It is no great secret that the winemaking industry has long been dominated by men. The vast majority of the big players in the wine industry are men, with names like Boissenot, Derenoncourt and Rolland becoming well known globally. The social, cultural and economic factors that put innovators such as these at the forefront of the industry are beyond the scope of this article, but it must be pointed out that the top billed list of famous names in wine is suspiciously absent of women.
The truth is, women have been involved in winemaking since the very beginning though their involvement has not always been celebrated or even permitted in some cases. For example, in the early days of Ancient Rome, women were banned from drinking alcohol because it was feared it would cause them to behave inappropriately. So concerned were these Romans that a woman could be sentenced to death for the crime of consuming alcohol.
These attitudes towards women and alcohol are not exactly consigned to the distant past. In fact, these dated attitudes do persist in some cultures and women who enjoy a drink are sometimes thought to have somewhat questionable moral character. Despite slow progress, things are thankfully changing and women’s place in the making and enjoyment of wine is much more respected. To go further, women’s place in the winemaking industry has gained a lot of momentum in recent decades, and women winemakers are taking the world by storm, bringing their knowledge, expertise and desire for innovation and quality to the table.
Female led wineries
While there have always been female led wineries and distilleries in operation, many of these were either underground (not literally), or were incredibly small and boutique. Historically it has been unusual to see women’s efforts gain the recognition they deserve in the sector, but with time the contributions that women are making to the industry are becoming more widely appreciated.
Whether specialising in white or red wine, women have time and time again proven that they are deserving of a place in this traditionally male dominated industry. From young entrepreneurs looking to drive innovation and investment in the sector to highly experienced professionals who understand the finer points of growing grapes and producing award winning wines, the women in the winemaking industry come from highly diverse backgrounds.
These women are pushing for parity and inclusivity in the wine industry, facing many challenges as they go. The overarching feeling among women winemakers is that they face many of the same challenges that women working in other male dominated industries will come up against. To name a few, women are more likely to have their skills and expertise questioned than a man is, and it can be harder to ensure female voices are heard and taken seriously.
A place for women in the future of winemaking
A notable name to watch is Krista Scruggs, a woman who originally hails from California and found herself working in wine almost accidentally. To date, her career has taken her all over the USA and as far afield as Italy and France. Another name to look out for is Zhou Shuzhen who is pioneering winemaking in the Ningxia region of China. She has been involved in winemaking since the 1980s and her skills and experience are driving continual innovation in the industry. Her personal philosophy is that the learning process is lifelong, and there are always ways to improve.
The fact is that wine is something that we have been enjoying for personal, social and ceremonial reasons for thousands of years and our love affair with the beverage is unlikely to end any time soon. The art of winemaking is certainly subject to strongly held traditions, but times are changing which is making it necessary to look for new approaches that work harmoniously with the old ways. The women making waves in the wine industry are bringing with them fresh perspectives, new ways of thinking, and innovative ideas that can only make the industry even stronger.
In the future, we hope that women in winemaking will no longer be a novel talking point but a widely accepted and unremarkable fact of the industry. After all, women have been there, whether at the forefront or behind the scenes, since the very beginning.
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