Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/118688
NATIONAL WOMEN'S MONTH Left to right, back row: Nicole Bazzo, SWS; Monica Fitzgerald, AWS; Cassidi Gibson, Amarinder Bhangoo-Acosta, SWS; Karen Hunt, Daou Vineyards; Ana Diogo, Assistant Winemaker, Rutherford Hill; Marisa Taylor, Winemaker, Rutherford Hill; Deanna Yokoro, Justin Vineyards/Fiji Water; Kay Malaske, Brand Ambassador for all Terlato properties; Loulie De La Torre, AWS. Front row: Lexi Carnes, SWS; Tabitha Alger, Laetitia Vineyards; Jacquie Cohen, Jisethe Donovan, Holly Winneker, Lisa Brooks and Sharon Brawner of SWS. Moving Up C elebrated on March 8 as an official holiday in countries around the world, International Women's Day marks the achievements of women throughout history. This movement has become the focal point of National Women's Month and a source of inspiration for professional development at industry-leading corporations nationwide. With female winemakers, vintners and CEOs serving as highly visible role models, growing numbers of women are pursuing careers in the wine industry. At Southern Wine & Spirits, the industry's largest domestic distributor, the presence of women in director and management roles has reached an all-time high. In conjunction with National Women's Month, a team of a dozen women assembled by Jack Brennan, Executive VP – California, James Bradney, VP and General Manager – Southern California and American Wine & Spirits' Loulie De La Torre from the company's Southern California Division gathered in Napa to strengthen ties with one other and with producers as part of a three-day program themed "Women in Wine." This occasion brought together women from different facets of the industry, many of whom met for the first time during a tour and tasting, followed by dinner at Stag's Leap Wine Cellars. During welcoming remarks, SWS Senior Vice 90 / the tasting panel / april 2013 THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT FOR WOMEN IN WINE story and photo by Deborah Parker Wong President Jim Allen spoke to the contributions made by women in the industry and credited their camaraderie in what has otherwise been a man's world. "It was inspirational and encouraging having Jim with us on the first evening to acknowledge the group," said De La Torre. The following morning, above the fog line on Spring Mountain, the group toasted with Argyle Winery bubbly with Gillian Dodd to set the tone for two full days of visits that included time with Diana Schweiger of Schweiger Vineyards, winemaker Melissa Stackhouse at J Vineyards, Chris Hanna at Hanna Winery and Florencia Palmaz at Palmaz. "Women in Wine" then made a splash at MORE magazine's Women of the Vine grand tasting, where 30 women winemakers—including Genevieve Janssens of Robert Mondavi, Stacy Clark of Charles Krug, Alison Crowe of Garnet Vineyards, Theresa Heredia of Gary Farrell, Marisa Taylor of Rutherford Hill, Susan Lueker of Simi Winery, Nicki Pruss of Stag's Leap Wine Cellars and Chrissy Wittmann of Wild Horse Winery & Vineyards—poured wine with Vine founder Deborah Brenner. A closing dinner was hosted at Chimney Rock Winery by Rutherford Hill winemaker Marisa Taylor, whose 2010 Chardonnay made for a memorable finish, but not an end to "Women in Wine."