According to an article from Zippia, the retail value of wine sales in the U.S. is $79.1 billion. Additionally, 773 million gallons of wine were produced in the U.S. in 2021. We know that women usually enjoy a glass of wine with friends or to accompany a meal, but many of us may not think of the female winemakers involved in the winemaking. Although female representation in the winemaking industry may be smaller than we hoped, the impact of these innovators is enormous. An article from First Leaf states that “a 2020 study by Santa Clara University found that just 14 percent of California’s more than 4,200 wineries have a female winemaker.”
There are remarkable trailblazing women constructing landmark moves in the winemaking industry, though. So, here are six you should check out:
1. The O.G: Hannah Weinberger
According to a paper from scu.edu, Hannah is the first recognized female winemaker in California. After her husband died in 1882, she became the first owner of a winery in Napa Valley. She also ran the Weinberg winery until Prohibition laws forced it into closing in 1920. So, it’s definitely one with a lot of tradition.
2. Elise Nerlove — Earth Saving Grape Goddess
According to the Cellar Angels website, Elise is making history as an executive committee member for Save the Family members, fighting for the rights of small farmers in Napa Valley.
3. Beth Forrest — All the Taste, Lest the Booze
Beth has found scientific methods of making wine with lower alcohol content (30-40% lower than the average). The Virgin Wines article about her says she has followed in her parents’ footsteps, who founded the winery.
4. Milla Handley — First Female Wine Owner
An article from Maker Wine mentions Milla is the first woman in the U.S. to establish a wine label using her own name. Way to crush it, Milla!
5. Camins 2 Dreams: Double the fun!
A married lesbian couple owns this winery, and they both take their craft super seriously, earning masters in enology (the study of wines) and viticulture (the study of grape cultivation). This has led them to own and operate their vineyard.
6. Melanie Pfister: Spreading the Love
Aside from making her own wine, Melanie “created the diVINes d’Alsace, an association of female winemakers and vineyard managers. What a way to blaze the trail!
It is always interesting to learn about the many processes people use to cultivate the same product and put their own unique mark on it. Vineyards are naturally such beautiful places, and their beauty is only enhanced when woven with individual stories of how they came to be. One day, I hope to travel to the wineries mentioned above and see the fruits of these women’s labors in action (pun well intended).
Do you know any female winemakers we should recognize? Let us know in the comments below.
Featured image via Domeniile Blaga on Pexels
