This new series will showcase the key women in wine for Women’s History Month and National Women’s Day! The goal is to showcase the major players, not just those who own vineyards, but also winemakers, directors and more within the wine industry. Each week we will be profiling two different women in wine! We’re proud to shine a spotlight on the women in the wine industry. These are the women who work at vineyards around the world and make wine, but they are also so much more than that: they are ambassadors, advocates, and trailblazers.
Whether it’s introducing new wines to the market or helping small vineyards get noticed, these women are making a huge impact on the wine industry—and we couldn’t be more excited to showcase them. When you buy a bottle of wine, you might not know all of the work that’s gone into making it. You might not know who the people are who have labored over each vine and worked day after day to ensure that what ends up in your glass is something you’ll love. But today we want to share with you some of those stories so you can see all of the amazingness these women bring to their craft.
Kasey Wierzba – Shady Lanes Cellar – Suttons Bay, Michigan
Kasey Wierzba is a winemaker for Shady Lanes Cellar in Suttons Bay, Michigan. She has been their head winemaker since 2016 with a vineyard of over 52 acres which is one of the largest in the Leelanau Peninsula. Shady Lane Cellars’ Grüner Veltliner 2017 earned 92 points!
Wine recommendation: Shady Lanes Cellar – Franc N Franc
Virginie Haut – Domaine de la Tourade – Gigondas, France
6th generation winemaker, Virginie Haut at Domaine de la Tourade combines manual harvests and ancestral winemaking principles to craft wines that express the unique terroir of the Dentelles de Montmirail. The vineyard covers covers 20 hectares (16 in Gigondas and Vacqueyras).
Wine recommendation: Domaine de la Tourade – Gigondas
Aude Sohler – Frey -Sohler – Alsace, France
Aude Sohler, is a generational winegrower at the family-owned estate Frey-Sohler. The French estate spans 29 acres of rocky slopes in the Rittersberg. The winery is certified sustainable and produces a variety different grape varietals.
Wine recommendation: Frey -Sohler – Cremant Riesling Brut NV
Nathalie Estribeau – Les Vignobles Foncalieu – Languedoc, France
Nathalie Estribeau is the woman in wine at Foncalieu. She is the wine director at Foncalieu, where they craft a magnificent range of wines from their estate vineyards. In their history of over 50 years, they have committed to organic agriculture.
Wine recommendation: Les Vignobles Foncalieu – Le Versant Pinot Noir
Christelle (Darragon) Charbonnier – Maison Darragon, Vouvray – Loire, France
Christelle Darragon is a woman in wine. She was born into a winemaking family in Loire and became the head of her family’s business. The Darragon have been making wine for 9 generations since 1791 and today own 40 hectares of vineyards, mostly with Chenin Blanc. Christelle takes over from her parents, Raymonde and Pierre, who ran Maison Darragon, Vouvray in Vouvray. She is an eco-friendly farmer, mindful of the quality and its environment.
Wine recommendation: Maison Darragon, Vouvray – Vouvray Sparkling
Marta Locatelli – Tenuta di Angoris – Friuli, Italy
Marta Locatelli is the owner of one of the oldest wineries in Italy dating back to 1648 with their family owned land covering 620 hectares, 130 of which are covered in vine. Tenuta di Angoris is the only winery in the region that has land in all 3 DOC’s: Isonzo, Collio, and Colli Orientali del Friuli.
Wine recommendation: Tenuta di Angoris – Schioppettino
Celita Ravaioli – Poderi dal Nespoli – Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Celita Ravaioli, a woman of wine fourth generation of winemakers dating back to 1929. She made her first ever wine in 2004 and she is representing a “Sangiovese” blood line and is a genuine expertise when it comes to the Emilia Romagna region.
Wine recommendation: Poderi dal Nespoli – Prugneto
Sigrid Carroll – Weingut Richard Bocking – Mosel, Germany
Sigrid Carroll is a managing director of Weingut Richard Bocking in Mosel, Germany. Traditional business started in 1623 with winemaking beginning in 1769. The domaine covers 7 hectares in Burgberg, Hühnerberg, Taubenhaus, Schlossberg and Ungsberg (Trarbach). 94% is planted with Riesling.
Wine recommendation: Weingut Richard Bocking – Riesling
Valeria Bonomo – Abito – Barrancas, Argentina
Valeria Bonomo, Agriculturist and Winemaker, grows grapes in Barrancas. Her winemaking began in 2010 with a Domaine covering 110 hectares, vines of Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Moscatel, Bonarda, Syrah and Tannat. Abito is a pioneer in the use solar energy for their irrigation system.
Wine recommendation: Abito – Malbec La Juventud
Catherine (Lamarque) Barat – Château Puynormond Montagne Saint-Émilion – Bordeaux, France
Catherine Barat is a fourth generation winemaker whose has operated the winery since 2000 with her brother. The vineyard covers 13 hectares and is located between prestigious neighbors Saint-Emilion and Pomerol with vines of 80% Merlot, 10% Cab Franc & Petit Verdot.
Wine recommendation: Château Puynormond – Montagne St Emilion Vieilles Vignes
