They are called Elena Walch, Josè Rallo, Vinzia Novara di Gaetano or Albiera Antinori. They live between the Alps in the north of Italy and Sicily in the south. They are strong and beautyfull and grapes and wine are their business.

More and more women are playing an important role in Italy`s wine business. One of three wineries has a woman on top.

Why ? There are a lots of reasons. But one of them is, that men have neglected wine for a long time. The “Marchesa” Antinori, who leads the famous Antinori winery in Tuscany with her two sisters once told me, that making wine just hadn`t been sexy in the past. So it was left to the female partof the family.

As we know times have changed.

Donnafugata`s  Jose Rallo is a real star of the wine system. The energetic Sicilian woman, who also sits on company boards, even sings about wine. That is real Southern Italian passion.

Another passionate Sicilian is Vinzia Novarta di Gaetano. The elegant woman with the black hair leads Firriato with her husband after generations of male only leadership. And she is convinced: “If a woman takes over, she goes all the way to finish the job”. Don’t mess with Sicilian women !

“If a woman identifies herself with a product she puts soul and heart to it”, this is how Elena Walch sees it. Elena Walch is famous for her great white wines. She already has her daughters in the business.

Women and Wine – at Elena Walch this will be true in the future as well.