October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, so it reminds us to focus on some of the coolest women in the beverage industry. The brands we’ve chosen to feature are not only heavily influenced by women, but they produce spectacular wines and beers with rich stories that magnificently represent their local cultures.
For centuries the Fontaine family has been cultivating their land in the prestigious Champagne region. Nowadays, Philippe has passed the baton to his daughter Salomé, whose style of elegance and finesse lends their Champagne a soft, drinkable character. Their wines are focused around their family values and ancestral traditions. Salomé and her husband are heavily involved in every aspect of their champagnes: from the grape production in the vineyards, wine-making, to the sales and marketing.
Most of the vineyards are located in the prestigious Les Riceys part of the region. All of Philippe Fontaine Champagnes are handcrafted at the estate, small production, sustainably farmed, and represent a tremendous value in the Grower Champagne category. With great value, these wines are the perfect match for all of your fall celebrations.
- Philippe Fontaine Champagne Brut Tradition
- Philippe Fontaine Champagne Brut Rose
- Philippe Fontaine Champagne Prestige
- Philippe Fontaine Champagne Cuvee des Lys Blanc de Blancs Brut
- Philippe Fontaine Brut Millisieme
Rooted in Ribeiro since 1988, Viña Meín has strived to express the origin and terroir of one of the more prolific winemaking areas in Spain: the Avia Valley. Grapevines have been the only crop cultivated in this valley since the 13th century. Viña Meín is crafted under the supervision of renowned enologist Laura Montero, whose focus is on the revitalization of this once-forgotten, ancestral wine region through bottling the emotion of its landscape and the richness of its native varieties: Treixadura, Godello, Albarino, Loureira, Torrontes and Lado. Their blanco is made from the traditional coupage of local varieties–primarily Treixadura. This wine has a well-orchestrated harmony of citrus fruits and flowers. Intense, delicate and pure on the palate. It’s a unique and delicious substitute for the Sauvignon Blancs typically seen on wine lists.
- O Gran Mein Blanco (93 points Wine Advocate for 2019 vintage)
The story of Pago de Carraovejas began in the 1970’s; it is one of the oldest family-owned wineries in Ribera del Duero. Internationally known as one of the most prestigious wineries in Spain, director Alumenda Calvo has brought the winery to new heights. Calvo is a leading professional in the industry who is always working towards bettering their operations through innovation.
Focusing on the care of the environment, its biodiversity, and above all centering their decision-making around their people, Pago de Carraovejas stands out in the region. “This culture is in everything and I think that is what makes us different; and that shows in our wines, the passion that we put into our work.” – Alumenda Calvo. Their 2020 Ribera del Duero is an expressive, balanced, and rich wine recognizable by its violet aromatics and complex, integrated flavors of juicy dark fruit, ripe berries and subtle spiced notes of dark chocolate and coconut. For that special bottle that goes perfectly with a cool fall evening, think this wine!
- Pago de Carraovejas Ribera del Duero (93 points Wine Advocate for 2020 vintage)
Ossian Vides Y Vinos
As the heirs to five generations of winemaking traditions, the young and excited team at Ossian is committed to maintaining the centuries-old vineyards that predate the Phylloxera epidemic. Located in the heart of the Rueda, their vineyards are some of the oldest in Spain, and in fact in all of Europe. Ossian produces Verdejo of ancestral and authentic character. As the sister winery to Pago de Carraovejas, Technical Director Almudena Calvo ensures that from the start, Ossian stood out for its commitment to organic practices, sticking to natural compost and plant extracts as its main growing tools. Their wines are extraordinary compliments to food with deep, nuanced flavors or ripe orchard fruits, tropical fruits, roasted herbs, and toasted vanilla spices.
- Ossian Quintaluna Verdejo (92 points Wine Advocate for 2020 vintage)
- Ossian Verdejo Vinedo Ecologico
In 1969 Arnaldo and Marta Galli bought abandoned land in the Valpolicella Classico region of Italy. While Arnaldo was responsible for the vineyards and the production of the first Le Ragose wines, Marta started to sell the wines all around the world. In the 60’s, the wine sector was dominated by men and Marta became one of the first women in the industry in Italy and one of the founders of the Italian association “The Women in Wine.”
