23, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Glancy Wine Education Foundation (GWEF) today announced the appointment of two new board members, Brandon Ford and Annie Shi, as the organization marks a leadership transition with the stepping down of Vice President Alder Yarrow after five years of dedicated service.

Brandon Ford and Annie Shi join GWEF Board July 2025
Image caption: Brandon Ford and Annie Shi join GWEF Board July 2025.

Ford, Sales Director at Formulated Solutions and elected councilman of the Summit County Council in Ohio, will join GWEF’s Fundraising Committee. Shi, the acclaimed restaurateur behind King, Jupiter, and Lei in New York City, will spearhead the foundation’s newly formed Community Committee—focused on fostering scholarship recipient networking, mentorship, and community building as GWEF celebrates its fifth anniversary.

“I’m honored to join the Glancy Wine Education Foundation board,” said Ford. “Their work bridges the gap between passion and profession, making wine education more accessible to those who have historically been underrepresented in the industry. Supporting that mission is both a personal and professional calling for me.”

Ford brings 18 years of wine industry experience, including work with the American Wine School and WSET Advanced Certificate credentials. His multidisciplinary background spans degrees in nursing, law, and business, along with extensive teaching experience in wine education.

Shi, a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and Yale University graduate, leads beverage programs at her restaurants, which have garnered recognition from The New York Times, Food and Wine, Vogue, and New York Magazine. King was named to the top ten of The New York Times’ 2025 Best Restaurants in New York City list.

“GWEF’s mission to bring accessible wine education to more people is one that is near and dear to my heart—I wish GWEF had existed when I was starting out in my career,” Shi said. “In my day-to-day life in restaurants, I encounter so many wonderful hospitality professionals who have aspirations of continuing their wine education. I can’t wait to spread the word about GWEF and connect them with our organization.”

The appointments come as Vice President Alder Yarrow concludes a five-year tenure with the foundation. Yarrow was instrumental in GWEF’s founding during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped shape its mission to support underserved communities in wine education.

“We are deeply grateful to Alder for his vision and leadership over these foundational five years,” said Ana Keller, President of GWEF. “His contributions have been essential to building GWEF into the nationally recognized organization it is today. We’re excited to welcome Brandon and Annie, whose expertise will help us expand our impact through enhanced fundraising efforts and stronger community connections for our scholarship recipients. Their locations in the Midwest and East Coast respectively reinforce our national reach.”

The new Community Committee, led by Shi, represents GWEF’s commitment to supporting scholarship recipients beyond their initial education, creating ongoing opportunities for professional development, networking, and mentorship within the wine industry.

Since its founding in 2020, GWEF has awarded 249 scholarships totaling $350,000 to aspiring wine professionals from underserved communities nationwide. The foundation maintains a four-star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Transparency rating from Candid’s GuideStar.

GWEF board members serve on an all-volunteer basis, and the foundation’s educational partnerships now span San Francisco, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, and Cincinnati, providing access to WSET qualifications, Society of Wine Educators certifications, Wine Scholar Guild programs, and other specialized wine education courses.

Professionals in need of financial aid are encouraged to apply for scholarships year-round at https://www.glancywineeducationfoundation.org/apply-today. Applications are available in Spanish and English, with awards made monthly.

About The Glancy Wine Education Foundation

Established in 2020, The Glancy Wine Education Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting underserved and minority communities with scholarships to further their professional wine education, increase diversity, and raise earning power. Find out more at https://GlancyWineEducationFoundation.org/.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET and Board Member
kimberly@glancywineeducationfoundation.org
415-701-9463

Angela Slade, Slade Consultancy
angela@sladeconsultancy.com
415-819-5131

NEWS SOURCE: Glancy Wine Education Foundation


This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Glancy Wine Education Foundation), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/glancy-wine-education-foundation-welcomes-new-board-members/

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Become a Certified Sommelier in One Week: Wine School of Philadelphia Launches Summer Wine School 2025

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., July 17, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Wine School of Philadelphia today announced the return of Summer Wine School, offering students across the country the opportunity to earn their sommelier certification in just one week. With flexible evening classes and a hands-on curriculum, the program has become a go-to for aspiring wine professionals and serious enthusiasts alike.

Sommelier Graduates at the Wine School of Philadelphia
Photo caption: Sommelier Graduates at the Wine School of Philadelphia.

The Accelerated Core Sommelier Program prepares students for certification through intensive training in wine tasting, theory, and professional service. Offered in the evenings over one week, the course is ideal for working adults, hospitality staff, and anyone looking to transition into the wine trade.

The school is also offering the Advanced Italian Wine Specialist Certification, a nationally recognized credential through the National Wine School, delivered in a one-week immersion format. Students explore Italy’s key wine regions, grapes, and traditions in a rigorous but accessible setting.

In addition to certification programs, Summer Wine School features public tasting classes and member-exclusive events designed to foster community, deepen wine knowledge, and support professional growth.

