Women of the Vine & Spirits Celebrates Women’s History Month

Women of the Vine & Spirits is changing the face of the alcohol beverage industry, creating a movement to empower and advance women

March 7, 2018 (New York, NY) – March is Women’s History Month. In celebration, Women of the Vine & Spirits, the leading organization dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of women in the alcohol beverage industry, is bringing together the alcohol beverage industry’s top female influencers from around the world to reveal their approach to success in one of the most male-dominated industries. This record-breaking gathering takes place at the Fourth Annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, March 12-14, held at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, California.

Headlining the Global Symposium is Gretchen Carlson, one of the nation’s most recognized news anchors and a tireless advocate for workplace equality and the empowerment of women. Carlson has been named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world for 2017 and will speak on topics from her new book, Be Fierce: Stop Harassment and Take Your Power Back. Her book gives a voice to women around the world who have been silenced by harassment and intimidation, inspiring them to reclaim their power against injustice.

Attendees to the Global Symposium will also hear from some of the alcohol beverage industry’s most sought-after motivators, entrepreneurs, and experts from across the globe, including Annette Alvarez-Peters, Asst. Vice President/GMM - Beverage Alcohol, Costco; Barbara Banke, Chairman & Proprietor, Jackson Family Wines; Laura Catena, Biologist, Physician, & Founder, Argentina’s Catena Institute of Wine; Gwen Chappell, Director of Strategic Sourcing, Global Procurement, MGM Resorts International; Roberta Corra, General Manager, Gruppo Italiano Vini, Jan Jones Blackhurst, Executive Vice President of Public Policy & Corporate Responsibility, Caesars Entertainment; Tracy Redmond, Bar & Beverage Senior Manager, Applebee’s Services, Inc.; and many more. For a full list of speakers visit womenofthevine.com/globalsymposium.

Before the gathering in Napa, CA, Women of the Vine & Spirits is kicking things off on March 8, International Women’s Day, in New York City. Women of the Vine & Spirits has partnered with Women Chefs and Restaurateurs to host a special dinner, “Women Chefs Rule: A Vegan Edition” at the James Beard Foundation House. The organization will be sponsoring the wine pairings through various donations made by Women of the Vine &

Spirits Corporate Members. All wines being served are from wineries where the winemaker and/or proprietor is a woman to compliment the menu crafted by an all-female lineup of chefs.

Women of the Vine & Sprits doesn’t only celebrate and embrace women during the month of March; the mission of the organization is to offer steadfast support for women at every position in the field with membership privileges that include: education, advocacy, training, mentorship, entrepreneurship and networking as well as tools, services and opportunities for career advancement and personal development all year long.

“Women are an increasingly important force in driving trends and alcohol sales,” said Founder & CEO, Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner. Adding, “When you look at the number of women in leadership roles in alcohol beverage and couple that with the statistics of the woman wine consumer, it is amazing that women are not being asked to the table to help market to women. The most important part of our movement is to demonstrate that a diverse board and leadership team means more profit for a company. It is not just the right thing to do but the smart thing to do.”

For more information, visit womenofthevine.com.

Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Members include Founding Member, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits and Diamond Members: Bronco Wine Company; Caesars Entertainment; Constellation Brands; E. & J. Gallo Winery; Moët Hennessy USA; and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. For a full list of Corporate Members including those at the Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Associate level, visit the Corporate Members tab at womenofthevine.com.

To become an individual member of Women of the Vine & Spirits, please visit womenofthevine.com. For those interested in Corporate Membership opportunities, please email info@womenofthevine.com or call 888.750.1863. Men of the Vine are encouraged to join too. We understand the importance of bridging the connections between men and women in order to open more doors and opportunities for women in the industry.

About Women of the Vine & Spirits®

Women of the Vine & Spirits is the world’s leading membership organization dedicated to the empowerment and advancement of women in the alcohol beverage industry, fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. Guided by an advisory board of top executives in the alcohol beverage industry, Women of the Vine & Spirits offers extensive education, advocacy, training, mentorship, networking and steadfast support for women at every position in the field, particularly through the annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, March 12-14, 2018 in Napa, California. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com.

CONTACT:

Kyndal Korsgaden

Kyndal@womenofthevine.com

805-779-0301

A Women’s Revolution is Underway in the World of Wine and Spirits

In honor of Women’s History Month, Women of the Vine & Spirits will host the largest gathering
of women in the alcohol beverage industry from around the world.

March is Women’s History Month. In celebration, the alcohol beverage industry’s top female influencers from around the world reveal their approach to success in one of the most male-dominated industries. This record-breaking gathering takes place at the Third Annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, March 13-15, held at the Meritage Resort & Spa in Napa, California.

