American Institute of Wine and Food

What American Institute of Wine and Food does

The American Institute of Wine & Food (AIWF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1981 by Robert Mondavi, Julia Child, Richard Graff and others, headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. Its mission is to advance the understanding, appreciation, and quality of wine and food through educational experiences, scholarship funding, and the signature Days of Taste® children's program. The organization reaches over 20,000 adults and children annually through a federated structure of independent 501(c)(3) affiliated chapters across at least seven U.S. metros (San Diego, Dallas/Fort Worth, Wichita, Monterey Bay, New York, Pacific Northwest, and the San Francisco Bay Area).

AIWF's portfolio spans four core revenue-bearing programs: (i) the Wine Club, a quarterly 6-bottle subscription (~approximately $140 plus tax and shipping) operated in partnership with WineSavage, with 25–40% member discounts; (ii) the Travel Program, offering wine and food-centric land and cruise excursions through vetted tour providers; (iii) the Scholarship Program, which has disbursed over $100,000 cumulatively to culinary arts and oenology students (with one chapter reporting over $110,000 in 2010); and (iv) Unique Events (winemaker dinners, tastings, gala auctions, cooking classes such as the Dallas Farmers Market series at $25/class or $110 for a 5-class pack). Membership is dual-tier: individual national membership is free, while Business/Winery/Restaurant membership is $500 annually and provides benefits for two designated representatives, including logo placement on the AIWF partners page.

The organization is not a technology company and does not disclose any AI/ML, API, SDK, or software product capability. Its moat rests on heritage brand association with its founders (including the sponsorship of Julia Child's Kitchen at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History), a federated chapter ecosystem, archival collections at UC San Diego (6,384+ volumes) and Harvard's Schlesinger Library (~15,000 titles), and the trademarked Days of Taste® program. Distribution is omnichannel: website (aiwf.org), Facebook, Instagram, newsletters, partner-led wine fulfillment, and direct event programming through chapters.

Name

American Institute of Wine and Food

Legal name

The American Institute of Wine & Food

Website

https://aiwf.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The American Institute of Wine and Food is a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1981 by Robert Mondavi and Julia Child, running national wine and food education programs — including the trademarked Days of Taste® children's curriculum, culinary scholarships, a wine club via WineSavage, and a travel program — through affiliated chapters across the United States.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Culinary and Wine Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Food Services and Drinking Places (722)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHAKAFAH

Culinary & Wine Travel Agencies

Travel & Hospitality/Travel Agencies, Tour Operators & OTAs/Specialty/Niche Travel Agencies (Luxury, Adventure, Honeymoon, etc.)

SECONDARYEDALADAC

Catering & Events Food Service

Education/Student Services & Campus Operations/Dining, Food Services & Campus Retail

SECONDARYEDAIAGAL

Service Learning Program Design, Accreditation & Evaluation

Education/International Education & Study Abroad/International Service Learning, Volunteering & Gap Year Programs

Keywords

• Culinary education programs
• Wine appreciation society
• Culinary scholarship programs
• Cooking classes
• Gastronomy non-profit

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Individual national membership is free. Business/Winery/Restaurant membership is $500 annual, providing full membership benefits for two designated representatives.
2. Wine Club Subscription: Partnered with WineSavage to offer quarterly wine deliveries of 6 bottles at approximately $140 plus tax and shipping. Members receive 25-40% discounts.
3. Event Fees: Special member pricing on AIWF events and programs nationwide. Chapter events, cooking classes, and national events generate revenue.
4. Donations and Scholarships: Donations support scholarship programs and Days of Taste signature program. Julia Child Circle donors contribute $1000 or more.
5. Travel Program: Wine and food-centric excursions through partnerships with leading tour providers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AIWF is a national 501(c)(3) non-profit organization delivering culinary and wine education through member services including a signature children's education program (Days of Taste®), a culinary/oenology scholarship program, a wine subscription club, food-and-wine travel excursions, educational seminars, and curated events (winemaker dinners, tastings, auctions). Members gain access to discounts, networking with chefs/winemakers, and a national network of independent local chapters delivering programming in major U.S. cities.

