How woke is La Crema?

Introduction

La Crema Winery has long been a favorite among wine lovers, known for its high-quality wines that grace many dinner tables. However, beyond the label and the taste, another story about La Crema speaks to the winery’s deep engagement with progressive causes. 

If you’ve been paying attention, you might have noticed La Crema popping up in conversations concerning diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), and LGBTQ+ rights. This review dives into how La Crema aligns with what’s commonly referred to as the woke agenda, and what that means for you as a consumer.

Financial Contributions to Progressive Causes

La Crema has a firm commitment to supporting LGBTQ+ causes. The winery is a proud participant in San Francisco Pride, one of the most prominent LGBTQ+ events in the world. La Crema attends and actively contributes resources to celebrate and support the event. 

As they put it on their website, “La Crema Winery’s active participation in San Francisco Pride demonstrates its firm commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and the broader social justice movement.” This isn’t just a one-off gesture—La Crema’s consistent financial backing shows they’re serious about supporting progressive social causes.

Prioritization of DEI Policies

La Crema is genuinely committed to DEI. It’s a principle actively prioritized in their operations. A recent Washington Post article highlights how the wine industry, including La Crema, increasingly embraces diversity, particularly in support of minority groups and Black winemakers. 

According to the article, “the wine industry is slowly but steadily embracing diversity, with wineries like La Crema leading the charge by supporting minority groups and DEI initiatives across the board.” That said, it’s worth noting that while La Crema’s commitment to DEI is clear, there’s less transparency about whether this commitment extends to hiring quotas or other merit-related considerations.

Mandatory Training Sessions

Despite its strong public commitment to DEI, La Crema remains somewhat elusive on details about its internal practices—particularly regarding mandatory DEI training sessions. There’s no concrete information available on whether the winery requires such training for its employees, leaving a gap in understanding how deeply these values are woven into the fabric of their organizational culture. Without clarity, it’s hard to fully gauge how serious La Crema is about living up to its DEI principles behind closed doors.

Support for LGBTQ+ Initiatives

La Crema’s support for LGBTQ+ initiatives is not just a matter of cutting checks. They’re actively involved in events that promote LGBTQ+ visibility and rights. For example, La Crema proudly sponsors Gay Wine Weekend, a celebration of LGBTQ+ culture within the wine industry. 

As Out in the Vineyard reports, “La Crema’s sponsorship of Gay Wine Weekend is a testament to its dedication to promoting LGBTQ+ culture within the wine industry, fostering inclusivity and visibility.” Additionally, their website is brimming with content about their involvement in Pride-related activities, further solidifying their role as a strong ally to the LGBTQ+ community.

Marketing and Branding

La Crema’s marketing is as much about its social and environmental values as it is about its wines. The winery is heavily invested in promoting its sustainability efforts, positioning itself as a responsible, environmentally-conscious brand. In their words, “La Crema’s marketing strategies are deeply intertwined with its sustainability efforts, highlighting the brand’s commitment to environmental responsibility and social equity.” 

But that’s not all—they’ve used crowdsourcing to connect with consumers, creating an inclusive environment. This approach makes their marketing feel more personal and aligns their brand with the progressive values of climate change activism and social equity.

Conclusion

Beyond producing excellent wine, La Crema Winery is actively making waves in social justice and environmental activism. From their financial contributions to LGBTQ+ causes and commitment to DEI to their progressive marketing strategies, La Crema has firmly planted itself in the woke camp. 

However, for those who prefer to steer clear of brands associated with the woke movement, La Crema’s visible advocacy might give you pause. For others, though, La Crema’s dedication to these causes could be the reason to pour another glass.