About

Virginia Women in Wine

Board Members

OUR ORIGIN STORY

 Five years before Virginia Women in Wine sprang to life in 2024, Nancy Bauer worked with then-owner of Glass House Winery, Michelle Sanders, to pull together a dozen wine industry women in Charlottesville for a night of potluck and a screening of the movie “Wine Country.” The movie was unmemorable, but the gathering was a chance for winery owners, bloggers, an industry lawyer and others–many of whom hadn’t met–to get to know each other. There have always been work-related opportunities for wine women to connect, but few offered a relaxed, informal chance to share experiences and become friends.

Over the next five years, with the goal of continuing to build the community of women in wine, Nancy organized six more dinners, intentionally pulling in women from different parts of the state, with different job roles and of varying ages. As the informal events grew, the idea that the group could be something more took root.

Two women in particular felt strongly that a nonprofit should be formed: Megan Hereford of Daring Wine Company and Shannon Horton of Horton Vineyards. In late 2023, the two convinced Nancy of the need and value of a more formalized organization, and Nancy agreed to serve as the inaugural President, assemble a Board, and lead the launch. The first Board of Directors planning meeting was held at Veritas Vineyards in February 2024. Within a month, twenty-six wineries and industry organizations signed on as Founders, each contributing between $500 and $2,000 to help get the organization off the ground. The Launch Party that formally introduced Virginia Women in Wine was held at Eastwood Farm Winery on August 6, 2024. Today, more than 150 wineries, industry support businesses, and individuals are members of Virginia Women in Wine.

Virginia Women in Wine has expanded from its original purpose to include statewide marketing campaigns; Closing the Gender Gap in Winemaking, a solutions-orientated paper aimed at increasing the number of women winemakers; annual Trailblazer Awards to remember and honor the women who’ve brought Virginia wine into the international spotlight; a Leadership Series; a Consumer Membership; and online tools to educate and to help promote women winemaker and vineyard consultants.

The mission of Virginia Women in Wine is to strengthen the Virginia wine industry by creating women-led media and marketing ventures, by providing networking opportunities that lead to improved winery operations and career advancement of its members, and by funding projects that generate important discussions and raise the bar for the continued advancement of Virginia wine.