Women in Wine Business Archives

Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance announce appointment of Robyn Sebastiani as Executive Director

Sonoma Valley Vintners & Growers Alliance (SVVGA) Board President Tom Rouse announced on Friday the appointment of Robyn Sebastiani as SVVGA Executive Director.

“Robyn’s experience, passion, and deep understanding of our mission made her stand out as the perfect choice to guide SVVGA into a new era of growth and success. We firmly believe that with her dynamic leadership style and collaborative approach, she will build an even stronger commitment to serving our members and the greater wine community of Sonoma Valley,” Rouse states.

Women in Wine Talks: Leadership in Challenging Times with Maggie Henriquez PhD, President and CEO of Krug Champagne – June 23 2020

Les Dames d’Escoffier Ontario (Canada) is proud to host “Women in Wine TalksTM” as an online platform to raise awareness of women in the wine industry to impact positive change. We shine the spotlight on global women business leaders, winemakers, authors and industry experts.

CONCEPT
Women in Wine TalksTM are inspiring conversations, virtual wine- tastings and panel discussions with wine industry experts. “Memorable and Elevated Virtual Experiences.”

NEXT UP
Women in Wine Talks with Margareth (Maggie) Henriquez Ph.D., President & CEO, Krug Maison de Champagne, and President, LVMH Estates and Wine Division “The Turnaround CEO”

Maggie Henriquez Ph.D. needs little introduction. She is an extraordinary speaker and inspirational leader, is incredibly dynamic and a visionary. Maggie is the President and CEO of Krug Maison de Champagne and President of LVMH Estates & Wine Division. She will not only capture your heart; she will fully engage your mind with her talk on Leadership in Challenging Times.

REGISTRATION

June 23, 2020 1:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

To register in advance for this Women in Wine Talk:

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/leadership-in-challenging-times-with-maggie-henriquez-ceo-of-krug-champagne-tickets-109305076426

Please note: Limited Space

“Wine Women” holds its first annual conference November 5th at Buena Vista Winery, California

Wine Women will hold its first annual conference on November 5th at Buena Vista Winery in Sonoma, Calif. The day-long event will offer five interactive sessions, led by the corporate training team from G3 Sonoma. Major events sponsor, Boisset Collection will also be hosting and providing lunch and wine. The event is open to the industry and public.

Attendees should expect a day of engaging and thought-provoking sessions that foster learning and growth. Each of the five conference sessions provides hands-on opportunities to stretch and master various communication skills.

Session topics include:

Deciphering communication styles
Prioritizing self-care
Courageous conversations
Leadership presence
Getting sparked – Building bridges to stronger relationships

Wine Women President Christine L. Mueller stated, “We’re very excited to be partnering with G3 Sonoma to bring this program to our members and guests. The G3 team has a proven track record of providing highly valuable and successful training programs.” She elaborated, “Through our own research, we’ve found that our members, and their employers, are most interested in training on the topics that will be covered in our conference. These soft skills are critical to career advancement and have the bonus of enriching both personal and professional lives.”

Wine Women’s mission is “To champion the advancement of women’s careers in the wine industry by building strong relationships, essential business skills and leadership among members.” At the core of the new 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional organization’s activities are programs focused on providing the tools, guidance, and creativity for members to attain industry prominence.

Full details and tickets are found here https://wine-women-2019-conference.eventbrite.com/?aff=WIA.

Early bird tickets offer $50 savings through September 30th. WINE WOMEN members receive additional savings on tickets. Prices range from $199 to $414.

For more information about Wine Women, visit: http://winewomen.net/about/

“The Ultimate Guide To Champagne” is recommended as one of the ten best Champagne books

Megan Starr, Travel Editor, Content Editor, and Marketing/SEO Specialist, based in Frankfurt, Germany has recommended The Ultimate Guide To Champagne as one of the ten best Champagne books to read.

