I received my October 2008 issue of the Wine Enthusiast this week. It had a number of stories about my favorite topic: Women in Wine. An interview with wine maker Zelma Long was encouraging about how far women have advanced in the wine world while another piece called “Bottle of the Sexes” was less so. It confirmed what I see in my everyday world for the most part: many still think women only like sweet wines and give men the menu at the table. This happens to me all the time, especially in the more upscale restaurants.

I was pleased to see though that there are apparently many more female wine makers in California than I had previously thought. Many of the comments rang true about how women and men differ in their perceptions and explanations of wine. Additionally, women on the panel felt that marketing wine specifically to women was not a negative. I too see nothing wrong with marketing to specific groups and agree wholeheartedly with this concept. Particularly in light of the fact that the article largely confirmed what other female wine makers I know have said: most wine buying decisions are made by women.

All that said, you never see an article about male wine makers or about men in the business. That is just par for the course. I hope one day it will not be an issue whether or not you are male or female, merely if you make good wine.

I am optimistic. Since I moved back to New York, many of the people I have met in the wine business are women. They are salespeople, sommeliers, buyers and educators, wine makers and importers, journalists and marketers and publicists and above, informed and intelligent consumers.

The same cannot be said for the country that I know and love so well – Italy. While there are a number of female wine makers, many in fact, they are often behind the scenes. Women generally buy the wine but there are many fewer female importers, sommeliers and salespeople. I always hope that I will meet a female head of a wine consorzio but it seldom occurs. If anyone can make an introduction, I would be thrilled.

There is an association that is working hard to bring women to the forefront, Le Donne del Vino.

I have met a number of the women who belong to this association and they have all been very enthusiastic promoters of their wines, the association and women in wine in general. This year they celebrated their 20th anniversary in April with a dinner during Vinitaly. A number of women I know were in attendance and were excited about how things are moving along for women in Italian wine. I felt cheered by that prospect.