Women in Wine 2015

The Women in Wine contest to choose this year's panelists is over.

Thank you to those who nominated many great women in wine.

We received nearly 50 nominations and more than 600 votes for all the nominees.

Without further ado, here are the winners who will appear at this event!

* * * * * * Drumroll, please… * * * * * *

Karen MacNeil
Wine Writer and Author of The Wine Bible

President of Karen MacNeil and Company, she is one of the foremost wine experts in the United States. Author of the award-winning book, The Wine Bible, which is recognized as “the most comprehensive and authoritative book on wine written by an American author,” her articles on wine and food have been published in The New York Times, Food and Wine, U.S.A.Today, Cooking Lightand much more. And she was NBC Today Show's first wine correspondent. Read more on our blog.

Penny Gadd-Coster
Executive Winemaker, Rack and Riddle

Second-in-command overseeing more than 60 employees, Penny oversees Rack & Riddle’s three winemaking facilities, and leads a team of seven winemakers/enologists who produce over 1 million cases of award-winning wine annually on behalf of its custom crush and private label clientele. She is also an entrepreneur with her own brand, Coral Mustang, making Tempranillo wines and was named “Winemaker of the Year” in December 2013 in the North Bay Business Journal’s inaugural Wine Industry Awards. Learn more.

Jillian Johnson
Winemaker/Vintner, Onesta Wines

A U.C. Davis graduate, Jillian returned from 3 years abroad to become Associate Winemaker at Bonny Doon. She played a major role in the transition to biodynamic winemaking at Bonny Doon. Fast forward a few years and she is truly a seasoned winemaker. She started her own passion project as Winemaker and Vintner, Onesta Wines. Her wines are a library of her life and each year tells a different story and adventure. Learn more.

Cynthia Cosco
Winemaker/Vintner, Passaggio Wines

Cindy Cosco left a 15 year Law Enforcement career to pursue her passion and family tradition of winemaking. It began at BevMo. Then she moved on to become a wine chemist in the lab, take enology classes at Napa Valley College, and start to make her own wine. After serving as Winemaker for Crushpad, Cindy decided it was time to devote her full-time attention to growing her Passaggio brand. In 2012, she moved production to DogPatch Wine Works in San Francisco. And now, she is very proud to present the Passaggio Wines Tasting Room in Sonoma. Learn more.

Theresa Dorr
CMO, Active Consulting

Theresa is a leader in direct-to-consumer sales in the wine, hospitality and specialty food industries. Since 2000 she led the shift in wine clubs from being a source of pain to high-growth recurring revenue opportunities. As Co-founder and President/CEO of Active Club Solutions (ACS) she brought the first cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS) to the industry, generated double and triple digit growth for ACS, and lead the company to be a recognized leader in the wine industry. Also known within the industry as the “Queen of Clubs”, she is a published writer, works with software and wineries to grow, and continues to bring new applications to the wine industry. Learn more.

Shelley Lindgren
Owner/Wine Director, A16 and SPQR in San Francisco, and A16 Rockridge

One of the nation’s most celebrated experts on wine and pairing, Shelley has been named “Best New Sommelier” by Wine & Spirits, “Best Wine Director” by San Francisco magazine and was nominated for Best Wine Service by the James Beard Foundation for four consecutive years since 2010. She has also co-authored the award-winning “A16: Food & Wine” cookbook and wine guide and released the “SPQR: Food & Wine” book in late 2012. She is involved in a number of community organizations, including Woman Chefs & Restaurateurs and Les Dames d’Escoffier. Learn more.
Photo credit: Frankie Frankeny

Rebecca Jenkins
CEO, Clarbec Wines; and CFO, Madrone Vineyard Mgmt.

Since 1987 Becky Jenkins has managed the office of Madrone Vineyard Management. Becky is very involved in the community and the Sonoma County’s Grape Growing Scene. She was the president of the Sonoma County Grape growers Association in 2003, a member of the Sonoma Valley Vintner and Growers, a member of the Sonoma Valley Chamber of Commerce, volunteer at the Sonoma Valley Wine Auction, volunteer of the for Dancing and Dragging fund-raiser, and founded the Sonoma County Pruning Contest. She was also awarded the Award of Excellence from the Women and Industry in 2003. She is currently an alternate for the Sonoma County Winegrape Commission Board. Learn more.

Sara Fowler
Winemaker, Peju

Sara Fowler joined Peju as the Winemaker in the summer of 2006. Her passion for Bordeaux varietals and knack for innovative blending make her the perfect fit to lead Peju's winemaking team. Prior to her tenure at Peju, Sara was Associate Winemaker at Franciscan and Mt. Veeder Winery under Larry Levin, where she honed and perfected the craft. She also played a role in the terroir-driven Bordeaux blends of Quintessa and Estancia from 1999 to 2002, where she was able to utilize her talent for blending and creating Meritage wines.

