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<\/p>\nCookout at the Vineyard Leadership Team\u00a0 \u00a0Courtesy: Chester Cooley<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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In the heart of Sonoma County, California \u2013 where rolling vineyards stretch toward the horizon and world-class wines flow as freely as conversation \u2013 something deeply personal is taking shape.<\/p>\n
Cookout at the Vineyard is not just another wine country event. It\u2019s a cultural experience, a homecoming and a powerful act of representation led by co-founders Tahlia Suggs and Courtney Summers.<\/p>\n
What began as a dinner-table vision has grown into a movement \u2013 one that blends the soulful essence of Southern cookouts with the refined elegance of wine country, all while creating pathways for the next generation of diverse leaders in food, hospitality, and beverage.<\/p>\n
For Summers, a Texas native, the inspiration behind Cookout at the Vineyard (CATV) is rooted in memory \u2013 vivid, joyful and filled with the unmistakable warmth of family.<\/p>\n
\u201cWeekend road trips to Louisiana, summers and holidays packed into my papa\u2019s house \u2013 cousins spilling out of every room, she recalled. \u201cThose gatherings weren\u2019t just meals; they were the heartbeat of our family.<\/p>\n
When she and Suggs began exploring Sonoma County, they noticed something missing \u2013 themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t see our stories reflected in the spaces around us,\u201d Summers explained. \u201cSo we created one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suggs echoed that sentiment, describing CATV as a bridge between tradition and transformation. \u201cWe\u2019re preserving cookout culture while spotlighting professional excellence in the food and beverage industry,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s where heritage meets hospitality.<\/p>\n
What started as a simple idea \u2013 to host a cookout \u2013 quickly evolved into something far more impactful. CATV serves as a fundraiser for The Veraison Project<\/a>, an organization playing a pivotal role in both founders\u2019 journeys surrounding wine.<\/p>\n \u201cThis event is our way of paying it forward,\u201d Suggs said. \u201cWe\u2019re opening doors for others the same way doors were opened for us.\u201d<\/p>\n Every ticket purchased, every partnership formed and every moment contributes to a larger mission \u2013 equity, access and visibility in an industry that has historically lacked all three.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 2025 attendees Courtesy: Chester Cooley<\/p>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n A Movement Beyond the Vines<\/strong><\/p>\n Looking ahead to 2026, Suggs envisions CATV as a destination event \u2013 one that draws visitors from every corner of the U.S. and beyond.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re building an ecosystem,\u201d she explained. \u201cOne that showcases incredible talent, from chefs and winemakers to creatives and entertainers. Cookout culture is not just a BBQ \u2013 it\u2019s a movement.\u201d<\/p>\n The core of the movement is representation. It\u2019s about honoring the legacy of Black women who have carved out space in wine, hospitality and entrepreneurship while ensuring that legacy continues to grow.<\/p>\n Summers promises those visiting Sonoma for the first time…it will exceed expectations.<\/p>\n She points to Healdsburg as a must-visit destination, where Michelin-starred restaurants and small-town charm coexist within a single square mile. Beyond the food and wine, it\u2019s the region\u2019s diversity that leaves a lasting impression.<\/p>\n \u201cYou can go from mountain valleys to the Pacific Ocean in under an hour,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery town has its own personality. Come ready to explore.\u201d<\/p>\n Her advice? Pack a light jacket and an open mind.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Co-Founders Tahlia Suggs pictured left and Courtney Summers pictured right.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Her voice, Her Power and Becoming<\/strong><\/p>\n When asked about Women\u2019s History, Suggs and Summers turned inward \u2013 drawing strength from the women who shaped them.<\/p>\n Suggs reflected on her mother\u2019s resilience. \u201cThere\u2019s a fire within us,\u201d she said. \u201cRegardless of setbacks, [it] continues to fuel us at every turn.\u201d<\/p>\n Summers found inspiration in generations past saying the women in her family didn\u2019t wait for permission, they took on hard tasks throughout their lives. \u201cThat\u2019s the standard I measure myself against,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Their advice to women with big dreams is both practical and profound: build community, stay curious and never be discouraged by closed doors.<\/p>\n \u201cA ‘no’ over here means a ‘yes’ somewhere else,\u201d Summers said. \u201cYou just have to keep looking, keep asking, keep finding your way in and through.\u201d<\/p>\n Being young Black women leading a growing fundraising initiative, Suggs and Summers are candid about the emotional complexity of their journey.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s gratitude, but also vulnerability,\u201d Summers admits. \u201cMoments where you wonder, \u2018Am I worthy of this?\u2019 But then you see the impact \u2013 and it all makes sense.\u201d<\/p>\n Suggs spoke to the weight of history.<\/p>\n \u201cOur ancestors endured far greater challenges to break barriers,\u201d she said. \u201cThat perspective keeps me grounded and focused on the bigger purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n Overall, CATV is about something simple yet profound \u2013 connection.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s love,\u201d Summers said. \u201cWe\u2019re creating experiences people carry with them long after the day is over.\u201d<\/p>\n For Suggs, the love is rooted in a lifetime of hosting \u2013 of making people feel seen, heard and welcomed. Together, they have transformed that instinct into an experience resonating far beyond the vineyard.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Live entertainment, food, fellowship, games, and community are bottled into this unforgettable weekend. Courtesy: Chester Cooley<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If there are people searching for belonging in spaces where they have been overlooked, they will keep building.<\/p>\n \u201cThis just isn\u2019t an event,\u201d Summers said. \u201cIt\u2019s a reflection. Everyone deserves to see themselves in it.\u201d<\/p>\n Cookout at the Vineyard takes place on June 11th<\/sup> and runs until June 13, 2026.<\/p>\n To learn more about CATV, click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow them on Facebook<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n The post Cookout at the Vineyard: Redefining Wine Country Gatherings Through Philanthropy, Culture, and Advocacy<\/a> first appeared on Todays Woman<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.todayswomannow.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/116-1-1-1-scaled.jpg\")
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