Curious Vines panel urges stronger safeguards across wine and hospitality
Industry specialists at a Curious Vines discussion called for employee protection to become part of routine conduct, leadership decisions and organisational culture throughout the wine and hospitality sectors.
Research and participants
The discussion followed Curious Vines research from 2023 involving 726 women in the UK wine industry. It found that 50% of respondents aged 18–34 had experienced harassment at work, while 2 in 3 participants said the industry was not doing enough to protect women.1
The panel comprised Eleanor Rowland, director of safeguarding and inclusion at Fulham Football Club; James Grist, head of people at The Evolv Collection; Maria Lopez, sales director at Freixenet Copestick; and Teresa Parker, a communications specialist in domestic abuse, violence and women’s equality. Abbie Bennigton, a former BBC senior producer who became a wine journalist, educator and judge, chaired the event.1
From written policies to daily practice
The debate examined 5 themes: culture, power, alcohol, bystander responsibility and the future. Participants argued that safeguards should operate in everyday behaviour and throughout the employee experience, with senior teams providing visible leadership, regular training and clear expectations rather than relying on written policies alone.1
Responsibility for confronting inappropriate conduct, the panel said, belongs across an organisation. A low number of reported incidents does not necessarily demonstrate that a workplace is safe, so businesses should create conditions in which people are encouraged to raise concerns.1
Power, alcohol and intervention
When considering power, panellists said frontline employees and managers should be able to respond confidently when conduct is inappropriate. Status, influence or purchasing power should not allow incidents to be ignored, including when the person challenged is a high-value customer or influential stakeholder.1
Alcohol should not be presented as the cause of, or justification for, inappropriate behaviour, the panel concluded: accountability remains with the individual and every incident should be treated seriously. Bystanders also need the confidence and language required to intervene instead of leaving the response to someone else.1
Collective measures and next steps
The discussion considered engaging men as active allies and commended the White Ribbon Ambassador scheme for providing resources that help people challenge harmful ideas about masculinity. It also identified scope for cooperation across the wine trade through a common code of conduct, clearer complaint procedures, improved support and aftercare, and more consistent safeguarding and bystander training.1
Curious Vines said the next task is to convert discussion into action. Continued cooperation, common standards and challenges to established behaviour could help the wine industry develop a culture that is stronger, safer and more accountable for everyone.1
Sources
Written by the Dionysus editors from the sources above.