The history-making roster of speakers includes the alcohol beverage industry’s most sought-after motivators, entrepreneurs, and experts from across the globe. From France, Margareth Henriquez, President & Chief Executive Officer, Krug Maison de Champagne; from South Africa, Dr. Makaziwe Mandela, Chief Executive Officer & Founder, House of Mandela; from Argentina, Susana Balbo, Founder & Owner, Susana Balbo Wines; from Italy, Marilisa Allegrini, Chief Executive Officer, Allegrini Estates; and from Australia, Dianne Laurance, Founder, Laurance Wines. Other notable influencers include Gina Gallo, Senior Director of Winemaking, E. & J. Gallo Winery; Stephanie J. Macleod, Master Blender, John Dewar & Son’s Ltd.; Annette Alvarez-Peters, AIWS, CWE, Asst. Vice President, GMM, Beverage Alcohol, Costco Wholesale; Victoria MacRae-Samuels, Vice President, Operations, Maker’s Mark Distillery; Elizabeth McCall, CSS, Woodford Reserve Master Taster & Sr. Quality Control Specialist, Brown-Forman; Caley Shoemaker, Head Distiller, Hangar 1 Vodka, Proximo; and Béatrice Cointreau, Owner & Chief Executive Officer, ADMIRABLE Family Vineyards, Malibu.

Special Guest Speaker, Co-founder and Executive Director of the National Women’s History Project and organizer of the first-ever Women’s History Week in the nation, Molly Murphy MacGregor, will join Women of the Vine & Spirits Founder & President, Deborah Brenner on stage to kick-off the three-day event.

“With the faith of the wine and spirits industries behind her, Deborah Brenner has sparked a revolution with Women of the Vine & Spirits and the Global Symposium,” said Co-Owner, Trade and Brand Advocate, J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines, Cynthia Lohr. “We have the opportunity to continue the passionate dialogue that supports the advancement of women in wine and spirits through networking, mentorship, by fostering leadership groups within companies and organizations, and by inviting all stakeholders to the table to seize and leverage the influence of female executives in the alcohol beverage industry.”

According to Nielsen research, women account for 57 percent of wine volume in the U.S. and Fred Minnick, author of Whiskey Women claims women represent 37 percent of whiskey imbibers in the U.S. In fact, women account for 85 percent of all consumer purchases, controlling $4.3 trillion of the $5.9 trillion in annual consumer spending (Source: Nielsen 2013).

“Women are an increasingly important force in driving trends and alcohol sales,” said Founder & President, Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner. Adding, “Therefore, it makes perfect sense that the industry has so much to gain from more diversity.  Having more women in leadership roles drives innovation and creativity which directly impacts the bottom line. Women of the Vine & Spirits is committed to the advancement of women and ensuring the next generation is being mentored to take leadership roles. We have started a movement - a revolution - and together, we can change the face of the alcohol beverage industry.”
 

The Third Annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium is sold out, but tickets are available to purchase Livestream/On-Demand access to view the Symposium’s most sought-after keynote speakers and presenters. Visit womenofthevine.com for more information and to purchase your tickets.

About Women of the Vine & Spirits^®
Women of the Vine & Spirits is the world’s leading membership organization dedicated to the support and advancement of women in the alcohol beverage industry, fostering gender diversity and talent development across the industry at large. Guided by an advisory board of top executives in the alcohol beverage industry, Women of the Vine & Spirits offers extensive education, advocacy, training, mentorship, networking and steadfast support for women at every position in the field, particularly through the annual Women of the Vine & Spirits Global Symposium, March 13-15, 2017 in Napa, California. For more information, please visit womenofthevine.com

Women of the Vine & Spirits Corporate Partners include Founding Partner, Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, Diamond Partners: Bacardi; Bronco Wine Company; Constellation Brands; E & J Gallo Winery; the International Wine & Spirits Research (IWSR); Moët Hennessy USA; Republic National Distributing Company; Ste. Michelle Wine Estates; Wine Enthusiast Media; Platinum Partners: Beam Suntory; Brown-Forman; Fetzer Vineyards; Frederick Wildman and Sons, Ltd.; J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines; Palm Bay International; Proximo; Treasury Wine Estates; Trinchero Family Estates; Young’s Market Company, Gold Partners: Castello Banfi; Boisset Collection; Breakthru Beverage Group; CF Napa Brand Design; Davos Brands; Delicato Family Vineyards; Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits; Diageo; Distilled Spirits Council; Domaine Bousquet; FIJI Water; Folio Fine Wine Partners; Independent Stave Co.; Kobrand; Pernod Ricard USA; Precept Wine; Rodney Strong Vineyards; Scharffen Berger Chocolate Maker; Sterling Creativeworks; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; Vintage Wine Estates; VINTUS; Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA); WineShop At Home: The Wine Group; Wine Warehouse; and World Cooperage.

For a full list of Corporate Partners including those at the Silver, Bronze and Associate level, and to become a member of Women of the Vine & Spirits, please visit womenofthevine.com. For those interested in corporate partnership opportunities, please email info@womenofthevine.com or call 888.750.1863.