Field Blends, an Innovative Destination Food & Wine Travel Series, Launches to Build Awareness of Changemakers, Communities

NAPA, Calif., Dec. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- For those looking for an immersive food and wine experience unlike any other, comes the launch of Field Blends, powered by Maryam + Company, an intimate, highly curated adventure that brings like-minded individuals together to highlight sustainability-minded growers, producers and changemakers in wine regions across the country.

Field Blends is the latest offering from Maryam Ahmed, a creative food- and wine-centric entrepreneur, and at its essence is a reimagined wine tour, one that focuses on community, connection and conscious consumption. On Field Blends 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.

Field Blends fills a much-needed hole in the wine, food and tourism markets. While most guided tours focus on producers that already have the broadest reach or distribution, or at least the most marketing dollars, Field Blends offers a 3-day tour featuring unique tastings and local provisions with educational experiences and critical discourse. Attendees will hear from regional changemakers who are shifting the narrative on wine—or at the very least, challenging the dominant narrative.

"It's important that this type of tour exists to bring consumers and industry closer together in conversation and in action. We're showcasing makers and growers that are willing to have important conversations and build a broader community," says founder Maryam Ahmed.

To that end, Field Blends will work with local community partners to build these intentionally curated, off-the-beaten-path itineraries that spark conversations about conscious consumerism that last long after the trip is over. Walla Walla, Wash. will be the host region for the inaugural program, which runs June 7-10, 2022. To learn more about the trips, community partners and the region, visit http://www.maryamandcompany.com/fieldblends.

Says Walla Walla community partner and owner/winemaker for SMAK Wines, Fiona Mak: "I'd like to bring more attention to all the work everyone is doing in our community and industry. As a young wine region Walla Walla is still searching for its identity but we are known to be innovative. We are blessed with true pioneers in our town who set such a high standard–but there's also room for new winemakers with new ideas and directions."

In Fall of 2022, Field Blends will venture into the Finger Lakes, another wine region renowned for its incredible wines, focus on green initiatives and accessibility to newcomers.

Says community partner and wine writer, speaker and community activist Maiah Johnson Dunn: "Though we're often referred to as an emerging wine region, I think that phrase misses the mark. We have an incredibly rich history, and phenomenally talented growers and makers crafting wines with a beautiful sense of place. Field Blends will push the dialogue and close the knowledge gap between consumer and maker–an important next step in our region's evolution."

When she started the program, Ahmed knew that a scholarship program would be an essential cornerstone to Field Blends. In partnership with the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance/Visit Walla Walla and the Washington State Wine Commission, Field Blends is offering two full scholarships with all expenses paid to candidates from underrepresented communities who are pursuing a career in the wine industry.

"It's important to provide an avenue for newcomers to find their footing in the wine industry. We're thrilled that Field Blends has chosen our unique wine region to feature in their inaugural trip and honored to support a scholarship to bring a talented and eager individual to Walla Walla to experience our acclaimed wines and meet with dedicated and down-to-earth growers," says Chris Stone, vice president of marketing and communications for the Washington State Wine Commission.

Says Robert Hansen, executive director of the Walla Walla Valley Wine Alliance/Visit Walla Walla "We are excited to partner with Maryam to offer a scholarship for the Walla Walla edition of Field Blends, powered by Maryam + Company. Washington state is truly a place where farming, wine, food and friends meet, and we're so glad to be able to use this scholarship to promote the bounty and community of our region."

Scholarships for Field Blends: Walla Walla are open for applications on January 10, 2022. Field Blends scholarships are open to individuals from underrepresented communities including, but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, people of color, persons from racially diverse or intersectional communities, persons with disabilities, and persons from LGBTQ+ communities. To apply, visit http://www.maryamandcompany.com/fieldblends

How to Participate
Interested in growing your community, tasting incredible wine and finding inspiration with local and diverse winemakers, farmers, chefs and entrepreneurs? Visit http://www.maryamandcompany.com/fieldblends to register before April 29, 2022.

Useful Links:
http://www.maryamandcompany.com/fieldblends
Instagram: @maryamandcompany
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maryamandcompany

For additional information and images, view the Media Kit

For more information and interview requests, contact founder Maryam Ahmed, [email protected]

About Field Blends

The long-standing tradition of making field blends involves harvesting and 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. We're blending unique tastings and local provisions with educational experiences and critical discourse. You'll hear from regional changemakers who are shifting the narrative on wine – or at the very least, challenging the dominant narrative. Find out more at http://www.maryamandcompany.com/fieldblends.

About Maryam Ahmed

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 (co-founded with Elaine Chukan Brown), a cast member on SOMM TV, and a partner in PLAYTE Kitchen.

Field Blends powered by Maryam + Company combines Maryam's programming talent with her passion for connecting socially conscious consumers to industry pioneers.

Media Contact

Maryam Ahmed, Field Blends, powered by Maryam + Company, 1 607-761-3991, [email protected]

Erin Kirschenmann, Maryam + Company, 818-808-2013, [email protected]

SOURCE Field Blends, powered by Maryam + Company