Drinkin' Bubbles, Buildin' Community

Your favorite pod guys are back & back with another special guest! Executive Director of Wine Unify, Alicia Towns Franken joins the guys for Episode 123. Listen to the full episode now! Alicia has served as the Head of Mentorship and as a member of the Board of Directors since Wine Unify was founded. Described by her colleagues and mentees as “the heart” of Wine Unify, she brings with her first-hand experience as to how the non-profit serves the wine community. Alicia brings with her nearly 30 years in the wine industry. She began her career as the Wine Director for Boston’s famed Grill 23 & Bar, where she worked for over a decade to build one of the city’s most respected wine programs. She later worked as a sought-after wine consultant and event planner under her own business, Towns Franken Consulting. Most recently, she was the Vice President of the Wine Portfolio for Archer Roose, a canned wine company seeking to democratize the wine business. Ultimately, though, her passion for building community, working to champion a more diverse wine industry, and innate talent for mentoring young wine professionals led her to take on the role of Executive Director for Wine Unify. To date, Wine Unify has given 99 awards to BIPOC wine professionals and enthusiasts. These awards include fully-funded courses through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), sponsorship from Coravin, glassware from Stölzle and Gabriel Glas, as well as subscriptions from Jancis Robinson and more. These awards are one piece of the organization’s core mission to welcome, elevate, and amplify the voices of underrepresented minorities in the wine business.