Thru The Grapewine

2023: Tales of Women Shaping the Wine Industry

• Ute Mitchell

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As the year's final leaves cascade to the ground, I can't help but reminisce about the mosaic of stories that have colored our podcast, particularly those from women who've shaped the wine industry with their resilience and ingenuity. Imagine a world where every sip of wine tells a tale of empowerment, from Ali's infectious ambition to Lianne Morris, Taylor Theis, and Jenna White. Their stories are not mere accounts of triumphs in vintages and vineyards; they are intimate chronicles of life's grandeur and the subtle art of crafting legacies over a shared bottle.

Turn up the volume and let your heart be warmed by the stories of women, blending the realms of wine and wellness,  and infusing mindfulness into our palates. Revel in the journey of Tiquette Bramlett, whose aria in opera transformed into a clarion call for change in the wine community. Their passionate endeavors echo our own pursuits for connection and meaning. These stories are an invitation to join a table that extends beyond the clinking glasses, where the spirit of the wine industry is celebrated not just for its flavors, but for the indomitable spirit of the women who bring it to life. Here's to raising our glasses to these trailblazers and to the adventures that await in the new year.

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Ute:

Welcome wine enthusiasts and through the grapevine fans, to another episode, episode 41 of the Through the Grapevine podcast. I am, of course, your host, Ute, and this is the final episode for 2023. My gosh, another year has gone and I don't know how it all happened. It feels like it passed so damn fast and here we are headed into another new year. And, gosh, I remember us talking on the podcast about whether we do New Year's resolutions, and that was obviously a year ago. So here we are.

Ute:

I did do some. I don't know about resolutions, but I did set some goals for myself and I am pleased to report that I probably accomplished about 90% of them, which you know. Comparatively speaking, I know that a lot of people set these lofty goals for themselves and, you know, come February they're all but forgotten. So, to set some goals for yourself that you might actually achieve, that's a great feeling of success when you actually do accomplish that. So, with it having been a full year, I would like to take a few moments in this episode to reflect on some of the incredible interviews I've had with some really remarkable women in the wine industry. Each of these women has left a lasting impression and I think it's worth it revisiting these interviews and to talk a bit about how much they all meant to me. Now, I am not going to be able to mention every single one of them that would make a really long podcast episode and I do like to keep things, you know, within the half hour to 45 minute mark. So forgive me if I did not mention you. These don't feel like your interview was any less important or any less memorable. I loved every single one of our 2023 interviews. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. All interviews were fantastic and I am so looking forward to the new year and having many, many more wonderful women on this podcast.

Ute:

Now I do want to get started with a very, very special person who has accompanied me for at least a portion of this journey, and that person, of course, is Ali. Now, Ali, for quite some time, was in the background doing the transcript and research and, you know, working on social media, this, that and another thing, and then she hopped on and started recording episodes with me and it was truly a pleasure to work with her. She's very, very organized and I do sometimes miss that organizational talent, I will be honest, but Ali has actually worked another harvest with Penner Ash this year, and I am hoping that maybe, after she's done with her Tokyo marathon training, she will be willing to be a podcast episode guest, because I know that she was working on her CSW certification and I'm not sure if she has already taken the test or not. Maybe I should just ask her and I know that she is well on her way to be a master of wine. I know that this is her goal. Why do I know this? Because it actually says it on her Instagram profile. You should follow Ali. She is a true inspiration and I am rooting for her, and so should you. She has two Instagram profiles. One of them is called Vino. shark and the other one because she is also an avid reader is called miles. of. books. She's pretty rad, so go ahead and follow her now.

Ute:

So I'm going to dive into 2023 by talking a little bit about some of the women that I really enjoyed talking to, including ladies like Lianne Morris, who is a super cool wine writer located in New South Wales in Australia. She also what I really connected over was actually her story about writing for middle-aged women and writing about menopause and everything. So sometimes it's not wine that brings people together. Sometimes it is going through the same issues like midlife a really great episode to kick off 2023. And, as a matter of fact, I mean I'm very, very passionate about midlife and menopause and all of that jazz. I actually released an episode of a podcast I called the Gen X Lady, and the goal for 2024 is to revive that podcast, given that there is only one episode. I just gotta find the time to do so, in addition to this podcast, of course, and then my full-time job but there are so many women who have taught me over this past year that it's totally doable, so I know that I can. I've spoken with ladies like Taylor Theis from Grand Moraine Winery and Sarah Horner from Left Coast Estate, which was really super nice. I've made it out to Gran Moraine together with Ali and we tasted some of their spectacular wines. Unfortunately, still have not made it out to Left Coast Estate, but I will. I will in 2024. I'm coming for you, Sarah. I'm gonna let you know when I'm on my way.

