Women have always played a significant role in shaping society as we know it. Working together and side-by-side with their male counterparts, women have helped pave the way for a better future for people of all identities and demographics &mdash; though, as history would have it, more often than not, their tireless efforts go unrecognized.&nbsp;

However, that is changing. Across all industries, women are breaking barriers, pushing the boundaries, and showing people worldwide all they can achieve. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the world of wine.&nbsp;

The wine industry has been slow to change, but that hasn&rsquo;t stopped women from entering the fold anyway. Though the percentage of women in executive roles remains relatively low, there&rsquo;s no denying that the number of women working in wine has steadily increased. A <a href="https://webpages.scu.edu/womenwinemakers/20112020progress.php">2020 study</a> by Santa Clara University found that the number of lead women winemakers in California increased from 10 percent in 2011 to 14 percent in 2020. Total figures for women in wine internationally are harder to come by. Still, there are some indications that progression is occurring globally. For instance, <a href="https://www.winemag.com/2021/02/16/rias-baixas-home-to-real-albarino/">50 percent</a> of winemakers in Spain are women, while in Italy, women run more than <a href="https://www.winemag.com/2019/03/20/women-winemakers-brunello-italy/">25 percent</a> of wineries.&nbsp;

Now it&rsquo;s become common to find bottles made by women or wines owned by women on retail shelves, and there are plenty of women-made wines to choose from online. With Women&rsquo;s History Month in full swing, there&rsquo;s no better time than now to enjoy a bottle of something delicious made or owned by a history-making woman.&nbsp;&nbsp;

See CorkRules&rsquo; list of top women-made and women-owned wines to try below.

<a href="https://shop.aslinawines.com/aslina-sauvignon-blanc-2021">Aslina Sauvignon Blanc 2021</a>

<a href="https://www.aslinawines.com/ntsiki-biyela/">Ntsiki Biyela</a> set out to become a winemaker at a crucial time in South Africa&rsquo;s history &mdash; just two years post-apartheid, when Black people were only beginning to be allowed to work in certain industries &mdash; like winemaking &mdash; long upheld by White South Africans. Not without facing much adversity, Biyela graduated with a winemaking degree from Stellenbosch University in 2003. She established Aslina Wines in 2016 and has since become one of South Africa&rsquo;s premier winemakers, receiving numerous awards for wines, including Biyela&rsquo;s bright and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc. Full of lemon zest and citrus character, the wine is complex and balanced with tropical fruit nuances and vibrant acidity noticeable through the long, mouthwatering finish.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.bodegasmontecillo.com/en/wine/montecillo-gran-reserva-copia/">Bodegas Montecillo Gran Reserva 2016</a>

The third winery to establish itself in Spain&rsquo;s Rioja region, Bodegas Montecillo has produced sought-after wines for more than 150 years. <a href="https://www.bodegasmontecillo.com/en/our-team/">Mercedes Garc&iacute;a Rup&eacute;rez</a> has only worked with the Bodega for the last 15 years but has successfully revamped Montecillo&rsquo;s look and production as the chief winemaker. Perhaps the most remarkable example of her work is in a bottle of Bodegas Montecillo&rsquo;s Gran Reserva that displays signature aromas and tastes, all while feeling updated and polished. Made with 92 percent Tempranillo and 8 percent Graciano, the ruby red wine features candied fruits, cinnamon, and nutmeg fragrances. The palate is clean with refined tannins and tingling acidity that extends well into the long finish.&nbsp;

<a href="https://camins2dreams.com/our-wines">Camins to Dream Spear Vineyards Syrah 2021</a>

<a href="https://camins2dreams.com/">Camins to Dream</a> is the lovechild winery of winemakers and wives Catalunya-born Mireia Tarib&oacute; and California native Tara Gomez. The pair launched the California winery in 2017, working with fruit from Santa Barbara&rsquo;s Sta. Rita Hills region. They produce wines with elegance, freshness, and depth. The couple&rsquo;s Spear Vineyard&rsquo;s Syrah stands out in their collection, displaying ample spicy and peppery aromas with a palate drenched with black fruit, earthy nuances, silky tannins, and a long-lasting finish.

