Denim & Diamonds:
Thursday, September 19
Denim & Diamonds
A Toast Women Winemakers
Join us Thursday, September 19 at 5:30pm for a fabulous evening including a wine tasting and discussion with our featured Women Winemakers, a buffet dinner, silent auction and other fun activities!
Wear your best denim and diamonds to try to win the costume contest! (Prizes for individual, couple, and group).
Featured Winemakers: Raghni Naidu (Naidu Wines) & Laura Ray (Strala Vineyards). Learn more below.
Location: Willow Glen Banquet Hall, 444 W. Alma Ave, San Jose CA 95110
Timing: 5:30p Doors; 6:30p Wine tasting & Program; 7:45P Dinner
Attire: Denim & Diamonds! The best dressed will win a prize.
Questions: Email Steve Seto, Director of Development
Thank you to AvalonBay Communities for returning as our Presenting Sponsor!
Sponsorships begin at $2500.
Ticket Levels:
Individual Sponsor: $1,000 (Fair Market Value: $250) - Includes name recognition on event materials, a gift bag, and preferred seating.
Patron: $500 (Fair Market Value: $200) - Includes a gift bag and preferred seating.
General Admission: $250 (Fair Market Value: $100)
Early Bird: $200 (Fair Market Value: $100) - Limited Early Bird tickets are available until Friday, July 26 or sold out.
Winemaker Panel
Thank you to our generous Wine Partners! We will taste selections from Naidu Wines and Strala Vineyards.
While we sip, our excellent panel will guide our tasting and discuss the joys and challenges of being women leaders in the wine industry.
According to research from Santa Clara University, only 14% of the 4200+ wineries in California, reported a woman as their lead winemaker as of 2020. This represents an increase from 2011, when the figure was only 10%, but is still a shockingly low percentage. (Lucia Albino Gilbert, Ph.D., and John Carl Gilbert, Ph.D., March 2022)
Gender Equity would be better for everyone - if we close the Gender Equity Gap, we could increase the GDP by $3.1 Trillion in the US . (Pipeline, “Equity for All Report” 2022 Edition). By investing in women leadership, more companies and industries can begin to bridge this gap - employees need to see women role models and those women leaders help their companies through uniquely important mentorship & a positive impact on workplace policies (Rockefeller Foundation).
So, join us at Denim & Diamonds to raise a glass or two to this great group of women leaders who are helping to lead this change in the wine industry!
Raghni Naidu
Founder & Owner, Naidu Wines
Naidu Wines is the 1st Indian Immigrant owned, woman owned winery.
Naidu embodies the essence of Raghni Naidu’s family and its belief in forging one's own path by pursuing dreams and passions with unwavering dedication, perseverance, and grit, all while paying it forward.
As an immigrant woman staking her claim in this traditionalistic industry, she asserts her belonging and extends the invitation for you to join her on this profound journey she's deeply passionate about.
Laura Ray
Founder & Vintner, Strala Vineyards
After growing up in a Swedish family in Wisconsin, Laura set out for the West coast. She was in the medical field when the wine industry found her. She won Master Sommelier blind tasting in 2011 that brought her into barrel sales.
Laura and Jason met and that is when their passion for wine became a reality, and Strala Vineyards was born. The team started making wine with some of the best grapes in Napa Valley in 2014!
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor
AvalonBay Communities, Inc.
Gold Sponsors
Asha & Manish Chandra Service Squared Sharon & David Seto
Workday
Silver Sponsors
Cadence Nia Capital Tacora Capital Westfield Valley Fair
Wine Partners
Naidu Wines
Strala Vineyards
Chocolate Sponsor
Timothy Adams Chocolates
Media Sponsors
Silicon Valley Magazine Yelp
Auction Sponsors
Acquerello Xtronx
Floral Sponsor Fleur de Jing
About Dress for Success San Jose
Dress for Success San Francisco/San Jose is a leading nonprofit employment resource for unemployed and underemployed women. Since 2012, we have provided career clothing, coaching, core skills, and community — free of charge — to more than 5,000 women* throughout the San Jose and Santa Clara County.
Our programs build confidence and determination from the inside out, empowering women with the tools they need to succeed in work and life.
Our sister office serves the women of San Francisco.
*We use the term "women" in a gender expansive way, to include cis, trans, non-binary, gender non-conforming, gender queer, and any woman-identified person.
Dress for Success San Jose is here to support you!
All our programs are offered at no cost to the women we serve. We provide professional attire; job search support through one-on-one coaching, group classes, and multi-week programs; job retention programming, financial literacy, and digital literacy training. Click here to learn more.