Ute:

Another really super cool person that I spoke with is Jenna White. She's the general manager for the Dundee Hotel. Her dedication to her job, her experiences working during harvest, her commitment to connecting women and really to uplift each other is truly nothing short of inspirational. Jenna, to me, embodies the spirit of empowerment. Holy smokes, I mean literally. This woman's brain must be so full of thoughts and ideas all the time. Even as I'm following her journey nowadays, I can't believe how much of a go-getter she is, and she's actually currently on the local news. So go, Jenna, and also, if you're in the area or if you wanna come into the area, go to the Dundee Hotel. It's a pretty neat place.

Ute:

I've chatted with Heather Ciprani, who is a personal chef private chef, she calls herself. She's also a nutritionist and makes her own skincare products that are all basically edible. Not that they're gonna taste very good, but they are edible. There's nothing that goes into these products that is in any way bad for you. I also chatted with now this was really cool with Amy and Reba from Amy and Reba Day Drinking Tours and I don't know. I don't really wanna tell too much about it because it is really such a great story that Amy has and Reba and I just loved that interview. And, as a matter of fact, when it was time to celebrate my birthday in September, I actually booked a winery tour with Amy and Reba with 19 of my closest friends and it was a blast. It was honestly so much fun. I can only recommend doing a wine tour, because being able to just hop on the bus and let somebody else do the driving and have some fun music on, that was just so much fun.

Ute:

Of course, my very first guest that I had on the podcast was Michele Margerita from PDX Triangle Gosh. Now I'm gonna have a hard time remembering the name, but it's like PDX Triangle Wine Tours, and so her wine tour is a little bit more educational. So really, kind of, whatever is your you know vibe, you will find a wine tour company in the Willamette Valley just for that. Now on to an interview that I really, really enjoyed, and that was with Michelle Seufert from Seufert Winery. She's actually the winemaker there. She's also a jewelry designer, and I actually did buy some jewelry from her when I went there. And then, of course, she's also a mom, because you know, hey, as women we do all of these things and then some. She is such an inspiration and her story really kind of reminded me that success in the wine industry is achievable with the passion and the determination. And honestly, just to I'm gonna put it all out there. I so wanna be Michelle's friend. She doesn't know this yet, but I actually went to taste her wines after the episode at some point and we had the nicest conversation and she was so kind and friendly and I mean she was wonderful and well, yeah, it did help that she complimented my podcast and said that it sounded intelligent and that friends and other wine professionals actually contacted her about the great episode that she was in. So hello.

Ute:

Ali talked with Kat Shapiro from Zen Wines and brought a little bit of mindfulness into our wine conversations, which was really cool. We also chatted with Jessica Mozeico. Jessica is the owner and winemaker at Et Fille Wines, and Et Fille translates to "and daughter. It's French. So she shared a really, really hard, warming story of business, of wine, family and love. She started her winery together with her dad in their garage and was ultimately forced to continue on her own after her father's untimely passing. And she brought up a really good point and that is to not always hold on to the special bottles but to share it with someone special, someone you love. Even if it's just on a Wednesday night and it's not a special event or anything like that, it's just a moment for you and a special person to actually drink the wine and not always keep everything for a special occasion. Like I said, that really really stood out to me. Her journey really kind of reminded me that success in the wine industry is not just about the product but also about the people and the connections that we make along the way. Now, unfortunately, this is another winery I still have not been to and it is on my to-do list for 2024.

Ute:

So another really really super cool and also very important interview that we did on the podcast is, of course, with Tiquette Bramlett. Oh my God, what a cool woman.

Ute:

Tiquette is a USA Today Woman of the Year for the state of Oregon. She is the founder of Our Legacy Harvested. She is a true force of change. Her journey from budding opera singer to tasting room associate, to first black president of a winery, to the founder of a nonprofit organization making a difference in the wine industry is so awe-inspiring, and what I really really loved about her is her honesty and her realness. She's talking about tasting wine and not being all fancy with oh I smell this and that and another thing, and it's actually tasting wines and talking about it on a level that is accessible to just everyday people. And I know that her instructor, that she took a course, and her instructor really appreciated that about her and I know that a lot of other women and women, a lot of other people, thought the same thing and I certainly feel that same way and, as a matter of fact, oftentimes, working in wineries, I would kind of tone down what I'm talking about just so that people actually could relate to what I was tasting and kind of figure out for themselves if they were tasting anything in the wine that had nothing to do, in some cases, with what the tasting notes said. She does show us the power of giving back and lifting others up. So Ticket is she's wonderful, she's wonderful.

