Is wine a woman? Let’s not exaggerate. The world of winemakers is an agricultural environment, and as such historically predominantly male. Still, something in terms of pink odds is moving. Indeed, let’s say that it has always moved.
In the cellars, female entrepreneurship has gradually made its way, with often very interesting results. In many cases, the family wineries have found in the new generations, including women, different ideas and curious derivations to build the image and products of their company. It is no coincidence that often, where art and design have met wine and grapes, a woman’s hand is involved. The truth is that when there is (also) a woman at the head of a winery, interesting ideas come out, which go beyond the mere passion for good wine.
The women of wine
On balance, in Italy there are many women involved in viticulture: there is also a specific reality to group and represent them, the National Association of women in wine, born in 1988. With over 900 associates including producers, restaurateurs, winemakers, sommeliers, journalists and wine experts throughout Italy, the association is today the largest of its kind in the world. There is presiding over it Donatella Cinelli Colombini, which has behind it a history of great viticulture in the lands of the great Tuscan red wines and which is today at the head of Casato Prime Donne di Montalcino, the first Italian winery run entirely by women. The role of the association is to spread the culture and knowledge of wine through the training and enhancement of the role of women in the wine sector. Unfortunately, as often happens, it is not a foregone conclusion: the world of wine remains a predominantly male environment, even in the common imagination, despite the numbers and historicity giving an important role to the productive and cultural female component.
Women and Champagne
Just look at the world of Champagne, probably the most famous wine in the world, to understand how fundamental women have been in the history of great wines. “Champagne is the only wine that leaves a woman beautiful after drinking,” she said Madame de Pompadour, passionate and expert in wine much more than claims of this type might suggest. The female role in the world of the most elegant bubbles of all time is much greater than having shaped the cups to drink Champagne on the breasts of Marie Antoinette, queen of France.
In fact, there are many prestigious fashion houses that over the centuries have led, sometimes for many years, wise and energetic women, who have brought important results to their companies. One name above all is that of Madame Clicquot. Widowed in 1805, at the age of 27 the “Grande Dame of Champagne” took over the reins of the company, leading it for half a century and leading to important entrepreneurial results, with the opening of the foreign market (especially the Russian one) and the invention of the pupitre, the inclined bench used for the remuage of Champagne. Again, in 1858, another young widow, Madame Pommery, takes over the management of a winery that her husband had founded in 1836, bringing it to the turning point that made her famous in the world: it was she who decided to produce and sell no longer still wines but Champagne, thus creating her own Maison de Champagne . A tradition, the feminine one linked to Champagne, which continues successfully today, with capable and prepared young entrepreneurs who carry on their Maison with pride and competence.
Find some of their stories together with those of a small – but interesting – representation of Italian wine women in our gallery.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