Product overview

The American Institute of Wine and Food is a national non-profit organization offering a portfolio of educational programs and member services centered on wine and food appreciation. Its core offerings include the Days of Taste® signature children's education program, a Scholarship Program supporting culinary arts and enology students, the Wine Club subscription service, a Travel Program featuring wine and food-centric excursions, Educational Programs including seminars and specialized events, the New American Mondays campaign promoting local cuisine, and Unique Events ranging from winemaker dinners to gala auctions. These programs are delivered through a national structure with affiliated chapters across major U.S. cities, with membership providing access to events, discounts, and networking opportunities with industry professionals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Days of Taste® AIWF's signature trademarked educational program that brings chefs and farmers into fourth and fifth grade classrooms to teach children about fresh food, local ingredients, and farm-to-table concepts through hands-on experiences. Reaches over 20,000 adults and children annually nationwide.
• Scholarship Program Award program supporting individuals pursuing culinary arts and oenology education. Local AIWF chapters administer scholarships for students in accredited full-time or continuing education programs (e.g., El Centro College, Art Institute of Dallas, CIA at Greystone).
• AIWF Wine Club Quarterly wine subscription delivered in partnership with WineSavage. Members receive 6 bottles of curated wines quarterly at approximately $140 plus tax and shipping, with 25-40% member discounts. Wines are typically accessible only through wineries directly.
• AIWF Travel Program Wine and food-centric travel experiences, including land and cruise-based tours offered through partnerships with vetted tour providers worldwide.
• Educational Programs and Seminars Annual thought-provoking seminars, unique educational opportunities, and specialized events exploring wine and food topics for AIWF members and non-members, including conferences on gastronomy.
• Unique Events Curated national and chapter events including winemaker dinners, exclusive wine tastings, gala auctions, cookbook signings, artisan food gatherings, culinary cruises, and seasonal activities delivered through AIWF's chapter network.
• AIWF Membership (Individual and Business/Winery/Restaurant) Individual national membership is free and grants access to national events, chapter event calendars, and networking. Business/Winery/Restaurant (BWR) membership costs $500 annually and provides full membership benefits for two designated representatives plus business logo and website link on AIWF site.
• Dallas Farmers Market Cooking Classes In-person cooking classes taught by local chefs at the Dallas Farmers Market, running 11:30am-1:00pm. Offered individually at $25 per class or as a 5-class series at $110.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 20,000 adults and children reached annually through Days of Taste program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• WineSavagecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAIWF partnered with WineSavage to bring the AIWF Wine Club to members. WineSavage handles all logistics, order taking, processing, licensing and shipping. Their expert Tasting Panel provides selection of wines, with members receiving 6 bottles quarterly at approximately $140 plus tax and shipping, with 25-40% member discounts.
• University of California, San Diego - Mandeville Special Collections LibraryminorOthersAIWF Collection housed at UC San Diego includes more than 6,384 volumes and is maintained as a resource for culinary researchers and food enthusiasts. Collection includes works by Julia Child, M.F.K. Fisher, Eleanor Lowenstein and Andre Simon.
• Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study, Harvard University - Schlesinger LibraryminorOthersAIWF Culinary Collection at Harvard's Schlesinger Library includes close to 15,000 titles including works by Julia Child, M.F.K. Fisher, Eleanor Lowenstein and Andre Simon.
• Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American HistorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIWF is a sponsor of Julia Child's Kitchen at The Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. The exhibition features Julia's actual kitchen including cabinets, appliances, cookbooks, kitchen table, and hundreds of utensils and gadgets.
• Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary ArtscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAIWF listed as a resource link and foundational partner. Julia Child was a co-founder of AIWF in 1981 along with Robert Mondavi and Richard Graff.
• James Beard FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a resource link for culinary and wine enthusiasts. Both organizations promote gastronomy and culinary education.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• James Beard Foundation: Direct peer — a national non-profit devoted to celebrating and educating around American culinary culture, with awards, scholarships, chef programming, and tastings. Highly comparable mission (gastronomy education, scholarships, events) and audience (food professionals and enthusiasts).
• Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts: Direct peer — a non-profit founded in Julia Child's name that funds gastronomy grants, scholarships, and culinary education; explicitly partnered with AIWF. Overlaps in mission, founder legacy, and grantmaking activity.
• Slow Food USA: Direct peer — a non-profit advocating for good, clean, and fair food through education, chapters, and events. Comparable as a food-culture advocacy organization with chapter-based programming and an educational mission similar to Days of Taste.
• International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACP): Direct peer — a membership-based professional association for culinary educators, writers, chefs, and food media. Comparable in serving both enthusiast and professional culinary audiences via events, awards, and member programs.
• Les Dames d'Escoffier International: Direct peer — a society of accomplished women in the culinary and hospitality fields that funds scholarships and hosts tastings, dinners, and educational events. Mirrors AIWF's mix of professional networking, scholarships, and gastronomy programming.

Broad incumbents

• American Culinary Federation: Broad incumbent — the largest professional chefs' organization in the U.S., offering certification, education, and competitions. Comparable as a culinary professional membership body but with a much broader professional-chef focus than AIWF's enthusiast-leaning model.
• Wine Institute: Broad incumbent — a California-based public policy association representing wineries; comparable as a wine-industry membership/advocacy body, but its focus is policy and producer representation rather than enthusiast education.
• National Restaurant Association: Broad incumbent — the largest U.S. foodservice trade association with education (ServSafe), events (NRA Show), and advocacy. Adjacent comparison for a large-scale food-industry membership/education operation, though substantially broader scope than AIWF.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aiwfnational
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/american-institute-of-wine-and-food

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about American Institute of Wine and Food