The last century inherited the Victorian concept that wine was forbidden for women. This idea became widespread, and for a long time the woman was not allowed to peer into the world of wine, an exclusive world of man.
But this veto to women has not always been the case. Since the time of the Egyptians women participated with the man in all of the social events and there are writings where it is mentioned that Egyptian women consumed a lot of wine. Among the Etruscans, early settlers of the Italian peninsula, it was common to make large celebrations with libations of wine enjoyed equaly by men and women. Dionysus, the Greek God of wine, Bacchus was called among the Romans, had many followers that with wine watered their religious services. “Bacus” calls were forbidden by the State in 196 BC for the abuses that took place during the worship, but women did not accept the ban and continued organizing, in secret, pilgrimages to places of worship to Baco where there had all the facilities for drinking wine.
In our times we observe between female sex an new outbreak of interest in everything to do with wine: its development, marketing, sensory analysis and its consumption. In all these areas we find women who have triumphed in their activity. Zelma Long remembers when she was the only woman in the oenology School of the University of California at Davis. For a time she remained under the shadow guardianship of Robert Mondavi and subsequently changed the company Simi Winery, where she was the winemaker for the winery.
Marimar Torres, daughter of the main harvest of the Penedès and founder of the wine Empire that bears his name, Miguel Torres, didn’t want to stay out of the family business and made her father to send her to the United States as a representative of the firm and has managed to produce her own wines and increase sales of wines Torres at levels not suspected as well as being the Ambassador of Spanish cuisine.
In terms of sensory analysis, we must refer to this excellent taster, Isabel Mijares, whose prestige in Spain Silkwood to the Secretariat of the international society of winemakers. Begoña Jovellar, graduated in biological sciences from the University of Salamanca and oenology from the University of Valladolid, is the winemaker for vega Sicilia and Oremus.
There are other very important ladies in the world of wine. And I don’t mean only the widow Clicquot-Ponsardin who started the massive trade in champagne. We currently have female figures that are important in wine, such as Corinne Mentzelopoulos, who – to the death of her father Andrew Mentzelopoulos – has been responsible not only preserve, but to increase the prestige of the Château Margaux by hiring the great Émile Peynaud as Advisor of their vineyards and their wines.
Baron Phillippe de Rothschild fought throughout his life so that his wine was recognized, Château Mouton-Rothschild, as one of the first Médoc Crus. This wine had been classified in 1855 as second Cru, and finally in 1973, by Decree of the French Government, was promoted to first Cru, simply recognizing what already was known from long ago: one of the best wines of Bordeaux and the world. On the death of the Baron in 1988, his daughter Philippine de Rothschild took the place of her father until his death in 2014. One of their wine, Opus One, is made in California, in partnership with Robert Mondavi, who also died recently.
In the Burgundy, madame Lalou Bize-Leroy, until some years, was co-owner of the company Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, producer of big red wines Richbourg, Romanée-St.-Vivant, La Tache and Romanée-Conti (the most expensive wines of the world), as well as having her own business Maison Leroy, specialized in lavish and expensive wines.
Another famous woman for her wine property is madame May-Eliane de Lencquesaing, owner and Manager for 30 years of Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, prestigious second Cru de Pauillac.
Zelma Long May-Éliane de Lencquesaing Isabel Mijares
Phillippine de Rothschild Laura Zamora
You have very distinguished ladies as Serena Sutcliffe, holder of a master’s degree in wine literature off Wine, which is very difficult to obtain. She is the editor of one of the best treaties that exist on wine: “Wines of the World” by Simon André. Jancis Robinson is the author of several books on wine, including “The Great Wine Book” and “Vines and Wines“, besides being a known columnist.
Also in Mexico, we are entering the 21st century with many women interested in wine. One of them, Laura Zamora, is the winemaker of Bodegas de Santo Tomás, in Baja California. She studied oenology in Argentina and the United States.
Another, the sommelier Carla Ruiz has been dedicated to the teaching and promotion of wine and her work has transpired between the young university students.
Carla Ruiz
Some still think that women have nothing to do with the world of wine… what do you think?
Wine and women