Wine tends to still be considered a very masculine world. But there are many women (sommeliers, winemakers, oenologists, writers...) who have distinguished themselves despite this. We at Sommelier Wine Box have collected some of the most influential of all time.
The most influential wine women of all time: a list signed by Sommelier Wine Box.
1. Lalou Bize-Leroy
Lalou Bize-Leroy : legendary Burgundy producer with the Maison Leroy cellars, and the Domaine d'Auvenay and Domaine Leroy. The latter produces one of the most expensive wines in the world (produced in the Grand Cru Musigny vineyard, of which the 2015 vintage is legendary). In all cases, his productions are very small, made following the principles of biodynamics.
2. Madame Clicquot
Madame Clicquot (1777-1866): in 1799 she married Francois Clicquot, owner of the Champagne producing house of the same name. She invented remuage and produced the first Rosé Champagne, revolutionizing the world of Champagne and bringing, as a widow, the family business to previously unimaginable heights.
3. Lily Bollinger
Elisabeth Law de Lauriston-Boubers, better known as Lily Bollinger (1899-1977): with resourcefulness she took over the reins of the large Aÿ estate upon the death of her husband Jacques, in 1941, and guided it until 1971. In 30 years she brought it Bollinger to achieve extraordinary notoriety.
4. May-Eliane de Lencquesaing
May-Eliane de Lencquesaing : owner of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, France. She was directly involved, among other things, with the 1982 and 1983 productions: some of the best years ever. It earned the “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in 2017.
5. Jancis Robinson
Jancis Robinson : Master of Wine, British wine critic and writer, one of the most influential people in the world in wine. She is known, among other things, for her work in the highly renowned "The Oxford Companion to Wine" and for her website jancisrobinson.com. She was a wine purchasing consultant to Queen Elizabeth II.
6. Laura Catena
Laura Catena: general director of Catena Zapata, one of the most important Argentine wine companies.
7. Margareth Henriquez
Margareth Henriquez , President and CEO of Krug, the legendary Champagne wine house.
8. Gina Gallo
Gina Gallo : owner of Gallo Family Vineyards, in the United States.
9. Donatella Cinelli Colombini
Donatella Cinelli Colombini: owner of Casato prima donne and Fattoria del Colle, as well as president of the "Le donne del vino" association, which fights hard for education on equality between men and women in the wine world.
10. Cathy Corison
Cathy Corison : Californian producer, awarded “San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year” in 2011.
11. Ann Noble
Ann Noble : American chemist and researcher who invented the “Wine Aroma Wheel”.
12. Karen MacNeil
Karen MacNeil : one of the most influential wine writers in the world, author of the bestseller “The Wine Bible”.
13. Linda Bartoshuk
Linda Bartoshuk : American psychologist who studied the perception of taste and smell and discovered how individual characteristics of perception influence the perception of wine. Furthermore, she discovered the existence of what she coined as “supertasters”: people who have perceptions that are decidedly above average.
14. Andrea Immer Robinson
Andrea Immer Robinson : Master Sommelier and American wine writer, author among other things of “Great Wine Made Simple”.
15. Alice Feiring
Alice Feiring : American journalist known for her passion for natural wines, for many years a wine writer for Time magazine. Author, among other things, of “Naked Wine”.
16. Madeline Puckette
Madeline Puckette , American author, co-founder of the well-known Wine Folly blog.
17. Carole Meredith
Carole Meredith : former professor of the Department of Viticulture and Oenology at the University of California. He discovered the genetic origin of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety, demonstrating that the variety is the result of crossing Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc.
18. María Vargas
María Vargas : technical director of Marqués de Murrieta, one of the most prestigious wineries in Rioja (Spain). He created Castillo Ygay, a red wine that has become legendary, sold at dizzying prices.
19: Judy Chan
Judy Chan : born in Hong Kong, a career in finance until her father entrusted her with the Grace Vineyard in Shanxi, an estate that she transformed into the most awarded in Asia, an excellence of Chinese winemaking with 2 million high quality bottles per year.
20: Susana Balbo
Susana Balbo : the most famous Argentine winemaker, three times elected President of the Wines of Argentina ( 2006-2008, 2008-2010, 2014-2016). After 20 years as a consultant he created his own winery Dominio del Plata.
21. Monica Larner
Monica Larner : wine journalist, is the Italian Reviewer for The Wine Advocate and eRobertParker.com. In 2003 she was among the very first people selected to talk about Italian wine for Wine Enthusiast .
