IWP 1745 Ikimi Dubose-Woodson (Cynthia Chaplin)

Welcome to Episode 1745, in which Cynthia Chaplin interviews Ikimi Dubose-Woodson in this installment of Voices, on the Italian Wine Podcast.

More about today’s guest
Ikimi Dubose-Woodson is putting her two decades of hospitality expertise to work as a change leader in the wine industry. In 2020, she co-founded The Roots Fund, a nonprofit organization committed to helping more people of color gain access to the wine industry – and her work has helped over 200 individuals pursue careers in wine. Ikimi is an outspoken advocate for social change and has championed equity and inclusion throughout the hospitality and beverage industry, working closely with wine regions and wine companies. She was named a 2022 Wine Enthusiast Future 40 Tastemaker and Innovator, has been featured by VinePair, Wine Spectator, and Black Enterprise, and has been quoted by the New York Times on wine industry diversity efforts.

About today’s Host:
Cynthia Chaplin is a VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador, a professional sommelier with FIS and the WSA, a member of Le Donne del Vino, and a Professor of Italian wine and culture. Born in the USA, she’s lived in Europe since 1990. Italian wine, in particular rosé, is her passion. She works with embassies, corporations and private clients, creating and presenting tastings, events, seminars and in-depth courses. Cynthia is a wine writer, a judge at international wine and sake competitions, she consults with restaurants and enotecas developing comprehensive wine lists and food pairings, and she advises clients who want to curate an Italian wine collection. She currently works for Vinitaly International in Verona as a Project Manager, Educator, and the host of VOICES Series on The Italian Wine Podcast, focusing on diversity and inclusion in the global wine industry.