If Beyonce said it, it must be true: girls run the world. The truth is that there’s still a mountain to climb in the wine and spirits world to bridge the gender gap, as in most other industries. The industry has long been dominated by men, but recently, a flood of incredible women have been staking their claim.
In the past ten years, there has been a rise in women-led, woman-owned labels, women winemakers, and women-distillery owners. Many of these are churning out spectacular products, and we are here to support them! We’ve rounded up just a few female-driven brands and labels for you to check out.
21Seeds
“Girls call the shots” is the tagline for 21Seeds. Kat Hantas, her sister Nicole, and their friend, Sarika, are proud to have created 21Seeds — an award-winning fruit-infused tequila. The female-founded company gets its name from 2 sisters and 1 friend (aka 21Seeds).
21Seeds joined the market in 2018 after Kat Hantas knew she had something special with her infused tequila. Kat swapped out her wine for tequila a few years prior, but the distilled spirit seemed a bit harsh, leading her to infuse tequila with fresh fruit. Her hobby soon turned into a business. Kat reached out to her sister, Nicole, and her long-time friend, Sarika, and 21 Seeds was born.
As they grew the business, the women went to Mexico in search of a distillery that they could partner with. Their search led them to a female-owned and operated distillery, which was a match made in heaven. When 21Seeds hit the market, they started winning awards and have continued to do so. The tequila is a blend of agaves from Jalisco and is double-distilled and cold-filtered. The attention to detail creates a smooth, approachable, and delicious tequila.
21Seed tequilas come in a range of flavors: Valencia Orange, Grapefruit Hibiscus, and Cucumber Jalapeño. The tequilas contain tequila, triple sec, lime juice, and a sweetener. They can be made into cocktails, served on the rocks, or combined with club soda. Recently, 21Seeds was acquired by Diageo — this is a huge feat given the fact that until recently, very few female-founded spirits brands have been well-established enough to turn heads in the industry. However, the women plan to stay on to grow the brand.
McBride Sisters
As we celebrate Women's History Month, it's important to recognize the incredible women making a difference in their respective industries. The McBride Sisters — Robin McBride and Andréa McBride John — are two such women who have made a significant impact in the wine industry. Raised across the world from one another, the sisters were united in their shared love for wine, food, and culture, eventually leading them to start their own wine company, McBride Sisters Wine Company.
As women of color in a predominantly white industry, the McBride Sisters faced numerous challenges, but they persevered and built a successful wine company that is now the largest Black-owned wine company in the United States. In addition to their wine business, the sisters founded the McBride Sisters SHE CAN Fund, a non-profit organization that empowers and supports women in the wine, spirits, hospitality, finance, and entrepreneurial industries while developing talent at Historically Black Universities and Colleges. Through their entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to empowering women, the McBride Sisters are paving the way for future generations of women in the wine industry.
Robin and Andréa's story is a reminder that with hard work, determination, and sisterhood, everything is possible. They have shown us the power of representation and the importance of supporting and empowering women.
Sun Goddess
We're the wisdom like a guiding light
We're the trees left standing through the storms of life
We've come so high and we've come so far
Can't hold us back
- “Strength of a Woman” by Mary J. Blige
Mary J. Blige, the Grammy award-winning singer-songwriter, reflects what a strong female entrepreneur looks like. Her drive and passion for living her dreams have translated into the wine world from the music world. Blige and the Fantinel family in Italy collaborated for Sun Goddess.
Blige has long been a fan of white wine, particularly Pinot Grigio. When she collaborated with the Fantinel family, they decided on a collection to reflect what Italy does best — Pinot Grigio Ramato (a Rosé), Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, and Prosecco.
Sun Goddess wines are grown in Friuli, a wine region in Northeast Italy bordering Austria and Slovenia. The climate here is as unique as the various grapes that are grown.
Fresh Vine
Best friends Julianne Hough and Nina Dobrev have recently launched a new modern and fresh approach to wine. Both women are established actors and entrepreneurs and recently introduced Fresh Vine, produced and bottled in Napa, California.
The wines are carefully crafted to contain fewer calories, carbs, and sugar compared to other brands of similar quality and price. Winemaker Jamey Whetstone uses both modern and traditional winemaking approaches to bottle a wine that is elegant and reflective of the California terroir.
Hough and Dobrev talk about their pride in creating a gluten-free and vegan-friendly wine. Hough says, “Nina and I lead active lifestyles, so we wanted to make a product that not only complemented our lives but was also premium quality and impeccable taste.” The wines have modern, playful branding, and the current selection includes Rosé, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In Closing
Women have been taking more of the field in the wine and spirits industry and doing a darn good job of carving out a respectable presence with quality, award-winning products. By taking a little extra time to research and select wine and spirits produced by one of the many women-led companies, you will be supporting the future of women in this industry while treating yourself to an amazing bottle.
Shop the entire Women’s History Month Collection HERE.
