The concept that “behind every great man there is a great woman” today he no longer runs. The number of women running companies and developing concepts is increasing, and the world of wine is no stranger to such a paradigm shift. Currently, many of the emerging wineries are led by women and that notable change is materialized in their elegance and sophistication.
Laura Ciacerastarted in the wine industry in 2002 as marketing manager for the family winery, until she decided to launch her own firm, Lalalá. “I learned a lot from my travels through the United States and Europe, especially to understand what they thought about Argentine wine based on market demands. They told me that Argentine wines had a lot of wood, too much structure and too many tannins. So I decided to start my own winery of organic wines with French characteristics in their production and limited batches,” he says.
With annual growth of 30 percent, Lalalá began in 2017 with a Malbec that doubled in cost and production time, but gained prestige by not having “pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers at any point in the chain.””, explains Ciacera herself in sales mode.
Pioneers. One of the first winemakers to make a place for themselves in the universe of vineyards was Susana Balbo. Graduated with honors in 1981, today she is an eminence in the industry. He had his fleeting time in politics but returned to the business to venture into what he does best, quality wines.recognized throughout the region.
Another reference who paved the way for the new generation was Estela Perinetti, who first graduated as an agricultural engineer and then specialized in oenology. Sixth generation of winegrowers, he currently leads his own project called Las Estelas. “When I graduated, approximately 25 years ago, there was almost no participation of women in the highest positions of wine companies, they looked at you badly and distrusted you. Every achievement of a woman was underestimated or tainted by supposed sexist shortcuts. It was very difficult to find a place. “Knowing how to speak three languages, having a driving license and being an agricultural engineer, I lost jobs to winemakers who didn’t even know how to drive.”.
Statistics show that Argentina is among the ten main wine markets globally. And in terms of production, it is located in the seventh place as a world producer and second on the continent, behind Chile. But this reversal of the business, where refinement stands out, has to do with the incursion of women into the high spheres of production and command. Perinetti explains: “In recent years, Argentina went from making a lot of volume and little quality, to producing many high-quality wines in lower volume. And it is because the presence of the winemaker took on greater preponderance, especially due to the inclusion of women in the area.”
Regarding premium products, Ciacera recognizes: “Making quality wines with little profitability is quite a risk. But we had a lot of impact and that’s why we expanded. Today the star of our production is the Sepa Criolla, the only certified organic in the country.”
Experts. “Wine is closely linked to roots and emotions, that is why it is wrapped in a very special magic that comes from very ancient times. We winemakers only interpret that energy, based on certain grapes, and transform it into a wine that will witness some unforgettable moment,” explains Victoria Brond.renowned winemaker at the Alpamanta winery in Mendoza.
In 2014, a Malbec from the Cobos winery, made by winemaker Andrea Marchiori together with her colleague, partner and husband Luis Barraud, obtained 100 points, the highest – and unusual – rating for a national wine. Until then the best scores averaged 90 points. Currently, this award-winning wine costs a little more than 1 million pesos. After such an achievement, the winemaking duo sold their stake in Viña Cobos in 2016 to launch their own Marchiori-Barraud brand.
Women are making a big splash in the field. Health.
