A Celebration Of Women In Wine

March 1st began  “Women’s History Month.”  And throughout the month, women worldwide are acknowledged for their achievements and contributions. Over the past few years, I have written articles about Women’s History Month, giving shout-outs to women in the wine and spirits industry.  However, I never wait for March 1st to come around; I like to keep the acknowledgments going all year long! At the risk of being repetitive, here is a quote from one of my previous articles. “Taking only one month a year to celebrate women is not acceptable. However, if during the next 31 days we succeed in sharing enough stories, perhaps it will inspire and encourage younger generations that they too can overcome obstacles and aspire to become whoever and whatever they want to be.”  Many of these stories also encourage others that it is never too late to change paths, no matter your age or circumstance.

Within the global wine and spirits community, many women have broken barriers and stepped into roles that men once dominated. Female winery owners, winemakers, sommeliers, and wine educators are no longer the “exception,” and female distillers and master blenders are on the rise! The list of accomplished women is lengthy and impressive!  Here are just a few examples of women who have helped pave the way for others. Claudia Harris of England was the first female in the world to pass the rigorous Court of Master Sommeliers exam and receive a title in 1984.  Madame Clicquot (Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin) became the proprietor of the famous champagne house in 1772, transforming it into an iconic winery, Veuve Clicquot, that earned her the title “Grande Dame of Champagne.” In 1997, Joy Spence of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum became the first woman in the spirits industry to hold the title of master blender. Heather Nelson is the first woman to found a whisky distillery in Scotland in over 200 years. She opened Toulvaddie Distillery Ltd. in 2015. Susana Balbo became Argentina’s first female oenologist in 1981, undaunted by a male-centric arena. Hanna Weinberger became California’s first female winemaker in Napa Valley in the 1880s. The list is endless, and I’m so thankful for these women, past and present.

Here are five more women that deserve a shout-out!

Ntsiki Biyela ​

Photo courtesy of Aslina Wine

Ntsiki Biyela is one of South Africa’s exemplary and highly respected winemakers.  Ntsiki grew up in Mahlabathini, a rural village in KwaZulu-Natal.  A few years after completing high school, she was awarded a scholarship in 1996 to study winemaking at Stellenbosch University.  After graduating in 2003 with a degree in Viticulture and Oenology, she began her journey as a winemaker, starting with Stellekaya winery.  Ntsiki’s dream and ultimate goal were to create her own wines and make exceptional world-class brands. So, influenced by her grandmother, who was her “guiding light,” Ntsiki took the initiative and established Aslina Wines in 2016, naming it in honor of her grandmother.  Her winemaking philosophy is partly drawn on earlier harvest experiences in Tuscany and Bordeaux that reconnected her to her love of nature and the soil where she grew up.  In addition to award-winning wines that Ntsiki produces, she sits on the board of directors for the Pinotage Youth Development Academy that provides technical training and personal development for young South Africans in the Cape Winelands, which prepares them to work in the wine and tourism industries. She was voted Woman Winemaker of the Year in 2009, and in 2017 she was listed in the world’s top 10 most “Innovative Women in Food & Drink" by Fortune’s Food & Wine.  Ntsiki’s awards are numerous, acknowledging her role in paving the way for others, eliminating barriers, and her positive influence on the image of the South African wine industry.

Aslina Sauvignon Blanc 2021
The grapes for this 100% Sauvignon blanc are sourced from the Stellenbosch region of South Africa and sustainably farmed.
Nose and Palate:  Aromas of citrus, minerality, and tropical fruit segue onto the palate with excellent texture, depth, and acidity.  A hint of citrus zest lingers on a smooth finish.
Alcohol: 13.3%
SRP: $19.99
Pairing:  Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with goat cheese, seafood, light pasta, or risotto.