Ute:

And also BIPOC Block Party. Save the date for that BIPOC Block Party in McMinnville in the summer. I'm not entirely sure of the 2024 date, but it's going to be great. We talked also to Stephanie Pau, the winemaker at Forest Winery in Southern Oregon, a very, very nice winery, actually the first winery in Southern Oregon that I visited, and it's been so many years and I still have these memories of how good the wine was, and so I definitely want to go back there and I want to see some of the other wineries as well.

Ute:

Then we headed into the tasting room and that was actually a really great interview with Alison Schofield, who on Instagram goes by Aligator in Wine with just one L, because she writes her name Alison with just one L. She used to work at Alloro Vineyard and now works for Domaine Divio in the Dundee Hills. Very, very nice winery. You've got to go and check it out and their wines are fantastic. Allison is a super smart, intelligent badass. She shared her WSET studying cards on Instagram and you will always find special wines in her feet too. She talks a lot about the places that she visits and the wines that she drinks, so definitely an account worth following. And then here we are anniversary episode. Marli Williams. Gosh.

Ute:

So Marli is, of course, a coach, a speaker, an entrepreneur, and she is at least partially responsible for the fact that I jumped into the cold water and learned to swim in that podcasting world. Yes, it was after her talk that I went ahead and started the podcast, even with the fears that I had that it might not be good enough, because I mean, let's face it, people are actually listening and I have been getting a lot of positive feedback, so that's great. But her story is a really great one and she shared her journey of transformation and the power of facing your fear head on. Her story really is a reminder that fear can be a motivator rather than an obstacle, and it's never never. Listen to this. It is never too late to pursue your dreams. Mark that down. Write it down like. Internalize that message. Honestly, friends, though, Marli is my not-so-secret girl crush. I love this woman and everything she stands for. She also has started a podcast and, needless to say, already she is one of the top podcasters out there. She just started in what like October and here she is like top podcaster what the hell? It's just so amazing. Everything this woman touches turns to gold and I just absolutely adore her and I am rooting for her. More power to you, Marli. You're truly, truly amazing.

Ute:

I had another really great interview with Maria Ponzi, so Maria Ponzi was another one of those ladies where it was like completely starstruck. When I saw her I'd be like oh, oh my gosh, there's Maria Ponzi standing over there in the same room as me and I was too scared to approach her. And then she was on my podcast. So, of course and everybody knows Maria Ponzi we know she was the former CEO of Ponzi Wines, which is now owned by Bollinger Sparkling Wine or Champagne Champagne House. Oh my gosh, forgive me, it's when I'm talking by myself. The longer I talk, the more I make mistakes in what I'm saying, so bear with me.

Ute:

So Maria Ponzi is the author of Pinot Girl and it's actually such a sweet story about her life as part of the Ponzi family and it's a fascinating history and we talked a little bit about it in the podcast and about her mission to elevate the wine industry really globally. She does so much work within the wine industry on multiple boards. She does a really great talk about the four ounce pour that I very much encourage you to check out and, of course, she continues to great work outside of the wine world as well. As a philanthropist, Maria Ponzi is amazing. I do hope that someday I will be able to share a glass of wine with her and meet in person like actually meet in person and I'm not going to be scared to walk up to her because she's famous and amazing.

Ute:

I talked to Maggie Craig, a category wine buyer for wine. com Also super cool story and I then talked to Mari Womack, who transitioned from psychology to becoming the owner and winemaker of damsel sellers, and it's all about the power of saying yes to her, the power of saying yes to new opportunities. I should say her story kind of reminds you that sometimes the path ahead may not be quite clear, but taking that leap can truly lead to incredible adventures. This is another woman that I felt a real connection with and someday I will make it up to Seattle and I'm going to meet her in person and we're going to share a glass of wine and share some stories and it's going to be wonderful. See, I have all of these plans for 2024, I will not have time to do my work. So go check out damsel sellers. I love her wine, I love her stories, I love her wine names. So you got to go and check it out.

