Women in Wine: A History That Was Never Absent

When we talk about Women in Wine, it can sound like a modern movement.

It isn’t.

Women have been integral to wine since its earliest recorded history. In ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, women were involved in fermentation and trade. In medieval Europe, convents cultivated vineyards and refined agricultural practices that still influence viticulture today.

One of the most famous examples is Madame Clicquot, who, in the early 1800s, revolutionized Champagne production by developing the riddling rack, a technique still foundational to méthode traditionnelle sparkling wines. At a time when women could not vote or own businesses independently in many parts of Europe, she was exporting wine globally.

Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, women often stepped into leadership roles quietly, after war, illness, or family loss, preserving estates through economic depressions and global conflict. Their stewardship safeguarded vineyards that might otherwise have disappeared. Yet for generations, their contributions were described as “caretaking” rather than leadership.

Today, that narrative is shifting, not because women suddenly arrived in wine, but because history is finally being acknowledged more fully.

Why It Matters

Wine is agriculture. It is chemistry. It is business. It is hospitality.
Women have always participated in every one of those layers.

Recognizing that history doesn’t diminish tradition - it strengthens it.

Throughout March, we’ll be exploring this story in real time, highlighting both historical context and modern leaders shaping the next chapter.