From Lilly Bollinger to Lalou Bize-Leroy, women have created some of the world’s most famous and valuable wines. Discover today’s leading ladies in wine!
Women winemakers & vineyard owners to watch
Burgundy institution: Lalou Bize-Leroy
Born in 1932, Lalou produced her first wines in 1955 and now in her early 90s, more than justifies the title of “Grande Dame of Burgundy” bestowed on her by the globalwine trade.
Revered as one of the most powerful women in wine ever, the formidable Bize-Leroy was a primary architect of Burgundy’s iconic Domaine de la Romanée-Conti which she co-managed DRC with Aubert de Villaine for 18 years.
In 1988 she established Domaine Leroy which has achieved the top ranking of Liv-ex’s most powerful wine brand in the world multiple times. Her view on life and her success; “It is simple, I love my vines more than most people”.
Lalou Bize-Leroy has been a pioneer for the industry and led development in biodynamic viticulture in Burgundy, which has been adopted across the world.
Her comments; “You have to respect the terroir, which of course means respecting the vine … not treating it like a cash cow. Small yields are essential” have proven to be invaluable, with her wines achieving six figure sums and are routinely the most expensive in the world.
Bordeaux’s new generation wine stars
There has been a wave of young women taking their turn at the helm of the greatest wine estates in the last few years.
Saskia de Rothschild, CEO & Director General, Chateau Lafite Rothschild
Born in 1987, sixth generation of the family, and the youngest person ever to lead a Bordeaux First Growth. Saskia was appointed Chairwoman of Domaine Barons de Rothschild in 2018, then CEO and Director General of Lafite in 2021, becoming more hands on with the great estate. She is the first family member to live at the Chateau since it was acquired by Baron James in 1868.
Educated at HEC Paris with an early career in investigative journalism, Saskia worked with her father, Baron Eric de Rothschild, at the family estates in France, Argentina, Chile and China and with their negociant companies Legende and Saga. She has brought a strong focus on sustainability across the Domaine Barons Rothschild group, with a strong feeling of duty and responsibility to the family heritage.
That said she is also breathing modernity and relevance into probably the most powerful Bordeaux brand, Saskia is quoted “my time here will be so short compared to the history of Lafite.”
Alexandra Mentzelopoulos, President, Chateau Margaux Supervisory Board
Chateau Margaux’s Alexandra Mentzelopoulos was appointed President of the First Growth’s Supervisory board, supporting her brother Alexis Leven-Mentzelopoulos in his role as CEO, when their mother Corrine retired in October 2023. The legendary Corrine is another ‘grande dame’ of wine whose long career at Margaux has had a significant influence in the fine wine world and provides an amazing legacy with global impact.
Alexandra, born in 1985, had 11 years’ experience at Margaux as brand ambassador and deputy MD of Communication and Image before taking on her new role.
Stephanie de Boüard-Rivoal, President & CEO of Chateau Angelus
Born in 1982, Stephanie’s early career in banking started with UBS and then moved to the Swiss private bank, Pictet in 2009. She joined her father, Hubert de Boüard de Laforest, one of Bordeaux’s big personalities, and her uncle Jean Bernard Grenie at the top four St Emilion estate in 2012. That year Angelus achieved the pinnacle regional classification of St Emilion Premier Cru Classe A status, catapulting the brand alongside Cheval Blanc and Ausone on the world wine stage as one of the greatest Right Bank wines.
Since joining the Angelus management team, Stephanie has had a primary focus on the estate’s conversion to organic farming and the rebranding of key wines such as Carillon d’Angelus and No.3 Angelus. She has driven the commercial acquisition and development of linked hospitality projects in St Emilion and Bordeaux city.
Stephanie was instrumental in creating the commemorative 2012 bottle, as she has now done again for the 2022 vintage, which is being lauded as majestic and due to be released later this year. The latest vintage bottle celebrates Angelus’ 240th anniversary, but also marks the Chateau’s move away from the St Emilion Classification.
Justine Tesseron, Co-owner Chateau Pontet-Canet
One of Bordeaux’s truly engaging wine women, Justine is making her mark on the great 1855 Fifth Growth estate. Another relative youngster bringing energy and ‘joie de vivre’ to the wine world, she joined her father, Alfred Tesseron to manage Pontet-Canet in 2015.
Famous for pioneering the biodynamic movement Jean-Michel Comme, the former wine maker at Pontet led the family to convert the Pontet vineyards to be fully biodynamic in 2005. The Chateau became the first Medoc Grand Cru Classe estate to hold double certification in 2010.
