Grafted's Inaugural Event: June 25, 2024

  • Keynote Speaker, Maryam Ahmed

    Maryam Ahmed is a social impact entrepreneur, speaker, writer, and community builder who is making waves in the world of food and wine. Maryam is the creator and co-founder of the biannual Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum. In 2022, Maryam launched Field Blends, an immersive food and wine travel experience rooted in conversations that explore emergent and evolving movements in wine and agriculture. She also serves as an advisor to Black Wine Professionals and Bâtonnage Forum; a program advisor to the Wine Writers' Symposium, and is an active member of the San Francisco Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier. She currently serves on the Executive Leadership Board for the UC Davis Department of Enology & Viticulture. Maryam is the recipient of numerous awards from within the wine industry, and in 2022 she was named one of Wine Enthusiast's Future 40 Tastemakers.

    Maryam + Company

  • Guided Discussion on Wine Terminology, Kelsey Kramer

    At the Grafted event in July, we discussed the array of wine terms that can be problematic because they are unclear, feel exclusive, or are inherently biased. Attendees selected words they feel have these concerns and worked with each other to brainstorm solutions for the modern-day wine lover. Finally, we drilled down on four terms that have been especially problematic within the last decade. Old world and New World have been dropped from professional certification curriculums, such as the Court of Master Sommeliers and WSET, and common gender terms used to describe a wine’s character - masculine and feminine - were found to hold bias, even between the men and women in the room.


    Hill Country Wine Academy

  • Self Guided Wine Flight, Networking, and Happy Hour

    Notoriously polarizing, Merlot was at the forefront of this tasting exercise. Attendees were tasked with thinking outside the box to advocate for their least favorite of the four wines. Spoiler alert – this was really hard because they were all delicious! Kelsey curated a unique list of Merlots for this exercise: Merlot from the Llano Uplift region in Texas, Merlot from the Hickory Sands District in Mason, Texas, a Merlot from Napa, California, and a Merlot-based blend from Bordeaux, France.


    Register for Grafted's Next Community Event

See What People Are Saying About Grafted

  • "Grafted's inaugural event was a huge success! It was apparent that everyone was enjoying themselves while remaining engaged with the presentations. I am thankful for the opportunity to have met women that I will have lasting relationships with. Thank you, Grafted, for bringing the community together with this event. The wide array of 100% Texas wines available to taste was the perfect finishing touch. I am eagerly awaiting the next event."

    Jacque Reagan

    Wine Professional, WSET II, & Certified Texas Wine Ambassador

  • "Grafted’s community event drew me in because I am always looking to learn about what is happening in the Texas wine community and I take great interest in participating in any way possible. Women in the industry are an integral part of my career in wine. From the powerful women that lead my teams, to the sharp women that I have the opportunity to learn from, I recognize my responsibility to support the women who support me."

    James Smith

    Director of Operations, Chateau Wright

  • "The Grafted event was impactful for me. Above all, I enjoyed being in a room full talented and inspiring individuals that share my love of wine and learning. I was so excited to hear from Maryam Ahmed, a forward thinking and well respected woman in the wine industry. The fresh perspective and insightful message that was shared was encouraging and uplifting. I look forward to attending events hosted by Grafted in the future and to the opportunities that I will have to build on the momentum of the first event!"

    Dawn Cox

    Development Director, Texas Wine Auction

  • "Grafted is calling attention to the details. The community event presented insightful content, along with a collection of subtle elements, appreciated by those with a discerning eye. The activities were effective and engaging, and I look forward to my engagement with Grafted in the future. I am appreciative of Grafted’s mission, driven by the necessity and importance of establishing equilibrium within the wine industry."

    Chef Julie Farias

    William Chris Vineyards

  • "Attending Grafted's community event was inspiring and gave me the opportunity to build confidence as a woman in the wine industry. I was able to connect with many talented and driven individuals who are passionate about pushing the Texas wine industry forward. I am positive that Grafted's reach and impact will help to share the future landscape for women in the wine industry."

    Adrienne Ash

    Co-Owner, The Austin Winery

    Winemaker, Ash Wines

  • "I am absolutely thrilled to have attended Grafted’s inaugural community event. Being in a room full of powerful, positive energy and inspiring women was truly remarkable. The feeling of empowerment was abundant and was felt throughout the room. As an entrepreneur, I am eager to see the Hill Country community flourish and I am looking forward to experiencing what Grafted has to offer at their next event."

    Shanti Suttin

    Co-Founder, Elevate Texas Hill Country Wine Experiences