<a href="https://www.lafite.com/en/chateau-lafite-rothschild/the-wines/chateau-lafite-rothschild/">Ch&acirc;teau Lafite Rothschild Premier Grand Cru Class&eacute; Pauillac 2018</a>

Sixth-generation family member <a href="https://www.lafite.com/en/the-lafite-spirit/a-tradition-of-excellence/">Saskia de Rothschild</a> is the first woman (and youngest person) to chair and lead Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite as CEO. The winery was the first ch&acirc;teau acquired by the Rothschild family in 1868. Saskia de Rothschild succeeded her father, Baron Eric de Rothschild, in 2018 and has only amplified the Domaines&rsquo; penchant for precision in winemaking in Bordeaux and beyond. Ch&acirc;teau Lafite Rothschild Premier Grand Cru Class&eacute; is just one example of excellence in the bottle. Produced with a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petite Verdot, the dark reddish-purple wine displays plenty of depth in the aroma and palate. Black and red fruit shine while undertones of cedar shine through mid-palate. Ever complex, the wine is well-integrated with fine tannins, fruit and spice, acid and oak, resulting in an elegant, long-lasting, fresh finish.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.dallavallevineyards.com/wines/">Dalla Valle Vineyards &ldquo;Collina Dalla Valle&rdquo; Red Blend 2019</a>

Japan native Naoko Dalla Valle and her late husband Gustav Dalla Valle established their <a href="https://www.dallavallevineyards.com/">winery</a> in the heart of Napa Valley in 1986. The iconic winery has remained family-owned and operated. Following Gustav&rsquo;s death in the mid-1990s, Naoko Dalla Valle oversaw production and helped bring Dalla Valle the critical acclaim it&rsquo;s known for today. In 2017, Naoko Dalla Valle&rsquo;s daughter Maya Dalla Valla joined the winemaking team and was appointed the estate&rsquo;s head winemaker in 2021. The intro wine to the Dalla Valle portfolio is a harmonious blend of 50 percent Cabernet Franc, 40 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10 percent Petit Verdot. The wine is fragrant with spice, chocolate, and strawberry compote notes, while the palate is balanced with rich, dark fruit and savory nuances. The finish lingers with silky tannins.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.donnafugata.it/usa/en/product/sul-vulcano-etna-rosso-doc/2019/">Donnafugata &ldquo;Sul Vulcano&rdquo; Etna Rosso Doc 2019</a>

The Rallo family has practiced winemaking in the heart of Italy&rsquo;s southern island Sicily for five generations. In the early 1990s, Jos&eacute; Rallo, the daughter of <a href="https://www.donnafugata.it/us">Donnafugata&rsquo;s</a> founder, joined the family winemaker and has since become the company&rsquo;s CEO. The winery&rsquo;s medium-bodied and fresh &ldquo;Sul Vulcano&rdquo; is made predominantly with Italy&rsquo;s indigenous grape Nerello Mascalese, though a small amount of Nerello Cappuccio is added to the final blend. Silky, with elegant aromas of raspberries and cherries, the palate is soaked with fruity freshness and a hint of spicy mint, while soft tannins provide structure.&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.patowouters.com/en/vinhos/info/our-expression-of-the-region_26/">Filipa Pato &amp; Williams Wouters D.N.M.C. Bical &amp; Arinto 2021</a>

Winemaker <a href="http://www.patowouters.com/en/sobre/">Filipa Pato</a> is at the forefront of wine production for this Portuguese winery, which was launched in 2001. However, she co-owns the project with her husband, sommelier and restaurateur William Wouters. Pato makes wines from grapes grown across the Bairrada appellation of Portugal. This particular bottle is made with a blend of Portuguese native grapes Bical and Arinto. The straw-yellow wine displays fleshy pear and apple aromas with a hint of crushed herbs, while the palate is creamy and smooth with fruit-driven flavors and a depth of minerality. The finish lingers with fresh acidity.