Ute:

Another really big and important interview that I did was with Maryam Ahmed, the dynamic founder of Maryam and Company. She is a champion of diversity and inclusion in the wine industry. Her vision and ventures really showcase the importance of creating opportunities for under represented voices and fostering collaborations for positive change. She was also, you know, by the way, named one of Wine Enthusiast's for Future 40 Taste Makers. You want to know why. You want to know why? Because she is fearless, she stands up and she doesn't take shit from anyone. So that's why and she's amazing and you've got to check her out and I mean, what can I say? Listen to the episode. It's a great episode. She also puts on these wine tours, aka wine vacations. It's just one trip per year, but you know that could be something fun to do. I would love to do that. You know? Another thing to add to 2024. I literally could just, for the rest of my life, do nothing but visit wineries and go on wine trips and just enjoy life. To be independently wealthy, wouldn't that be it?

Ute:

Stephanie Franklin, next guest. She is the innovative mind behind Flywines and she made this really bold move from the tech world to the wine industry. Her story is a testament to the potential of embracing change. She's trusting her intuition and she's building connections with international wineries. I mean she will travel to remote parts of the world just to check out a winery that is not known by anyone yet, and she works with these wineries to bring their fine wine into America's households, and I love it. She does these tiny little bottles and she will send you a box of four. I actually received a box of four little bottles that are just little tasters, you know, so that you don't have to buy a full bottle before you know what you're buying into, and I just love this idea of getting not well-known wineries onto everyone's tables and into everyone's glass. So, thank you so much, stephanie. I really really enjoyed our conversation.

Ute:

Also, Nia Ruth, who also came from another industry she was a psychologist turned into a wine specialist shared her journey from global traveler to professional wine specialists. She's creating a platform for female entrepreneurs in the Coachella Valley and her wine writing reminds us that wine really can be a catalyst for positive change. So, mia, wonderful. Also, this was really cute. When I interviewed Nia, she was actually pregnant and I did not know this until the very end and we I mean we did a video interview together and I never knew. I mean, how can you? You know it was just a face, but so by now she has a little hang on. I think, little girl, I should go and check out her Instagram and see what she's up to these days. Finally, let's raise our glass. Cling gosh. I wish I had some wine. That was a candle against the mason jar.

Ute:

Karen Wetzel she is known on Instagram as Napa Valley Wine Gal. She is also someone who found the wine industry kind of later, and her journey goes from restaurant server to a wine industry career coach and writer, and she is a testament to the diversity of paths that one can take in this wine world. Karen's story to me is a reminder that the wine industry really is open to those with a passion and a drive to succeed. Also, she does secret shopper work in the wine industry, and I literally want to do that too. So maybe I need to set all of my goals around what I want to do in the wine world and then plan my entire year around that. Yes, the interview with Karen was so cool and I'm looking forward to actually taking a trip down to Napa and getting to know her in person as well. See my ears filling up quickly. So with that, we are actually reaching the end of this episode, wrapping it all up.

Ute:

I can't help but but be in awe of the strength and the passion and determination that is displayed by these incredible women. Their stories remind us that the world of wine is not just about what's in the glass, but also about the people, the connections, the impact we can make in the industry. Also, what strings all of these stories together is the one thing all of these women have in common the strong desire to succeed in the face of adversity. There is no sugarcoating it. The wine world is still largely male, at least when it comes to the higher positions. We often see a lot of women and you know, in the tasting room and whatnot, but higher positions are still largely male. And let me be very clear here we do not want men to go away. All right, this is not a not a man hater podcast. We want men. We like men well, most of us like men. We just want to play on the playground to, and we want to be taking seriously as women for everything that we have to offer.

Ute:

It is as easy as that, and each and every one of these women plays a vital role in getting this goal accomplished, even just going through all of these interviews for my final twenty twenty three episode. I am feeling so inspired and excited for the future. I have lots more women lined up to be interviewed for the next couple of months. If you are one of these women and you're listening and and you're wondering if I'm going to be contacting you, yes, I will. I just I kind of reach out to each person individually because of the process of getting everybody lined up. So I have not forgotten about you. I will reach out as my time allows and with that, thank you so much for joining me on this pretty brilliant journey into the world of women in the wine industry. I wish you all a very, very happy new year and, of course, I'm going to end this episode as I end every single one of them by saying post.