At that time Valpolicella was known as a land of low prices and low quality wines. Marta fought to make Valpolicella known for high quality wines starting with the small production of Le Ragose. Creating renowned Amaones and Valpolicella Classico, Le Ragose’s wines set a new standard for the region utilizing local and traditional varieties. In the 1990s Marta was elected “Winemaker of the World.” This award represented an important recognition for all the work that she made to promote Valpolicella and Le Ragose all around the world. Nowadays, Marta Galli “Junior,” the granddaughter of Marta, is responsible for the commercial and marketing side of the winery. With a PhD in management and innovation in the wine business she is continuing the projects of the grandparents. With such a rich story, Le Ragose’s wines are a great addition to any wine list or boutique wine shop that will inspire your customers to raise a glass to Marta.
- Le Ragose Amarone
- Le Ragose Valpolicella Ripasso Classico Superiore
- Le Ragose Valpolicella Classico
- Le Ragose Cabernet Sauvignon
Located in the heart of Tuscany, the Poggio del Moro estate was created by Tania Kuznetsova, along with the help of a professional, young, and passionate team. Journeying from Russia to Italy, Kuznetsova, who is the mastermind behind the beating heart of Poggio del Moro, succeeds in channeling the very soul of the estate. Tania along with the team, transformed a forgotten cellar into a spectacular boutique winery while nurturing and expanding the vineyard. She started small, but now her ambitions are directed towards international growth. Tania created something that will be able to grow and progress for future generations. Poggio del Moro sticks to the noble and ancient art of winemaking, but in an ethical and innovative way. These wines are fabulous food-loving additions to any wine list.
- Poggio Del Moro Chianti Colli Senesi Riserva
- Poggio Del Moro NU Chianti
- Poggio Del Moro Rosso Toscana
With roots in tradition, Bodegas Care seeks inspiration from its dynamic international customers. Oriented from tradition to a new consumer, Bodegas Care’s goal is to have their wines reach as many different “faces” and walks of life and bring them together. Their labels are a representation of this idea featuring the original artwork of faces by artist Enrique Torrijos.
Located in the heart of the Cariñena Denomination of Origin, Bodegas Care is a fusion between the traditional and the new generations. With great respect towards the vineyards, Bodegas Care is family-owned, hand-harvested and includes some vines nearly 90 years old. Every wine made by Bodegas Care is sourced from their own vineyards. Their red wines have predominant Mediterranean character and their whites are bright and aromatic. Bodegas Care donates 10% of the profits of their Solidarity Rose to AMAC-GEMA, a local breast cancer research association.
- Care Solidarity Rose
- Care Blanco Sobre Lias
- Care Garnacha Nativa Blanca
- Care Garnacha Nativa Vinas Viejas
- Care Tinto Sobre Lias
Catherine Delaunay, who is the daughter of Beaujolais winegrowers, along with her husband Laurent set out to create pleasure-bent, delectable, aromatic and flavourful wines that would speak the universal language of their varietals and be accessible to all wine lovers. This range would be named Les Jamelles: a feminine name, to evoke the roundness of their wines, and melodious to recall their roots in the Languedoc, land of the troubadours.
Today, Les Jamelles wines make up one of the largest collections of varietal wines from the south of France and are enjoyed in over 40 countries. They are renowned for their exceptional value for the money and pleasure factor, their wide appeal, and the fact that they can be enjoyed on all occasions.
- Les Jamelles Cabernet Sauvignon
- Les Jamelles Chardonnay
- Les Jamelles Malbec
- Les Jamelles Merlot
- Les Jamelles Mourvedre
- Les Jamelles Pinot Noir
- Les Jamelles Roussanne
- Les Jamelles Sauvignon Blanc
- Les Jamelles Syrah
- Les Jamelles Viognier
With our extensive portfolio of craft beers from around the world, we couldn’t help including this brewery that was covertly led by a woman.
As Bavaria’s oldest Weisse brewery, Schneider Weisse’s varying expressions of the style and their remarkable consistency have been a revelation to the craft brewing world. Since purchasing the rights to brew wheat beer from King Ludwig in 1872, Schneider Weisse is one of the few breweries in the world that focus on mastering one style of beer.
They do not see this as a limitation, but a source of endless inspiration. The brewery has been passed down from generation to generation. At the turn of the 20th century, Mathilde Schneider took over the administration of the brewery from her recently deceased husband and had to lead the brewery in secret. Under her leadership, Schneider Weisse became the largest wheat beer brewery in Southern Germany. Even during the post-war economic crisis, Schneider Weisse remained a staple. Mathilde created Aventinus, a strong wheat beer that is Bavaria’s oldest wheat “Doppelbock” and is regarded as one of the most extraordinary beers in brewing history. With flavors as rich and exciting as their history, these brews are an incredible addition to any list or any craft shop.
- Aventinus Wheat Doppelbock
- Aventinus Eisbock
- Schneider Weisse