Comments on: Give It Up For the Early Women of Wine http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/ Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:33:38 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Christy http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4770 Christy Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:48:07 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4770 Another woman I admire who is the pioneer in recent times is Maria Luz Marin of Casa Marin in Chile. She created a new region in Chile where no one believed she should go and is producing widely acclaimed wines. Another woman I admire who is the pioneer in recent times is Maria Luz Marin of Casa Marin in Chile. She created a new region in Chile where no one believed she should go and is producing widely acclaimed wines.

]]> By: Tim McDonald http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4757 Tim McDonald Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:02:34 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4757 Well done piece on the contributions of women in wine. When you really think about it without women, the wine business might be a tiny unimportant business. The data is correct that in the US women purchase nearly 70% of the production. They have been the target audience for decades. You mention the handful of female icons past and present and there are dozens if not hundreds more...the wine sisterhood is enormous... Well done piece on the contributions of women in wine. When you really think about it without women, the wine business might be a tiny unimportant business. The data is correct that in the US women purchase nearly 70% of the production. They have been the target audience for decades. You mention the handful of female icons past and present and there are dozens if not hundreds more…the wine sisterhood is enormous…

]]> By: Jean http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4756 Jean Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:31:54 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4756 I would put in a vote for Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW. Her International Wine Center has raised standards of professionalism in the wine industry by putting thousands of members of the wine trade through the rigorous courses of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. In addition, her best-selling Wine for Dummies books have brought a greater appreciation of wine to so many people who might have been intimidated by the subject. I also think the indefatigable Louisa Hargrave, the founding mother of the Long Island wine industry deserves a strong mention. Finally, Serena Sutcliffe MW of Sotheby's; don't you just love it that the wine department of perhaps the world's most prestigious auction house is run by a woman? I would put in a vote for Mary Ewing-Mulligan MW. Her International Wine Center has raised standards of professionalism in the wine industry by putting thousands of members of the wine trade through the rigorous courses of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. In addition, her best-selling Wine for Dummies books have brought a greater appreciation of wine to so many people who might have been intimidated by the subject. I also think the indefatigable Louisa Hargrave, the founding mother of the Long Island wine industry deserves a strong mention. Finally, Serena Sutcliffe MW of Sotheby’s; don’t you just love it that the wine department of perhaps the world’s most prestigious auction house is run by a woman?

]]> By: John Stallcup http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4755 John Stallcup Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:27:33 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4755 The forgotten female icon of the California wine history is Teresa Franzia, Fred's grandmother. She and her sons built the Franzia winery in Ripon just after prohibition ended with money she borrowed from AP Gianini while her husband was away in Italy. Later she loaned her son in law Ernest Gallo the remainder of the money she borrowed so he could build his winery. Teresa begat Gallo, The Wine Group and Bronco (about half of the US wine business) a monumental but forgotten historic impact on California’s wine industry. Not bad for a, hard working, 4'11", accidental mail order bride from Italy. The forgotten female icon of the California wine history is Teresa Franzia, Fred’s grandmother. She and her sons built the Franzia winery in Ripon just after prohibition ended with money she borrowed from AP Gianini while her husband was away in Italy. Later she loaned her son in law Ernest Gallo the remainder of the money she borrowed so he could build his winery. Teresa begat Gallo, The Wine Group and Bronco (about half of the US wine business) a monumental but forgotten historic impact on California’s wine industry. Not bad for a, hard working, 4’11″, accidental mail order bride from Italy.

]]> By: Tim http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4749 Tim Thu, 04 Feb 2010 17:23:25 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4749 Two women I greatly admire are Carol Duval-Leroy (Champage Duval-Leroy) and Kimberly Pfendler (Pfendler Vineyards). With little preparation or experience, they each assumed control of the family wineries (in Champagne and Sonoma Mountain, respectively) after the deaths of their husbands. There were other, more secure options for them, no doubt, but in order to save the jobs of people who depended on them and to carry on an important legacy, they took control. And the wines, in both cases, are exquisite. Two women I greatly admire are Carol Duval-Leroy (Champage Duval-Leroy) and Kimberly Pfendler (Pfendler Vineyards). With little preparation or experience, they each assumed control of the family wineries (in Champagne and Sonoma Mountain, respectively) after the deaths of their husbands. There were other, more secure options for them, no doubt, but in order to save the jobs of people who depended on them and to carry on an important legacy, they took control. And the wines, in both cases, are exquisite.

]]> By: Kat http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4748 Kat Thu, 04 Feb 2010 16:12:02 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4748 Wine industry women, both of yesteryear and today, definitely seem to possess an admirable sense of determination. Case in point: MacNeil, who battled polio and extreme poverty as a teen though still managed to graduate valedictorian of her high school class (she apparently held several odd jobs throughout that period). I also feel as if I have met a good number of females who once held high-profile positions outside of wine in fields like law and finance. MW Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan (whom I haven’t met), for instance, is a former investment banker who got turned onto wine after a particularly impressive business lunch. I guess it takes a certain caliber of individual to succeed in this industry. Wine industry women, both of yesteryear and today, definitely seem to possess an admirable sense of determination. Case in point: MacNeil, who battled polio and extreme poverty as a teen though still managed to graduate valedictorian of her high school class (she apparently held several odd jobs throughout that period).

I also feel as if I have met a good number of females who once held high-profile positions outside of wine in fields like law and finance. MW Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan (whom I haven’t met), for instance, is a former investment banker who got turned onto wine after a particularly impressive business lunch. I guess it takes a certain caliber of individual to succeed in this industry.

]]> By: Lucy http://blog.winemag.com/editors/2010/02/03/give-it-up-for-the-early-women-of-wine/comment-page-1/#comment-4745 Lucy Wed, 03 Feb 2010 19:56:21 +0000 http://blog.winemag.com/editors/?p=730#comment-4745 The stories of the champagne widows are facinating, particularly because they would not have legally been able to control their own finances and run a business had their husbands been alive. Given how pioneering they were it is surprising they are not more recognized in history. The stories of the champagne widows are facinating, particularly because they would not have legally been able to control their own finances and run a business had their husbands been alive. Given how pioneering they were it is surprising they are not more recognized in history.

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