Diversity in the wine industry

Influential women in the wine industry

Jancis Robinson

Jancis Robinson is one of the world’s most respected wine critics. She is also a Master of Wine, which is one of the industry’s most prestigious qualifications.

Robinson has been writing about wine for over 40 years and her work has appeared in a number of publications, including The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

She got her start in the wine industry working as a secretary at a London wine merchant and has since gone on to become one of the most influential women in the wine world.

She is currently the editor-in-chief of the Oxford Companion to Wine and has published several books on the subject, including The World Atlas of Wine.

Robinson is also a member of the prestigious wine panel at The Restaurant at Meadowood in Napa Valley, California.

Robinson was named a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2014, in recognition of her contribution to the wine industry.

María José López de Heredia

María José López de Heredia is a Spanish winemaker who comes from a long line of winemakers. The de Heredia family has been making wine in the Rioja region of Spain since 1877.

López de Heredia is currently the director of Bodegas López de Heredia, which was founded by her great-grandfather. She is the fourth generation to run her family’s business, Bodegas López de Heredia Viña Tondonia. The winery is one of the oldest in Rioja and is known for producing traditional-style wines.

López de Heredia has been awarded a number of prestigious prizes, including the National Prize for Culture and the Arts in Spain.  She was also named a Dame Commander of the Order of Civil Merit by the Spanish government in 2009.

Her work in the Spanish wine industry has been widely recognized and she has been an important voice in promoting the Rioja wine region.

López de Heredia is a member of the Real Academia Española, an honor given to only 40 living Spaniards.

In 2012, she was awarded the prestigious Premio Nacional del Vino (National Wine Prize) by the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

This award is given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the Spanish wine industry.

Doris Duke

Doris Duke was an American heiress and philanthropist who had a passion for wine.  In 1973, she founded her own winery, called Domaine Fin-de-Siècle, in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

The winery was known for producing high-quality Pinot Noir wines and was featured in the documentary movie, Sideways.

Duke was also a noted collector of art and antiques, and her wine cellar at her estate in Newport, Rhode Island was said to be one of the finest in the world.

Duke passed away in 1993, but her legacy as a passionate wine lover and collector lives on. In 2004, Duke’s wine cellar was sold for more than $3,775,711, which, at the time, was the highest total ever for a private American wine collection.

Alice Feiring

Alice Feiring is a natural wine advocate and one of the most respected voices in the industry.

She is the author of several books on wine, including The Battle for Wine and Love: Or How I Saved the World from Parkerization and Naked Wine: Letting Grapes Do What Comes Naturally.

She is a strong believer in the idea that wine should be made using traditional methods and without the use of chemicals or other additives. 

This philosophy has earned her the nickname “The Natural Wine Nun.”

In addition to her writing, Feiring is also a sought-after speaker and consultant, and she was named one of the most influential people in the wine world by Decanter magazine in 2009.

Lynn Gauthier

Lynn Gauthier is the owner and winemaker of Chateau des Charmes, a leading Canadian winery. 

Gauthier took over the running of the family business in 1988, and under her leadership, the winery has gone from strength to strength. The Gauthier family has been making wine in Niagara for six generations, and Chateau des Charmes is now one of the most respected wineries in the region.

Gauthier is a strong advocate for sustainable viticulture, and she was named one of Canada’s Top 100 Most Powerful Women by the Women’s Executive Network in 2009.

In addition to making great wine, Gauthier is also a strong advocate for women in the industry, and she was one of the founders of VINES (Women in Niagara Entering the Industry), a networking and support group for women working in all aspects of the Niagara wine industry.

Cristina Mariani-May

Cristina Mariani-May is the CEO of Banfi Vintners, one of the largest importers and distributors of fine wines in the United States.

Mariani-May is a trailblazer in the industry, and she was one of the first women to earn the prestigious Diploma of Wine & Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

She is also a member of the Board of Directors for Slow Food USA, an organization that promotes local food and sustainable agriculture.

Under Mariani-May’s leadership, Banfi Vintners has become one of the most respected fine wine companies in the world. The company is committed to sustainable practices and is a strong supporter of environmental causes.

Mariani-May is a passionate advocate for diversity in the wine industry, and she is a member of VINEX, an international organization that promotes gender equality in the wine industry.

The drive for greater equality

These are just some examples of a powerful woman in the wine industry who is making a difference. There are many other women working to create change, and it is important to support them in their efforts.

In order to create a more diverse and inclusive industry, we need to continue to lift up the voices of women of all backgrounds. We need to celebrate the progress that has been made, and continue to fight for a more equal future.