“This isn’t a stuffy wine seminar,” said Keith Wallace, founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia. “We train people to taste like pros, think like educators, and thrive in the wine world — whether you’re switching careers or building on a lifelong passion.”

Seats are limited, and demand for in-person certification is high. To secure a spot in Summer Wine School 2025, visit: https://www.vinology.com/summer-wine-school/

About the Wine School of Philadelphia:

Founded in 2001, the Wine School of Philadelphia is one of the leading independent wine education centers in the country. Its certification programs, offered through the National Wine School, are recognized by restaurants, distributors, and hospitality groups across the U.S.

MULTIMEDIA:

Photo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/25-0717-s2p-winephilly-300dpi.jpg

Photo caption: Sommelier Graduates at the Wine School of Philadelphia.

NEWS SOURCE: Wine School of Philadelphia


This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Wine School of Philadelphia), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/become-a-certified-sommelier-in-one-week-wine-school-of-philadelphia-launches-summer-wine-school-2025/

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Glancy Wine Education Foundation Celebrates 5th Anniversary with Expanding National Impact

Milestone year with increased scholarship recipients and robust fall programming

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., July 10, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Glancy Wine Education Foundation (GWEF) today celebrates the 5th anniversary of its founding with the release of its mid-year impact data, highlighting important growth in scholarship awards, industry sponsorship, and national reach. Since 2020, GWEF has awarded 249 scholarships to aspiring wine professionals from underserved communities across the United States, with total distributions of $350,000 in funding.

Glancy Wine Education Foundation
Image caption: Glancy Wine Education Foundation logo.

“We are thrilled to see the transformative impact GWEF has made in our first five years as a foundation and the accelerated engagement thus far in 2025,” said Ana Keller, President of GWEF. “We are dedicated to continuing this work, expanding our community, and building a more diverse wine industry for a sustainable future.”

“Being inclusive and growing diversity in the wine industry is critical for our industry wellbeing and requires all of us to lean in. Expanding our reach to support students nationally has clearly demonstrated to us that there is significant demand for this kind of education and the kind of financial support we provide,” stated Keller.

Born from necessity during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, GWEF emerged as an industry response to support individuals facing shutdowns and layoffs throughout the hospitality sector. What began as immediate relief evolved into addressing a deeper need for inclusion and diversity within the wine industry.

“We rapidly saw that the need included not only career development but also support for more inclusion and diversity within the wine industry,” explained Alder Yarrow, Vice President of GWEF. “We decided to create a foundation that would engage and encourage wine-curious professionals – at whatever their employment level and from all walks of life – to advance their journey through deeper education and training.”

The foundation’s impact extends across diverse population groups nationwide, spanning both urban centers and underserved rural communities. GWEF Scholarships give recipients access to prestigious wine education programs offered by the foundation’s educational partners in San Francisco, New York, and several cities in the Midwest (Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati). Available programs include Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) qualifications, Society of Wine Educators certifications, Wine Scholar Guild programs, and other specialized courses and certifications.

GWEF’s fifth anniversary year launched with significant national expansion through strategic partnerships with the International Wine Center in New York City, the American Wine School in Chicago, and the Association of African American Vintners in addition to its founding partner school, the San Francisco Wine School.

Building on this momentum, GWEF prepares for its annual board retreat and strategic planning session focusing on the annual Online Auction Fundraiser this September 2025, along with events and activities for 2025-2026. To stay up to date, visit https://www.glancywineeducationfoundation.org/news

“Our fundraising team is working closely with wineries, educational foundations, wholesale and retail partners, private individuals and more organizations who want to walk the walk of supporting diversity within the wine industry,” noted Alder Yarrow, Vice President, GWEF.

Professionals in need of financial aid, are encouraged to apply for scholarships year-round at https://GlancyWineEducationFoundation.org/. Applications are available in Spanish and English. Awards are made monthly.

About The Glancy Wine Education Foundation:

Established in 2020, The Glancy Wine Education Foundation (GWEF) is a registered 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting underserved and minority communities with scholarships to further their professional wine education, increase diversity, and raise earning power. GWEF has a four star rating from Charity Navigator and a Platinum Transparency rating from Candid. Find out more at GlancyWineEducationFoundation.Org. Professionals in need of financial aid are encouraged to apply for scholarships year-round at GlancyWineEducationFoundation.Org. To Donate please click here and for Sponsor opportunities, click here.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Kimberly Noelle Charles, DipWSET and Board Member kimberly@glancywineeducationfoundation.org or 415|701-9463 (WINE)

Angela Slade, Slade Consultancy angela@sladeconsultancy.com or 415 819 5131

LOGO link for media: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5f4983f8f6a5da1a611120b6/1600653227576-77YOUNZ5DH482BWLWSEJ/GWEF_logo_med.png

NEWS SOURCE: Glancy Wine Education Foundation


This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Glancy Wine Education Foundation), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/glancy-wine-education-foundation-celebrates-5th-anniversary-with-expanding-national-impact/

Copr. © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: S2P127635 NOREL-3B