Justine embraces this approach fully and with Comme’s replacement Matthieu Bessonet, continues to drive the green agenda at Pontet Canet. She has also overseen developments at the Tesseron-owned Napa Pym-Rae estate acquired from late actor, Robin Williams.
Julie Guinaudeau, Co-owner Chateau Lafleur
When just 18, Julie with her then 20-year-old husband, Baptiste acquired Chateau Lafleur from his parents, Jacques and Sylive Guinaudeau and have established a world-wide reputation for this small, but extremely special, Pomerol estate. Julie studied Oenology in Bordeaux, having met Baptiste at school when she was 16. She made her first wine in 2001 after they bought the Lafleur estate.
Julie’s view; “Wine is made in the vineyard. Once it passes the doors of the cellar, the die has already been cast. At Lafleur it’s the sum of all the little details each step of the way, in the vineyard and in the cellar, that determines the end result.” And Lafleur is certainly getting the results with consistently high critic scores in recent vintages.
When asked about the future, Julie, and Baptiste’s vision is to see their daughters take on the management of Lafleur.
Other important Bordeaux women in wine
- Chateau Ausone’s Pauline Vauthier is 11th generation and joined her father at the esteemed former St Emilion Classe A estate in 2006. Chateau Ausone, along with Cheval Blanc were the two original highest estates in the St Emilion Classification until joined by Angelus and Pavie in 2012. Ausone withdrew from the Classification with Cheval Blanc and Angelus in 2022.
- Sandrine Gambay, former wine maker at Chateau d’Yquem, renowned for the finest and most valuable sweet wine in the world and now Head Winemaker at Chateau Guiraud.
- Berenice Lurton at Chateau Climens in Barsac is another early advocate and driver of the biodynamic movement in wine.
- Claire Villars Lurton at Pauillac fifth growth Chateau Haut-Bages Liberal.
- Veronique Dausse, General Manager at St Estephe-estate Chateau Phelan Segur.
- Sara Lecompte Cuvelier at Chateau Leoville Poyferré.
- Veronique Saunders, fourth generation owner of Chateau Haut Bailly.
- Florence Cathiard, owner of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte and her daughter Alice Toubier, creator of Sources de Caudalie – the grape extract beauty brand evolved from their hotel and wine spa complex.
- Josephine Duffau Lagarosse is the 9th generation owner of Chateau Beausejour in St Emilion. The 31-year old Jospehine battled Chateaux Angelus and Clos Fourtet to secure ongoing ownership in 2021 with investment from the Courtin-Clarins family.
- Marielle Cazaux is a 5th generation owner of Pomerol’s La Conseillante.
“In the wine world, Bordeaux is an exception. Nowhere else involves as many women in leadership roles. In fact, Bordeaux might be the region with the freshest and most feminine approach”. Baptiste Guinaudeau, Chateau Lafleur.
Champagne’s sparkling ladies
Historic feminine legends in Champagne include Louise Pommery, Barbe-Nicole Ponsardin Cliquot and the effervescent Lilly Bollinger. The region’s latest lady grabbing attention is Vitalie Taittinger.
Vitalie Taittinger, President of Champagne Taittinger
© David Picchiottino
Vitalie, born in 1979, was appointed as the first woman President of Maison Taittinger in 2020. She joined her father at Taittnger when he repurchased it in 2007. Prior to taking up her new role she held senior roles within the company and sees her priority to protect this key Champagne marque’s great heritage, which dates back to 1734. She comments on her focus “to guard our patrimony… I am here to keep the soul of the house.”
“We need to position Champagne as a wine and not just bubbles, to tell the story of the history, our terroir and not to compete too directly.”
Climate change is a key priority for Vitalie and focus is on sustainability, as she states:
“We are committed to the environment. After all, my name is on the bottle.”
Italy’s winsome wine women
Albiera, Allegra and Allessia Antinori, President and vice-presidents, Marchesi Antinori
Tuscany’s darlings are without doubt the three sisters Albiera, Allegra and Allessia Antinori, President and vice-presidents of Marchesi Antinori, producers of the Super Tuscans Tignanello and Solaia.
With a history that dates back to 1385, they represent the 26th generation of the producers of two of five of the most famous Italian investment wine labels. With geographic interests in California, they own Stags Leap Wine Cellars and Antica, Napa Valley, their wine empire spans continents.
They are passionate about their vineyards and their astounding heritage, no wonder Alessia is quoted as saying “Now is a great time to be a woman in wine.”
