5 Women-Owned Wine brands you should be sipping
March was Women's History Month, and continuing with the spirit of highlighting boss women. I wanted to celebrate seven women who are inspiring others in the wine world. As a woman who enjoys a good glass of wine, I'm always excited to sip on wines made by female-owned winemakers. The wine industry has been male-dominated for decades. In fact, until the 1970s, women were not allowed to step foot inside the wine cellars because people thought that while women menstruated, they would ruin the wine and reduce its quality. Women have since expanded their roles in the wine industry and consumption. Today women make up 57% of wine purchases in the U.S, while only an estimated 10 percent of California's winemakers are female. As women continue to make strides in wine, these seven notable winemakers are getting the wine industry in formation with attention to our eco-system, mentorship, inclusion, and great-tasting wine.
“A successful woman is one who can build a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her.”
DAWNA DARJEAN JONES: DARJEAN JONES WINES
Dawna Darjean Jones is an award-winning winemaker from Loum, Louisiana. Dawna is a first-generation African-American winemaker who loves good food and drinks. Dawna is the owner, vinter, and winemaker of Darjean Jones wine, a family-owned winery specializing in boutique wines from California's most acclaimed growing regions. The objective at Darjean Jones is to produce wine that imbibes the essence of the quintessential California vintage with a uniqueness of character only achieved through artisanal winemaking.
Nichelle & Nicole Nichols: The Guilty Grape
Founded by twin sisters Nichelle & Nicole Nichols launched the Guilty Grape in the Summer of 2020 to combine their love of wine and retail while transforming The Guilty Grape from just Cocktail Kits into a complete Lifestyle Brand. Nichelle & Nicole have a joint mission of working toward inclusion by creating a space for underserved communities to thrive within the luxury wine and lifestyle industries.
Kimberly T. Johnson Denise Matthews: Philosophy
Philosophy's Kimberly T. Johnson and Denise Matthews are Maryland's first women-owned winery. Kimberly has worked in the Maryland wine industry for over a decade, while Denise has been a Sommelier committed to community work. Once a year, Kimberly and Denise mentor two young women who have expressed an interest in the wine industry or Maryland Agriculture and mentor them through the entire winemaking process.
Mai Vu Mavino
Mai Vu is the founder of Maivino, a Brooklyn-based wine company that makes it easy to have just one glass of wine. Mai's solving the problem most wine lovers have. Re-corking wine bottles they haven't finished without risking the taste and quality of the wine. So Mai created Maivino, a vegan bagged wine. The wine is packaged in airtight magnum pouches with two bottles inside that keep the wine fresh for 30 days after your first glass.
Theodora Lee, Theopolis Vineyards
Theodora Lee is known as Theo-Patra, Queen of the Vineyards throughout the wine world. She founded Theopolis Vineyards in 2003, but her passion for wine started in 1987 primarily due to the influence of her law firm mentors, many of whom owned vineyards. In addition to practicing law and making wine, Ms. Lee is a settlement commissioner, Early Neutral Evaluator, AAA certified arbitrator, and mediator. Also, she is a contributing writer to numerous employment law publications and regularly appears on TV and Radio, including NPR and PBS, speaking on various employment topics. Ms. Lee is the Co-Board Chairperson of the Dallas Post.
The growing list of woman-owned wine brands doesn't end here. So many women have taken to the vines and started their wine brands. This shortlist of female vintners shows just how far women have come in the wine industry and the glasses that have yet to be filled by future winemakers.
