LYDIA RICHARDS Founder & Entrepreneur

Teffy Wines | Vino Concierge | Hispanics in Wine & Spirits™ | Sip & Sabor Festival

Lydia Richards is a Panama-born wine professional, entrepreneur, and industry advocate whose career spans wine education, retail, marketing, public relations, and events. She holds a Sommelier Certification from the Sommelier Society of America and WSET Level 3 Advanced Certification.

In 2017, Lydia founded Vino Concierge, a wine education and consulting company created to make wine more accessible to underrepresented audiences. Through curated tastings, educational programming, and strategic consulting, the company helped bridge the gap between wine culture and diverse communities.

She is also the co-founder of Hispanics in Wine & Spirits™ (HiWS), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing Hispanic and Latine representation across the beverage and hospitality industries through mentorship, advocacy, and community-building. In addition, she co-founded the Sip & Sabor Festival, a vibrant two-day fundraising event that celebrates the intersection of wine, spirits, food, and culture while providing a platform for professional exchange and dialogue among industry leaders.

Lydia’s expertise has been featured in major publications and conferences around the world. Her leadership has earned numerous accolades, including Wine Enthusiast’s 40 Under 40 Tastemakers, Wine Business Monthly’s Wine Industry Leaders, and Imbibe’s 75 People to Watch in 2021. Most recently, she was honored as Executive of the Year by the Hue Society in 2023 and USA Today's Black Changemakers in the Wine Industry in 2024.

In 2026, Lydia is launching Teffy Wines, a boutique wine brand based in Santa Barbara County, California, crafting minimal-intervention wines that highlight site, varietal expression and vintage character. Working with sustainable and organic vineyards, Teffy produces vibrant, food-friendly wines designed to inspire community and connection. 

A proud Afro-Latina living and working in the United States, she is passionate about inspiring and mentoring the next generation of Black and Hispanic/Latine individuals interested in wine. She currently resides in Santa Barbara with her partner, Stephen, and their dog, Sasha.