These are the nominated wine women of the year—who will you vote for?
Since 2019, a special award has been presented in the Dutch wine world: Wine Woman of the Year. This year too, several leading women in wine have been nominated. And you get to help decide who will take home the title this year. Will you cast your vote?
Wine Woman of the Year. When I first heard about this election, I had to scratch my head for a moment. Why should there be a special award for women, why not an award for Wine Personality of the Year? Because it is necessary, say the women behind this initiative, Clarissa Slingerland and Barbara Verbeek. Women not only respond differently to alcohol than men do; women working in wine are still treated differently from their male counterparts.
Increasingly diverse (fortunately!)
Unfortunately, I can only agree. I spent almost ten years working professionally with wine, and especially in the early years, women in wine were the exception rather than the rule. The Dutch wine world consisted primarily of older white men. I consciously mention that last part, because I was always struck by how white the wine world was—and still is. Fortunately, the wine world is changing (a little), and there is increasing diversity and inclusivity.
Women in wine
Mansplaining at the table (I really experienced it so often—men telling me what I was tasting and why, without even asking themselves what I was actually tasting…), is still around, because there are still many men who think they hold the patent on knowledge about wine and that they alone can share it. But there is hope! “In recent years, we have seen more and more powerful, energetic and driven women who are making a special contribution to the wine world. Women who make the wine world even more beautiful through their work, passion, knowledge or creations. And we would love to put them in the spotlight,” say Clarissa and Barbara.
Cast your vote
The professional jury for Wine Woman of the Year 2021 consists of Barbara Verbeek, Peter van Houtert, Janny van der Heiden, Birthe van Meegeren (Wine Woman of the Year 2019 winner) and Magda van der Rijst (Wine Woman of the Year 2020 winner). The final will take place during Gastvrij Rotterdam in September 2021. The ultimate winner is not determined solely by the jury of wine professionals: once the final nominee has been announced, the public can also cast their vote.
Read more about the nominated wine women and cast your vote here.
And hey, memorize these wine terms and don’t give mansplaining a chance!
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- Sergio Herman opens a new Frites Atelier location
