Cheers to Local Women In Wine

Paula Bandy, Mail Tribune
December 8, 2021

Recently I spent an evening in support of women in wine.

The happy hour began with a tasting of local women-made wines. The night slipped easily into conversation, laughter and camaraderie, accompanied by light rain, and delicate gold-trimmed porcelain plates ready to be filled with charcuterie, cheese, fruits and nuts beautifully offered.

Hopefully, there will be many more evenings like this advocating for and encouraging focus on women creating and defining leadership roles in the Southern Oregon wine industry, and beyond.

This local group is part of Women in Wine: Fermenting Change in Oregon, a member-based nonprofit started a few years back in the Portland area. Women have always been a part of the wine world, but mostly relegated to the back supportive offices, daughter of a winemaker, wife of a winemaker or field worker. Winemaking has traditionally been a man’s domain. But globally, women are moving forward and taking the reins when they inherit a vineyard or winery, or independently found one of their own.