“Liz Palmer’s The Ultimate Guide to Champagne is one of the best books available for those looking to learn everything about the world of Champagne. A perfect accessory for a beginner, it takes you through the history and makings of Champagne, from how to shop for it to how to store it. The book’s exquisite detail and the clear in-depth knowledge possessed by the author is easily transferred from writer to reader.

Hailing from (Toronto) Canada, the author has spent plenty of time traveling throughout the region getting to know the area in great detail that you would easily believe she spent her whole life living and working there.”

https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Guide-Champagne-Liz-Palmer/dp/0991894634

https://www.meganstarr.com/best-champagne-books/

Interview with: Elizabeth Grant-Douglas, Director of Winemaking at La Crema Winery – Sonoma, California [Women in Wine Business]

This week, I spotlight Elizabeth Grant-Douglas, Director of Winemaking at La Crema Winery – Sonoma, California.

About La Crema Winery

La Crema was founded in 1979 as La Crema Viñera or “Best of the Vine.”

It’s a Jackson Family winery and is located outside of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California. For over 35 years, the family-owned winery focused exclusively on cool-climate coastal appellations. La Crema is currently leading the way on sustainable agriculture, with early certification as a sustainable winegrower, and being named and recognized as “The Green Company of the Year” by the beverage industry.

About Elizabeth Grant-Douglas

Elizabeth’s interest in winemaking grew out of an early passion when she gained her initial experience alongside her parents, who were hobby winemakers, in the basement of their Niagara Falls home.

Now Director of Winemaking at La Crema, Elizabeth’s unique training in cool-climate oenology has given her the patience and practice required to produce award-winning Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir varietals.

Initially studying Economics at the University of Waterloo, Elizabeth shifted her career studies to Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture program.

“Brock had just announced the program I was finishing my Economics degree”

“I couldn’t think of anything I’d rather do—I still can’t!”

Liz Palmer:
You joined La Crema as an enologist in 2001, became Winemaker in 2010, and promoted to Director of Winemaking in 2013 – what have the highlights been during your tenure?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
Watching the evolution of the brand from 2010 to now, and adding new vineyards in Oregon. The wines have also become more interesting and more complex – very exciting! I’ve been with La Crema for fifteen years and it never gets dull.

Liz Palmer:
How closely do you work with the vineyard manager and team?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
I manage five teams with a total of eight. I work with the teams from pruning to harvest by checking the quality of the grapes and tasting the blends – they all provide me with their feedback.

Liz Palmer:
La Crema Winery has integrated some environmentally-sustainable practices. Can you tell me about this?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
We are very dedicated to sustainability. This is a family business and we look what is best for next generation, in the long term. We try to be as sustainable as possible in every phase of production—not only in the vineyard, but in the winery. We have analyzed all our procedures, and we’re working to be 100 percent sustainable.

Liz Palmer:
Are you finding any challenges related to climate change and global warming?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
We are looking at this. There is no consistency – early rain – rain during bloom – there is no pattern.

Liz Palmer:
What are your winemaking goals in the next year or two?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
This year we are looking to reveal our first “sparkling wine” from Oregon – I’m really excited about this! It will be brut and I’m really looking forward to it.

Liz Palmer:
I’d like to ask you about the evolving role of women in the wine world. Historically, women have encountered resistance and prejudice when they enter the wine industry?

I’ve had no issues – my generation have been very fortunate as the trail blazers have paved the way.

I work with a lot of other female winemakers – we work well together.

Liz Palmer:
Which other female leaders do you admire and why?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
Barbara Banke, the Chairman & Proprietor of Jackson Family Wines – she supports sustainability and has created a company for families.

Liz Palmer:
How do you maintain a work/life balance?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
During the harvest – I make sure I have family dinners with my son and and husband. I take my son with me on weekends into the vineyards – he actually likes grapes!

Liz Palmer:
What is your advice for other young women entrepreneurs?

Elizabeth Grant-Douglas:
Travel as much as possible earlier on in your career. Be fearless – look to find something that excites you!