Here’s What I’ve Learned as a Woman Winery Owner
In my career, I'm often asked what it's like to own and operate a winery as a woman. When you look at the numbers, I can see why this question arises. Nationwide, women only make up 8% of winemakers. While 47% of male winemakers, only 4% of women do. Winemaking being a male-dominated industry bears no influence on what I love about it.That said, if there were two pieces of advice I could give to any woman thinking of becoming a winemaker, the first would be to never work a harvest while pregnant. That was a terrible experience that I'd vehemently like to never repeat. The second piece of advice would be to make sure it's something you love. Not just love the taste of wine but love the craft, love the labor inside the bottle, love the seasons that so strongly define your work, and lastly, what should have been first, love the people that make each delicious sip possible.