Napa Valley College's enology and viticulture degree students were our first recipients of the Napa | Sonoma Women for WineSense Scholarship. Last year we raised more than $10,000 at our events towards our scholarship fund.

It is fitting in our 25th year that we hold our annual event focusing upon education and career development at the first school for which we raised scholarship funds. Napa Valley College's Performing Arts Center is dedicated to theater and music instruction and performance. But it also serves the community for events such as "Women in Wine."

The event’s reception, slated for the theatre’s lobby, will include a mini-trade show featuring food, wine and exhibitor tables before moving into the main theatre for the panel discussion.

| 6 pm |

Wine, appetizers and exhibits in the lobby
Network and bid on auction items

| 7:30 pm |

Women in Wine Panel Discussion
Auction Winners announced

A core mission of the Napa | Sonoma WWS chapter is giving back to the wine community. Throughout the year we raise funds for students enrolled at one of our local universities in a wine degree program. Auction and Raffle proceeds go to scholarship fund. With your help, this event historically raises substantial funding for these students.

There are many ways you can contribute to help deserving students meet their wine and viticultural education goals:

• Donate directly to our scholarship fund.
• Bid on one of the many items now or during the Silent Auction at this event!
  
• Purchase Raffle Tickets

To donate an item to be featured at an auction, such as gift certificates todinners for two, spa services, a winery or a vineyard tour, contact our Fundraising Director, Maria Cordova to learn more. Review items up for auction in the sidebar at right.

Did you know that joining Women for WineSense may save you substantially on our events? Membership pays for itself in as little as 1.5 events! And with wine tasting events scheduled every month in 2015, now's the time to take advantage of these savings.

Join or find out more at our event. Questions about WWS membership and its benefits? Contact Membership Director, Ellen Reich Luchtel. So join now and save $$ on future events!

Women for WineSense ~ Napa | Sonoma

Women for WineSense is a not-for-profit organization 501(c)6 that was formed in 1990 as a way to help its members advance their careers in the wine industry, provide educational events, as well as aid wine enthusiasts in developing their wine knowledge. The Napa|Sonoma WWS chapter currently has more than 325 members of which 75% are professionals in the wine industry. 2015 marks the organization's 25th anniversary. Come celebrate in style!

Jeff Davis ~ Moderator "Women in Wine" Panel Discussion

Jeff Davis is host of KSRO's "On The Wine Road" 1350 AM & 103.5 FM, talking with wine makers and growers about their craft. With 28 years in radio and 26 years of voicing and producing commercials, Jeff Davis has become a nationally respected producer and voiceover artist.

Aside from his many years on the air and serving as production manager, Jeff has hosted two music television shows, worked on a pirate radio ship off the coast of England, and has served as Creative Director for two advertising agencies.

We are most grateful to our event sponsors, without whom we could not bring you these events!

THANK YOU!

Wine Industry Language Solutions provides Spanish, English, French and Italian classes, translations and CDs designed specifically for the wine industry as well as wine and food courses in Spain.

For over 20 years, HR Options® has provided highly personalized solutions aimed at identifying and filling supplemental human resource needs for clients throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Woodruff Sawyer & Co. is the wine industry’s leading innovator of employee benefits solutions and services including their proprietary Wine Industry Employee Benefits Collective, Private Exchange and Captive programs.



What makes Travelwize unique? You are more than just a confirmation number to us! Our team is experienced in all facets of what it takes to plan family, luxury vacations and corporate events. No cookie-cutter one-size-fits-all plans!



Elevating the Art and Science of Winemaking Vital Vessels is serving North America, Canada and Mexico with a growing line of quality products for the wine and agriculture industries.




"The largest selection of vineyards and wineries on the planet"

Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?

Alcohol will be served at this event. No one under 21 will be served.

What are my transport/parking options getting to the event?

Parking is available in the school's parking lot.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Communications@wwsnapasonoma.com -- If you don't hear from us within a few hours, we're likely consulting to get an answer to your question! Please be patient.

Is my registration/ticket transferrable?

You may switch your registration to another member or guest. You may open your order on Eventbrite from the confirmation emailed to you to edit the name information. (And if this is unavailable, please send us an email of the changes.)

Can I update my registration information?

Yes. Follow the instructions on your confirmation email on the steps to do so.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

It does make things go faster when you do! Download the app on your smart phone for the paperless option.

What is the refund policy?

Women for WineSense has a no-refund policy. However, we maintain a waitlist for tickets to our events. In the event you cannot attend and there are interested parties on the waitlist who purchase a ticket, we will refund your ticket purchase.

The name on the registration/ticket doesn't match the attendee. Is that okay?

Follow the instructions from EventBrite's confirmation email. You can return to edit the name on display for the registration.