There are of course other Italian women in wine, an outstanding Piedmont example is Maria Teresa Mascarello of Cantina Bartolo Mascarello who is a fourth-generation family member to run the estate.
Napa’s leading ladies in wine
The lauded California Cult icon Screaming Eagle was established by Jean Phillips when she bought a plot of land in Oakville in 1986. Of the original 57 acres acquired just one was kept by Phillips, from which she created a vinous legend.
Advised by Robert Mondavi, Heidi Peterson Barrett was brought on as the first winemaker and the retained land was replanted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The 1992 vintage released in 1995 received a 99-point score from the pre-eminent wine critic and the star was born. Since then Screaming Eagle wines have become the most valuable produced in the USA and some of the most expensive in the world.
Screaming Eagle is now owned by Stan Kroenke and Heidi Barrett, who has advised a number of Californian vineyards, has established her own, Amuse Bouche Wine.
Women critics ascribing the quality of fine wine
The reputation of a fine wine is based on quality and the opinion of a very small number of world respected critics provides a key way-marker to collectors, consumers, and investors. Of probably the top ten most influential in the world, four are women.
Jancis Robinson OBE, ComMA, MW https://www.jancisrobinson.com
Born in 1950, Jancis has the rarified view of a near 50-year career in wine with some very exclusive relationships that come with it. A critic, wine journalist and writer, in terms of exposure and connection with the producers of the world’s finest wines and the other vinous brains appraising them, she justly receives the accolade of one of the world’s most influential wine commentators.
Jancis was the first person outside of the wine trade to be awarded Master of Wine (MW) in 1984. She writes a weekly wine column for the FT, other significant publications and was advisor to HM Queen Elizabeth II’s wine cellars.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW https://thewineindependent.com
Master of Wine, critic, author and a former editor-in-chief of Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, Lisa Perrotti-Brown is currently the leading female US wine critic. She started her career in wine running a wine bar in London to pay her way whilst a student. This led to roles in wine sales and marketing and a growing passion for the world of wine. In 2008 she achieved MW status and commenced writing for e-RobertParker.com and was made editor-in-chief in 2013.
Based in Napa, she became a specialist of the US foremost fine wines as her critical authority and respect for her fine wine knowledge reached a global audience. Lisa launched The Wine Independent in 2022 to provide an independent and trustworthy source of wine reviews.
“When wines that are high in demand and short supply hit the market, we will be there with all the facts and advice so that our readers can make informed decisions.”
Jeannie Cho Lee MW https://www.jeanniecholee.com
Born in 1986 with Korean-American heritage, Jeannie was educated at Harvard and Oxford University. Whilst studying in England, Jeannie travelled extensively in Europe and her great passion for wine was ignited.
Jeannie started writing her wine diaries in 1992 and her career evolved to include rating wine and becoming a TV host and speaker whilst achieving MW in 2008. She has been a wine consultant to Singapore Airlines since 2008 and has a strong global following in wine.
Jane Anson https://janeanson.com
Bordeaux-based wine journalist, Jane Anson is seeing her career and reputation blossom. She has lived in Bordeaux since 2003 and is a recognised regional specialist covering it for Decanter for 20 years. Jane is an award-winning journalist whose accolades include the IWSC 2023 Wine Communicator Trophy. The author of Inside Bordeaux and an accredited teacher at the Bordeaux Ecole du Vin, Jane’s wine reviews are now guiding fine wine collectors, consumers and investors. A wine lady on the up for sure, she launched her informative website Inside Bordeaux in 2021.
Women influencers and wine
High-profile actresses and musicians are adding their ‘star power’ to wine and spirit brands. Some are investing in wine projects and others have even acquired vineyards.
- Lady Gaga famously aligned with Dom Perignon in a creative partnership in 2021 adding some serious va va voom to the famous Champagne house!
- Kylie Minogue Wines currently has nine retained wines in circulation in a partnership, with a UK distributor.
- Angelina Jolie’s highly publicised legal battle with former husband, Brad Pitt over her stake in their Provence Miraval estate hit the headlines again in February 2024.
Celebrate the wonderful women in wine!
I have only touched on the great female talent in the industry in this blog and apologise for those not featured. Looking across the fine wine world, there are more and more talented women emerging as sector leaders driving innovation and guiding the market. Knowing who to look out for and which critical view to follow may point you to the wines you want to invest in and drink. So, we raise a glass to all the wonderful women in wine on International Women’s Day.
For more information on investment wines made by women offering value now, contact our expert team on 0203 384 2262.