My Latest in the July 2023 issue of Wine Business Monthly Magazine:
Valdemar Estates’
Inclusive and Accessible Winery Program
by L.M. Archer
Valdemar Estates introduces it revolutionary Inclusive and Accessible Winery Program in the United States.
In 2019, Spain’s Bodegas Valdemar established Valdemar Estates in Walla Walla, making it Washington’s first internationally owned winery.
Accessible and Inclusive Winery Program
Valdemar Estates draws inspiration partly from parent company Bodegas Valdemar’s inclusivity and accessibility strategies. They also rely upon input from Walls Walla’s local disabled community.
U.S. federal requirements add another layer of complexity, specifically the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), a law signed by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. The laws states goals is to “ensure equal opportunity for persons and disabilities in employment, State and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities, and transportation.It also mandates establish of Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) and telephone relay services.”
However, a key distinction between Valdemar Estates and other accessibility plans of action is that Valdemar pivots around the spirit, rather than just the letter of the law.
The impetus for Bodegas Valdemar’s accessibility efforts arose out of a desire to serve overlooked or under-represented groups, such as families with children. Over time, the estate broadened its reach to include guests with special needs, such as those who are sight- or hearing impaired.
“The key word is not only accessible, but inclusive,” stressed Martínez Bujanda Mora. “They don’t want a special experience for them, they want to do exactly the same thing.” READ MORE HERE.
I am pleased to share this article on Valdemar Estates’ revolutionary accessibility and inclusivity winery program.