Ep. 2651 Diversity in the Wine Industry and Wine Tech Innovation with Jeremy McCarty | Voices with Cynthia Chaplin

In this episode of the Italian Wine Podcast, host Cynthia Chaplin welcomes Jeremy McCarty, founder of Diversity Wines, a California-based platform launched in 2023 that serves as the largest online directory of diverse and women-owned wineries, wine lounges, and wine professionals. McCarty shares his journey from real estate appraisal to becoming a passionate advocate for equity in the wine industry, inspired by both a childhood memory of wine and the racial reckoning following George Floyd’s murder. He discusses how Diversity Wines is working to demystify wine culture, expand access for underrepresented communities, and support small, diverse producers through visibility, PR, and community-building initiatives. A key highlight is the recent partnership with Pair Anything, an AI-powered wine discovery app that enables personalized wine pairings based on familiar foods, lowering the barrier to entry for new drinkers. McCarty emphasizes that the mission is not profit-driven but focused on growing the overall wine consumer base by leveraging the demographic power of women and diverse populations—currently 72% of the U.S. drinking population—while addressing the stark underrepresentation of diverse and women-owned wineries, which produce less than 1% of U.S. wine. The episode underscores the importance of community, cultural relevance, and technology in reshaping the future of wine.