Kim Nguyen

Meet Kim Nguyen

Communications Coordinator for the Washington Winegrowers Association and the Washington Wine Industry Foundation

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Join us as we bring you this special series on the Grapevine, celebrating this community of Washington wine industry professionals, while learning what their culture and AAPI Heritage Month means to them.

Suman Kumar: How do you identify within the Asian American and Pacific Islander community? Specifically where you and/or your family immigrated from, or still reside. 

Kim Nguyen : My name is Kim Nguyen. I’m from Vietnam, and my family still lives in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam. In 2017, I moved to the state of  Washington in pursuit of higher education. In 2021, I graduated from Central Washington University and started my first step into the wine industry.

SK: What is your role within the Washington Wine Industry?

KN: I’m the Communications Coordinator for the Washington Winegrowers Association and the Washington Wine Industry Foundation.

SK: What brings you joy about your heritage and culture?

KN: What brings me joy is how rich the Vietnamese culture is. Geographically, Vietnam is a relatively small country. However, each part of the country holds such beautiful and rich culture that spans thousands of years. I’m  naturally a curious person who loves to travel, and each place I visit in my own country has never failed to fascinate me.

SK: Does your family have any traditions that are especially important to you?

KN: The tradition that I will always hold close to my heart is a national holiday called 

Tết. (Lunar New Year) It is a  time of the year when everyone in the family comes back home and spends time together. It’s the season of family bonding, showing appreciation, giving, and amazing traditional food. Around Tết, everywhere in the country is decorated with vibrant colors and everyone’s always in a good mood.

SK: Who are the role models or mentors that have influenced you or helped guide you?

KN: My dad is the role model of my life. He built his career from the ground up, and he has a wanderlust soul. Growing up, he always told my sister and me to pick wherever we want and go, never limit ourselves, try new things, and never stop learning.

SK: What does AAPI Heritage Month mean to you?

KN: AAPI Heritage Month, to me,  means representation. In light of everything that has happened and peaked throughout the past years, recognizing and celebrating AAPI Heritage month is crucial to highlight this community's perseverance.