In this powerful and timely episode of Swirl Suite, we sit down with Ikimi Dubose Woodson, co-founder and executive director of The Roots Fund, to have a candid conversation about the evolving landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in the wine industry. With increasing backlash and companies pulling back on DEI initiatives, we ask the tough question Is DEI dead?

Ikimi shares how these shifts are directly impacting The Roots Fund and the vital work they do to support and uplift BIPOC talent in wine. We also dig into how the broader wine industry is responding (or failing to respond) to the changing tides, and what this all means for the future of equitable access and representation in wine.

This is an unfiltered discussion about accountability, real change, and what happens when companies use DEI as a buzzword instead of a commitment.