Ready for a retreat from the classic wine tour?
Field Blends is an offbeat epicurean adventure unlike any other, expertly curated for the curious and conscious traveler.
On these trips, opening up a bottle means opening up conversations about what’s emerging in wine and agriculture, what’s evolving, and what’s always been here but rarely ever gets air time.
About Field Blends
The process of making field blends involves co-fermenting different grape varietals grown together in the same field or vineyard. This often results in unexpected and intriguing blends, yielding a one-of-a-kind wine experience - that’s exactly what you’ll get here.
Field Blends is everything a regular wine tour is not. These trips are rooted in community and connection – themes that are woven into every facet of this experience.
We’re blending unique tastings and local provisions with educational experiences and critical discourse. You’ll hear from regional change makers who are shifting the narrative on wine – or at the very least, challenging the dominant narrative.
With Field Blends, opening up a bottle means opening up conversations about what’s emerging in wine and agriculture, what’s evolving, and what’s always been here but rarely ever gets air time. We’re here to dig deep and explore beyond the bottle – connecting you with the community, land, and people who are behind the labels, working the soil, and shaping change.
Field Blends is expertly curated with much thought and intention, with room for moments to surprise and delight. Rest assured – you’re in for an absolute treat.
Trips have limited capacity. Secure your spot today!
TRAVERSE CITY, MICHIGAN
June 3 - 7, 2024
Explore Field Blends
Past Trip: Walla Walla, Washington - June 2022
They say Walla Walla is “the town so nice they named it twice,” and it’s true. This flourishing wine region stands apart in that newcomer vintners – regardless of gender, race, socio-economic background, or winemaking experience – are able to put down roots in this community and find a well of support to blaze their own trail and forge the future of Walla Walla wine.
Past Trip: Finger Laker, New York - June 2023
The Finger Lakes region is undeniably one of New York state’s crown jewels. Native legend has it that the Great Spirit reached down to bless the land, leaving an impression of fingers that formed these magnificent lakes. The eleven Finger Lakes lie in a glacial valley and is home to a thriving community of artists, academics, and agriculturists.
What to Expect
One-of-a-kind, thoughtfully curated food and wine experiences
Access to exciting new releases and portfolio tastings hosted by a diverse panel of regional changemakers
Carefully crafted provisions that highlight local flavors, ingredients, and preparations
Powerful conversations around sustainability, diversity, equity, and social impact in wine and agriculture
Community building with other conscious food and wine lovers + much more!
Trip Awards
Field Blends Trip Awards seek to empower individuals from underrepresented and intersectional communities pursuing a career in the wine industry through community-building, inquiry, and exploration. If you are actively seeking employment or education in the wine industry and meet the eligibility requirements for Trip Awards, we’d love for you to apply!
Trip Awards for the next Field Blends will open in early 2024. Sign up for our newsletter to stay in the know!
Community Partners
Community and connection are at the heart of Field Blends. On these grounds, we collaborate with regional experts who are intimately familiar with our destinations to design purposeful, one-of-a-kind experiences that draw on the best of local hospitality. Our Community Partners help push the dialogue and close the knowledge gap between consumer and maker – an important next step in the evolution of different wine regions.
Fiona Mak
Fiona’s commitment to innovation, community, and authenticity colors everything she does. As a Community Partner for Field Blends: Walla Walla, Fiona’s mission is to shine a light on the young wine community and showcase the work they’re doing to make the world of wine more equitable and enjoyable for all.
Owner + Winemaker of SMAK Wines
Walla Walla, Washington
Maiah Johnson Dunn
With the goal of making wine accessible to everyone, educating through words and events is not something Maiah takes lightly. Her work focuses on broadening the narrative of wine by looking at how history has shaped where we are today. As the Community Partner for Field Blends: Finger Lakes, Maiah aims to spotlight the beauty and whimsy of the region, and share stories of phenomenally talented growers and makers crafting wines there.
Writer, Beverage Education Manager at New York Kitchen
Finger Lakes, New York
Simonne Mitchelson
Stepping into the role of Community Partner for Field Blends: Michigan is a homecoming for Simonne. After gaining over a decade of experience in wine regions around the world, Simonne is excited to bring greater visibility to her home state's best-kept appellations. She believes Michigan wine’s approachability will entice the next generation of wine drinkers while championing diversity beyond vinifera. Simonne’s work centers the experience of fellow 1st generation kids, ensuring that barriers do not mar entry into the wine biz for future generations.
Winemaker, Co-Founder of Natural Action, Founder of Cal Poly BIPOC Scholarship Program
Field Notes
Coming into Field Blends I had an idea of what to expect, but once I emerged in the experience I was amazed to hear about the care, culture and compassion that winemakers share with one another. From getting to know new people from all over the country, to going to exclusive tastings and experiences put together by Maryam, Field Blends opened my mind into the wine world. Our group quickly became a community, and that's hard to accomplish in a relatively short time.
-Miguel Cortina, Mexico Editor, MotorTrend
Field Blends was my first time visiting Walla Walla, and I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to experience this wine region in this way! From the evening dinners and networking to the winery and vineyard visits, Field Blends was such a well-rounded and thoughtfully curated experience that gave insight to how community is really the core of everything that takes place in Walla Walla. Maryam and her team did an incredible job, and I can't wait to see what they do next!
-Chasity Cooper, Author, Wine Culture Expert, and Entrepreneur
Field Blends allowed the Telesomm team to make meaningful connections with like-minded folks creating the next era of wine in Walla Walla. My mind, values, and all my senses were engaged on Maryam + Company's Field Blends experience--from tasting Loess soil to hearing women winemakers share their challenges and triumphs to smelling charred oak barrels. I applaud the Field Blends team for a seamless and thoughtfully curated experience. See you at Field Blends: Finger Lakes!
-Vanessa Raymond, Founder, Telesomm App
The Field Blends: Walla Walla trip was beyond what I had imagined a food and wine trip could encompass. From the intimate group size to the local, curated meals to the sense of community displayed by all the wine industry professionals we met each step of the way was beyond amazing! Being able to meet other scholarship recipients from all over the country, who are all on different wine journeys, allowed us to connect on a deeper level that we didn't know we needed. Hence why this experience was like no other, and we all noticed the amount of care and intention that the Field Blends team took the time to create meaningful experiences which resulted in everlasting memories!
-Tahlia Suggs, Founder, Sisterhood of Winos
Maryam Ahmed is a food and wine entrepreneur based in Napa, CA. She specializes in community activation, strategic programs, and project management for food and wine brands with a demonstrated commitment to diversity and sustainability.
Prior to launching Maryam + Company, she was the director of public programs for the Culinary Institute of America in California for nearly five years. Most often, her work takes place at the intersection of chefs, sommeliers, activists, sustainability experts, creatives, and organizations focused on diversity and equitable access within their communities. In addition to her consulting firm, she is the creator of the biannual Diversity in Wine Leadership Forum, a cast member on James Beard Award Nominated SOMM TV, and a partner in PLAYTE Kitchen. In 2021, Maryam received the distinguished Wine Industry Leader Award from Wine Business Monthly.
Field Blends combines Maryam’s programming talent with her passion for connecting socially conscious consumers to industry pioneers.