Natalie Christensen

Photo courtesy of Yealands Wines

Natalie joined New Zealand’s Yealands Wines team in 2015 and has been this winery’s Chief Winemaker since 2018.  She was also named as one of the World’s Most Influential Women In Wine by The DrinksBusiness in 2018! However, this native-born New Zealander’s journey to this impressive point didn’t start with wine; it began with a BA in classical music and a masters in psychology. Realizing she wanted more out of life, at the age of 25, Natalie interned at a winery where it all fell into place for her.  She went on to get a degree in Oenology and took part in harvests around the world that eventually brought her back to New Zealand. Restless in between harvests and needing something to do, Natalie applied for a job as a winemaker in Spain, got the job, and experienced a fast immersion into making wine for an Albariño producer. Her tenacity, love of adventure, and passion shine through in her award-winning wines.  Natalie says, “There is a strong link between music and wine. Everyone in a room can be listening to a piece of music, and each individual will have a completely different experience. It’s the same with wine. Although a group may share a bottle of wine, their experience will be their own, unique discovery.”  Natalie pays it forward and mentors up-and-coming women in the wine industry as part of the New Zealand Winegrowers Women In Wine mentoring program.

Photo credit: Penny Weiss

Yealands Estate Single Block S1 Sauvignon Blanc 2020
The vineyard for this 100% Sauvignon Blanc is located in Awatere Valley in the Marlborough Appellation of New Zealand. It is the southernmost, coolest. and driest of Marlborough’s growing regions. Yealands is one of only a handful of wineries worldwide to be certified as carbon neutral and the first-ever to be certified from inception. 
Nose & Palate: Lovely aromas of ripe stone fruit, citrus, and tropical notes. The palate offers exotic fruit, hints of lime, pineapple, good acidity, and flinty minerality.
Alcohol: 13.5%
SRP: $30
Pairing: Enjoy as an aperitif or serve with shellfish, light pasta dishes, grilled chicken, or halibut.

Bruna Giacosa

Bruna with her father Bruno Giacosa. Photo courtesy of Bruno Giacosa Winery

Bruna is a fourth-generation winemaker who, in 2004, took over one of the most celebrated wineries in Italy, the iconic Bruno Giacosa winery in Piedmont, Italy. It was formerly headed by her world-renowned father, Bruno Giacosa, who sadly passed away in 2018. Bruna began her passage into the world of wine at the age of eight while working alongside her father, and now she is an amazing force and the heart of the winery. She is responsible for the business and winery management and represents the brand throughout the global wine markets.  Bruna inherited her father’s passion and enthusiasm for making great wine, always looking for perfection and upholding his philosophy of respecting traditional techniques while embracing the best of modern technology. As a result, she continuously seeks improvement of the wines while maintaining the highest standards in winemaking.  And indeed, Bruno Giacosa Barolo and Barbaresco wines remain legendary, with each vineyard site producing unique and eloquent wines. Bruna is making sure that her father’s legacy continues for generations.

Photo credit: Penny Weiss

Falletto di Bruno Giacosa Barbaresco Asili 2017 DOCG
“The 2017 vintage will be a year to remember for the challenges that growers faced from Mother Nature, namely hot weather and very little rain. Surprisingly, the wines produced do not show any notes of over-ripeness commonly found in a hot year. This balance in the wines is attributed to the stark temperature swings with cool summer nights tempering the hot days. The Barbaresco is fruit-driven with good acidity.” Bruno Giacosa Winery.  The grapes for this 100% Nebbiolo are sourced from Asili (Village of Barbaresco).  The wine is aged 18 months in French oak and six months in bottle. wine photo
Nose & Palate: Beautiful aromas of rose petals, red berries, and cherries set the stage for a rich palate of raspberry, minerality, racy acidity, silky tannins, and spice on the finish. It is a beautiful wine with depth and character that will only improve with age. Drink through 2035.
Alcohol: 14.5%
SRP: $285
Pairing: Pair with hearty stews, grilled meat, seared tuna, or aged cheese.