<a href="https://merryedwards.com/product/SV-30020-28">Merry Edwards Russian River Valley Pinot Noir 2020</a>

<a href="https://merryedwards.com/">Merry Edwards Wines</a>, a trailblazer in the U.S. wine industry, embodies the essence of progress regarding women in wine. Not only is the company founded by a woman, but women run the whole show, from winemaking to business. Winemaker Merry Edwards started dipping into winemaking in the 1970s with her Merry Vitners label. She went on to work at various prestigious wine estates throughout California before launching her namesake winery in 1997. Though Edwards retired in 2020, she appointed Sonoma native Heidi Von Der Mehden as her successor, while Nicole Carter serves as the winery&rsquo;s president. This highly acclaimed Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley is smooth and ripe with red berry flavors that become juicer and silkier on the palate.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Women have always played a significant role in shaping society as we know it. Working together and side-by-side with their male counterparts, women have helped pave the way for a better future for people of all identities and demographics — though, as history would have it, more often than not, their tireless efforts go unrecognized.

Celebrate Women Winemakers During Women’s History Month

Wines from grapes grown in higher altitude areas with cooler climate has become quite the trend recently. This specific growing environment gives intense flavor but elegance and freshness to the final wines. To highlight and champion these conditions more and more winemakers are starting to use alto as a marketing and labelling term to show their grapes were grown in high altitude vineyards.

Decoding the wine label: Alto

Brut is a word often seen on labels for different kinds of sparkling wine. As you may have discovered when drinking these wines, it indicates that the wine is dry, meaning there is no perceived sweetness in the wine. But how about Extra Brut or Dry, what do they mean and are they the same as Brut?

Decoding the wine label: Brut

Semi-sweet Riesling, a type of wine falling out of style. It’s a shame, since these wines are perfect to pair with flavorful cuisines like Asian or Mexican, or simply drink as they come under the summer sun. The higher level of sugar left in the wine also means that the alcoholic fermentation was stopped before finishing, providing a wine with lower alcohol level and therefor easier grabbing a second glass of.

Decoding the wine label: Spätlese

Have you ever heard the word Xinomavro? Most have not. It is however a word on many sommeliers’ lips today, as it happens to be considered the grape variety with the highest quality in Greece, and one that is trending at the moment. The fact that Greece have been making wine for a long time comes as no surprise, but they have never exported an amount to make sure wine lovers around the globe tried it. With the growing wine tourism many have discovered these wines and are serving them in wine bars and restaurants in many countries today.

Decoding the wine label: Xinomavro

Chianti Classico, Valpolicella Classico, Soave Classico… Why do all these Italian wine regions have the Classico addendum and what does it mean? What is the difference for wines labeled as Classico?

Classico is a wine term in Italy seen on a few wine labels and it indicates that the wine’s from the historic center of the region, the heart. Using Chianti and Chianti Classico and their Sangiovese-based red wines as an example, Chianti is a rather large wine district within the Tuscany region. Chianti Classico is located withing Chianti as the central part and the one that originally existed. Back then this smaller region was actually called Chianti, but as the region grew the quality of the wine plummeted and the well-known characteristics of these red wines were watered down. The reputation took a hit and sales diminished. Eventually this led to the creation of Chianti Classico, which would be drawn from the original Chianti borders to recover the typicity of these wines. Today the quality of both Chianti and Chianti Classico have risen a lot due to modern techniques and knowledge about pruning, planting and temperature control in the winery.

Decoding the wine label: Classico

In the rarefied world of fine wine, where bottles can command prices equivalent to luxury cars, authenticity is everything. Laurent Ponsot's gripping memoir "FBI: Fake Bottle Investigation" reads more like a high-stakes thriller than a traditional wine book, chronicling his relentless pursuit of one of the wine world's most infamous counterfeiters, Rudy Kurniawan.

From Burgundy's Vineyards to the FBI's Most Wanted: A Winemaker's Quest for Justice

Chablis – one of the more popular styles of wine today and a region known by many. Most are familiar with the word Chablis and the light, fresh white wine with a touch of minerality it brings. Even though it’s a renowned wine, few knows what it really is.

Decoding the wine label: Chablis

Many grape varieties around the world of wine have names local to the region or country they’re grown in, even though they’re exactly the same. The most famous example would be Syrah in France where the same grape is named Shiraz in Australia. Another variety with two names is Pinot Grigio, or Pinot Gris.

Decoding the wine label: Pinot Grigio

Have you ever seen the term sur lie on a wine label? It’s not a grape and not a wine region, but a winemaking method used to give certain styles of white wine a rounder texture and a more complex flavor profile.

Decoding the wine label: Sur lie

Maison

Alexis Rogers

Maison Premiere

Maison Premiere #8

Music Intro:

RT: Hello and Welcome to Corkrules!

