Twenty-one women leaders were awarded educational scholarships by E. & J. Gallo Winery‘s Women Behind the Wine Educational Fund in collaboration with the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation.
The scholarships are supported by an annual $100,000 donation by E. & J. Gallo Winery, through its Women Behind the Wine platform, to the Women of the Vine & Spirits Foundation.
The 21 scholarship winners include three who earned $10,000 grants for Master of Wine, Master Sommelier and university-level studies. The 18 Fuel Your Dreams Award winners received up to $3,000 to help provide education, resources and opportunities to thrive in wine, spirits, food and related industries.
The $10,000 Elizabeth Smyth Student Scholarship was earned by Yordanos Gebru, a master’s degree student in Vineyard and Winery Management at Bordeaux Sciences Agro, France. The $10,000 Master Sommelier Scholarship was awarded to Mariya Kovacheva, MS, Brand Account Manager Wine South U.S. at Pernod Ricard. Mariya earned her Master Sommelier certification in September 2019. The $10,000 Master of Wine Scholarship was earned by Sarah H. Bray, DipWSET, wine writer and brand consultant, SHB Communications.