Paola Medina Sheldon

Photo courtesy of Bodegas Williams & Humbert

Paola is technical director and winemaker for Bodegas Williams & Humbert, located in the heart of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.  She is second-generation of the Medina family who took full ownership of this 130-year-old historic winery in 2013.  The winery is noted for its production of sherries and brandies. And, it is no surprise that Paola, who grew up in this environment rich with family heritage and connections, would one day become a winemaker.  Her path began with a degree in chemistry from the University of Granada, a degree in oenology from the University of Cadiz, and a master’s degree in viticulture, oenology, and legislation from the Polytechnic University of Madrid.  Paola worked in wineries in various capacities before joining Bodegas Williams & Humbert in 2010. She has become part of the “sherry revolution” and is an expert Sherry winemaker, throwing her passion and knowledge into the production.  Paola was highlighted by Decanter in 2018 as one of the ten most influential and pioneering winemakers in Spain, pointing out “her innovative production of vintages with biological aging, and the necessity to focus on quality wines and integrate sherry into haute cuisine.” In addition to winemaking, Paola regularly conducts and participates in winemaking courses and seminars within Spain and abroad.

Photo credit: Penny Weiss

Bodegas Williams & Humbert Dry Sack 15 Year Solera Especial
This fortified wine is a blend of 78% Dry Oloroso and 22% Pedro Jimenez Sherries. Aged for a minimum of 15 years, each Sherry style is first aged in its own Solera system and then blended in a third Solera. The Solera system is an aging process that uses new batches of sherry mixed with older ones in a tiered or pyramid structure. The bottom tier is the solera, the eldest sherry, which never entirely leaves the system. The rows above contain the younger sherries (criadera). Once a portion of the wine is extracted from the solera, it is replaced with the same amount of wine from the first criadera and so on, creating a unique complexity and personality in the wine.
Nose & Palate: Beautiful notes of fig, toasted nuts, raisins, and vanilla, with a touch of baking spice on the finish. Rich and delicious!
Alcohol: 20.5%
SRP: $34.99
Pairing: Enjoy as a dessert wine, neat, or in a cocktail.

Kristin Vogele

Photo courtesy of LUKE

Kristin Vogele is co-founder and owner of LUKE with her husband Thomas, the winemaker. The winery is located in the Wahluke Slope AVA in the Columbia Valley in southeast Washington state and is one of the warmest and driest climates in the state. Kristin is the youngest of five siblings who grew up in Seattle, far from the world of wine.  She rode horses before she could walk and spent her childhood riding and showing horses. She met her husband-to-be in high school and received a degree in Economics from the University of Washington.  Being a true believer and living proof, I always say that it is never too late to find new passions and roads to follow.  And Kristin believes it too.  After a 20-year career in the software industry, Kristin decided to focus full-time on the family wine business that she and her husband launched in 2012.   Kristin says that it is not just the love of wine that drives her passion but also the meaningful interactions and the stories shared by customers who have found a personal connection to the LUKE brand that inspires her the most. LUKE produces award-winning blends, and it is one of the top five independently owned brands in the Washington category.

Photo credit: Penny Weiss

LUKE Cabernet Sauvignon 2019
Vineyards for this wine are located in the Wahluke Slope AVA in Columbia Valley. It is a dry and warm area that sits between the Columbia River and Saddle Mountains. Sourced from five distinct vineyards, this wine is a blend of 96% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot and is aged in French and American Oak.
Nose & Palate: Aromas of dark berries, dark cherry, spice, and smoke segue onto the palate with dark chocolate, jammy dark berries, and baking spice.  Well-structured tannins with a long finish.
Alcohol:  145%
SRP: $25
Pairing: Grilled meat, short ribs, hearty stews, grilled portobello, or aged semi-hard cheese.

So, in addition to sharing inspiring stories in March, let's keep it going year-round! Celebrate the women that have and still are helping to open doors for us and future generations!

Until next time…

Cheers!
Penny

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