&nbsp;I&rsquo;m your host Robert Tas along with Alexis Rogers, Wine Educator and&nbsp; Restaurant Sommelier

Hello Alexis, glad you&#39;re with us on another episode of CorkRules, - a podcast where we help simplify and demystify the wine lists at some of your favorite restaurants. We talk with certified sommeliers who point out interesting bottles, classic food and wine pairings, hidden gems,&nbsp; value wines, or splurge wines that will take your dining experience over the top.

AR: Glad to be here, Robert! Thanks!

RT:&nbsp; Today we are discussing Maison Premiere. This gorgeous Williamsburg bar and restaurant has a distinctly Old World feel and is known worldwide for their incredible drinks, even winning a James Beard award for Outstanding Bar Program. Tell us about what you found, Alexis.

AR: As Sommeliers, we are trained in the finer points of not just wine, but spirits as well. And while the wine list here is stellar, these cocktails are not to be missed so let&rsquo;s start there!

RT: I&rsquo;ve heard they have the largest selection of absinthe in the country!

AR: That&rsquo;s right! And their own custom-built absinthe drip modeled after the famous Absinthe fountain in the notorious Old Absinthe House in New Orleans. The decor is even &ldquo;Absinthe-esque&rdquo;, a beautiful example of Belle Epoque design from The Turn of The Century - the heyday of this fascinating spirit. You can order a glass of it, expertly and classically prepared with cold water and a sugar cube or you can enjoy it in a range of inventive cocktails on the list. Personally, I&rsquo;m dying to try the Absinthe Colada!

There&rsquo;s also a subsection on the cocktail menu just for Juleps! I&rsquo;m thrilled and intrigued by the Barber of Seville, a rye-based Julep featuring ManzaNULLla sherry. ManzaNULLla is almost identical to Fino sherry - that is, it&rsquo;s a fortified wine from Spain made from the Palomino grape and aged biologically under a layer of yeast called &ldquo;flor&rdquo;. The only difference is that ManzaNULLla must be made and aged in Sanlucar de Barrameda, a town a bit closer to the sea. That extra saline tang will take this drink to a whole other level of complexity.

RT: I love when a talented cocktailer can incorporate sherry into a drink.

AR:I think it&rsquo;s really the most fascinating beverage. You can find highly technical scientific studies in journals of analytical chemistry that have identified over 500 individual aromatic compounds in Fino sherry. I don&#39;t even know if I actually ENJOY the taste of sherry but I LOVE drinking it and I&rsquo;m absolutely fascinated by it.

RT: Every sommelier, it seems, has one type of wine that they just absolutely geek out about. It sounds like sherry is yours.

AR: Totally! That and Champagne! Speaking of Champagne&hellip;

There are few things better together than caviar and Champagne and I can&rsquo;t imagine anything more picturesque than enjoying both of them on the insanely charming garden patio @ Maison. These two are a classic pairing - and a classic indulgence - for a reason! Champagne&rsquo;s beautiful, fresh, naturally high acidity slices through the fattiness, oiliness and general richness of the caviar while the saltiness of the caviar increases the tongue&rsquo;s perception of the Champagne&rsquo;s fruit. Maison&rsquo;s Champagne section is organized by subregion and features a surprisingly affordable selection of great bottles of bubbly! With over 25 awesome bottles that won&#39;t break the bank, you could really close your eyes and point and you&rsquo;d receive something wonderful. Personally, being the Champagne fanatic I am, I went specifically to the Cotes des Blancs subregional heading and the bottle of Pascal Doquet &ldquo;Arpege&rdquo; Blanc de Blancs. The Cotes des Blancs has a reputation for high-quality bottlings grown on chalky soils that produce electric, minerally, Chardonnay-based wines. The term Blanc de Blanc indicates that it&rsquo;s made from exclusively white grapes. Nothing could be more romantic than this incredible bottle and Maison&rsquo;s famous caviar service on a balmy summer night.

RT: That sounds like a great date idea, whether it&rsquo;s a 3rd date or a 30th wedding anniversary.

