Donne del Vino - Women of Wine

Elena Walch - Dazzling Wines of Alto Adige

Always on the look out for notable women of wine in Italy, I came across Elena Walch's name in the April 2013 issue of Food and Wine Magazine that recommended her Sauvignon Blanc. 

Born to a German family and raised in Milan, Elena first pursued a career in architecture, in the late 80's she married into the prestigious Walch wine family of Alto-Aldige and found a new passion. She took over the magnificent estates Castel Ringberg and Kastelaz,.

Years and endless awards and recognitions later Elena's vineyards produce 30,000 cases a year, 25 different wines.

7 Women Who Rule the Wine World

The  Daily Meal Reports ... The wine industry is exploding with female winemakers, some of our favorites ... For the latest generation of women winemakers, there has been no single path to success. More

Did You Know, In 1988, Italian women starte

 

In 1988, Italian women started one of the first female organizations devoted to wine, the Le Donne del Vino. Its goal is to encourage and promote women’s role in the Italian wine industry.^h

Barbara Tamburini, Oenologist, Creating Beautiful Wines from Aleatico to Vinsanto

With a beautiful passion for the wine and rich academic accomplishments Barbara Tamburini is quite  an extraordinary woman.  I just came across her name in an article  about Gualdo del Re an Organic Winery in Suvereto,  Southern Tuscany where Barbara is working with owners Teresa and Nico Rossi.  She has accomplished amazing things throughout Italy literally working with  Aleatico to Vermentino.

You might be wondering, what is an Oenologist, what do they do?

Chiara Boschis, One of Barola's Most Important Women in Wine, Azienda Agricola E. Pira & Figli, Piedmont, Italy

Photo from  Michael Skurnik Wines

Chiara Boschis assumed responsibity for her family's  8 generation winery in Barolo in 1990. Traditionally a very male dominated region she has gained the respect and great recognition through an unwaivering dedication to producing great wine.

“I was struck by the consistency of quality that Chiara Boschis is achieving with her Barolos.” –Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellars 

“…an excellent Barolo producer.” – The Wine Spectator, December 31, 2005

Did You Know

 

Since wine tasting is essentially wine smelling, women tend to be better wine testers because women, particularly of reproductive ages, have a better sense of smell than men.

Women and Wine Series at the Ritz-Carlton NY, Central Park's Auden Bistro & Bar

Auden Bistro & Bar at the Ritz-Carlton, New York at Central Park has lined-up a series of intimate dinners in the hotel's private dining room. The series will feature female luminaries of the winemaking world presenting their exclusive picks paired with a four-course meal prepared by chef Mark Arnao.

March 4, 2013 - Tiziana Settimo, Owner and Winemaker, Aurelio Settimo (Barolo, Italy)

March 15, 2013 - Mia Klein, Owner and Winemaker, Selene Wines, Bressier Vineyards, Cimaross Vinyards and Boyanci (Napa Valley, California)

April 17, 2013 - Athena Pappas and Stewart Boedecker, Owners and Winemakers, Boedecker Cellars (Willamette Valley, Oregon)

May 15, 2013 - Sarah Quider, Winemaker, Ferrari Carano (Sonoma, California)

A percentage of proceeds will benefit the Women's Shelter at Crossroads Community Services. Tickets are $125 per person, and seating is limited. For reservation call 212.521.6125.

For more information visit here.

Photo Credit: Women Winemakers of California

Francesca Moretti, Ready to Fight for the Women's Voice in Wine, Erbusco, Italy

Francesca Moretti is the chief executive of her family’s two wineries in Franciacorta, just south of Lake d’Iseo, and two others in Tuscany.  Perhaps the best well know is Bellavista the vineyard that produces the great spumante called  Franciacorta.

Stevie Kim,  turned me on to the wine a few years ago and have been enjoying it ever since, but for what ever reason have never written about it.  A situation I plan to address very soon.

In a recent Financial Times interview Francesca expressed that "“You have to fight all your life and if you are a female manager in the wine industry, you have to fight twice as much because nobody listens to you.”  A Feminine Touch on the Vine. I for one am glad that she and other determined women are speaking up. 

Ntsiki Biyela, Famous in South Africa Making Wines in Italy

I've know of Ntsiki Biyela as an outstanding winemaker in South Africa. She has a very interesting story. But when I found her name next to an Italian wine on a wine list at Aria, the fabulous trattoria and wine  bar that is dedicated to wine by women from around the world, I became very curious.

Of course my friend Susannah Gold, a wine writer, publicist and certified Italian sommelier was all over this story and wrote this  Stellekaya’s Ntsiki Biyela Discusses Her Time In Italy at Petra

Ilaria Petitto Proprietor of Donnachiara Winery, Campania, Italy

Ilaria Petitto, is of a new generation breathing great purpose to the Donnachiara Concept Winery, founded and named after her mother, Chira Petitto.

Ilaria inherited the estate and  is the fifth generation of winemakers in her family. Their properties are located in Montefalcione in Campania.