So Alexis, looking at the by-the-glass list, I see that each glass is marked either organic or biodynamic based on the principles of Rudolph Steiner. What&rsquo;s that about?&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

AR: Oh man! Good ol&rsquo; Rudolph! Steiner was a philosopher, agriculturist, architect and social reformer that is credited with - among other WIDELY varied concepts - the creation of the biodynamic approach to agriculture in the early 1900s. The essential tenets of this approach center around viewing a farm or a vineyard as a single self-sustaining organism that thrives through biodiversity and can sometimes incorporate cosmic and lunar influences, especially as they are related to harvest and planting cycles. It&rsquo;s holistic, ethical and ecologically minded. Rudolf was the first to suggest that synthetic fertilizers and herbicides would devalue the health of livestock and crops. And surprise, surprise - he was Austrian!

RT: Sounds like an interesting man! At the very least, we can say these wines have an extreme attention to detail! What&rsquo;s not to be missed from that by-the-glass list?

AR: My pick is the 2019 Ludvic Chanson from the subregion of Montlouis-sur-Loire, just across the river from Vouvray in the Loire Valley in France. I like how much information this part of the list provides. All the usual stuff is there (producer, region, vintage) but they go the extra mile by indicating the grape (here, it&rsquo;s Chenin Blanc) and even a few very simple tasting notes. I do feel like they under-described this wine a bit by saying just &ldquo;lemon peel and slate&rdquo; but it serves to give a general idea of the profile. I would add to that honey, chamomile, fresh straw and autumn apples. As enticing as those flavors and aromas sound, it&rsquo;s really the structure of this wine that makes it fascinating - and food-friendly. It&rsquo;s sky-high acidity is often described using terms like &ldquo;vervy, electric, and laser-like&rdquo;. Pair this with an order of the Steamed MaNULLa Clams with preserved lemon for a citrusy interplay dream!

RT: Wow, I can&#39;t wait to take my wife&nbsp;here on date! Alexis, thank you so much for walking us through both the cocktail and wine list at Maison Premiere. To our audience, thank you all for joining us here on CorkRules.

If you would like us to review one of your favorite restaurants, please send us email to:

Info@corkrules.com or visit our web website where we have a request form available and we will do our best to get it in the queue as quickly as possible.

We are looking forward to being with you on another CorkRules episode soon. In the meantime,

please check out our website for other episodes of your favorite restaurant wine lists wherever you get your podcasts.

And finally, drink what you love and please make sure you drink responsibly.

&nbsp;

END

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Matteos Ristorante Italiano

Matteo's

Grgich Hills Estate is a family-owned winery located in the Napa Valley of California. Founded in 1977 by Croatian-born winemaker Mike Grgich, the winery is known for producing premium wines using sustainable and organic farming practices.

Ritzy upmarket gathering place in Le Meridien Tampa offering French cuisine & some American options.

Mandolin Aegean Bistro

The Surf Club

Itamae

Itamae Miami

Veranda

Boia De

Huertas

Kesté Pizza & Vino

Keste Pizzeria

Taverna di Bacco

Tavern on the Green

Leyland Brooklyn

Junoon

homepage

CorkRules application allows you to discover wines at your favorite restaurants, learn with friends and be confident with price transparency. Order wine with confidence at restaurants and retailers. Get personalized recommendations. #DrinkWhatYouLove

Bizou Brasserie

Trinity Oaks

Merlot, California NV

Merlot

California, USA

Three Thieves

Red NV

Blend

California, USA

Castello del Poggio

Moscato d'Asti NV

Moscato

Moscato d'Asti, Piedmont, Italy

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

Estates South Ridge Syrah NV

Shiraz/Syrah

California, USA

Drumheller

Merlot NV

Merlot

Columbia Valley, USA

J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines

Estates Seven Oaks Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Paso Robles, USA

Cloud Chaser

Cotes de Provence Rose NV

Cinsault

France

Martini

Prosecco NV

Glera

Prosecco, Italy

Martini & Rossi Sparkling Rose NV

Italy

Veuve du Vernay

Brut NV

Blend

Vin de France, France

Omega (US)

Cellars California Lodi Zinfandel NV

Zinfandel

California, USA

Folie à Deux

Chardonnay NV

Chardonnay

Russian River Valley, USA

Francis Ford Coppola Winery

Gia Red Blend NV

Blend

California, USA

Etude

Lyric Pinot Noir NV

Pinot Noir

California, USA

Michael David Winery

Freakshow Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Cabernet Sauvignon

Lodi, USA