Femmes du Vin Holiday Case
A word from WineAlign case curator, Sara d’Amato:
“I am pleased to have had the opportunity to curate this case in support of Femmes du Vin. Not only is this a great occasion to purchase gifts for the holidays or to fill your own cellar but you’ll also be providing opportunities for the generation of women in the world of wine. Lamentably, although women have risen in numbers in the wine industry, they are still vastly underrepresented in senior decision-making roles. Instead of dwelling on more recent news stories that have come to light, I would like to help contribute to the betterment of the conditions of women within the industry with the help of WineAlign and through the platform of Femmes du Vin. In this case we have highlighted women who have risen to positions of excellence and influence within the world of wine. Some of these winemakers are relatively new to the occupation, some have had long family history behind them, but all have been role models and/or mentors to women in the profession. Availability is limited. Yet, this is not a one-time offer. My colleagues and I at WineAlign will continue to focus attention on female role models within our industry.”
Femmes du Vin is a registered Not-for-Profit grassroots women’s organization established in 2016. They value, promote and amplify the voices of all women in wine to bring the wine industry forward through education, scholarships and mentorship. Inspiration and education are key visions of the organization who hopes to empower and change the lives of women in the wine industry by opening up opportunities. For more information: https://www.femmesduvin.org
For each case that is purchased, $75 will benefit the Femmes du Vin organization. The funds are allocated to scholarships for sommeliers, writers, judges, educators and independent businesswomen in the field of wine. Donations also benefit mentorship programs that aim to foster and further the careers in women in the wine trade.
Wines will ship in late January 2021. Only 30 cases are available (go to the offer details).
Spotlight on the Winemakers
Parés Balta
Winemakers: Maria Elena Jiménez and Marta Casas
Sisters-in-law Maria and Marta are evidence of a new generation of winemakers at Parés Baltà that promote innovation and ecological ideologies in growing and production.
Marta Casas – Marta was born in a small fishing village, Vilanova i la Geltrú and during her childhood she was surrounded by her grandparents and her great-grandmother, who were all involved in the business of wine. The family produced only a small quantity of wine for their own consumption and the rest was sold in bulk. Marta studied Pharmacy at the University of Barcelona where she met her husband Josep Cusiné who introduced her to wine. She was so interested in the vinification process that she decided to help in the cellar and eventually to study Winemaking in the University of Tarragona.
Maria Elena Jiménez – Born in Terrassa, Elena obtained her degree in Chemical Engineering at Institut Químic de Sarrià (University of Barcelona). She worked and travelled in Bordeaux, Australia, Bourgogne, Côte du Rhône and Napa Valley and then got involved in the family business, working as oenologist and introducing new ideas to the production of the grapes and wines.
Thirty Bench
Winemaker Emma Garner
Emma Garner’s passion for great wine and food was inspired by her travel to Australia, New Zealand, France, Germany, British Columbia and finally completing Brock University’s Oenology and Viticulture program. Upon graduation, she focused her continued hands-on learning in the vineyards and cellars of Niagara. In 2005, Emma embarked on a small journey west from her position at Trius Winery to Thirty Bench Wine Makers. Emma’s approach to winemaking, which is based on allowing the vineyard to express its own voice by making wine with minimal intervention gave her national attention, in particular with riesling. In 2015 she was recognized by WineAlign as Canada’s Best Small Winery. Just recently, the 2015 Small Lot Cabernet Franc won the coveted Best in Show distinction by Decanter Magazine, the first Canadian winery to win this award for a premium wine.
Domaine Francoise André
Winemaker: Lauriane André
Domaine Françoise André 2015 Chorey-les-Beaune “Tue Boeuf”, Burgundy, France
Michel and Francoise André who own the 7,5 ha domaine and were unable to recruit their three sons to take over the family business who were already working in the vineyards. They then turned to their daughter-in-law, Lauriane, who at 29, left her job with DRH transport and completed courses in agriculture at Beaune while working in the winery and applying for a total organic certification for their Domaine. Lauriane has been highly touted winemaker to watch in Beaune.
Tiny Batch Wines
Winemaker: Magdalena Kaiser
Tiny Batch wines is the project of Magdalena Kaiser, daughter of the late Karl Kaiser, co-founder of Inniskillin in Niagara. She has a passion for magnums and Blaufränkisch, no doubt a nod to her Austrian heritage, and thus has contributed the only Blaufränkisch made by a woman in Canada (in magnum to boot!) She is currently studying for the notoriously difficult Master of Wine exams, while meticulously producing “tiny batches” of wine. Magdalena has over 35 years’ experience in wine, marketing and tourism and brings her global experience to her terroir-focused cuvées.
Antonella Corda
Winemaker: Antonella Corda
Founder Antonella Corda grew up surrounded by family vineyards of generations past. She became an agronomist specialized in wine-making management and inherited the family winery in 2010. Her aim was to showcase the wines of Sardinia to a global market through innovation and a respect for tradition.
Catena Wines
Managing Director and CIW Founder: Laura Catena
Dr. Laura Catena is a fourth-generation Argentine vintner, physician and author. Born in Mendoza and spent her childhood with her grandfather Domingo at the family’s winery in the small village of La Libertad. Lara impressively graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1988 and has a Medical Doctor degree from Stanford University. In 1995 Laura joined her father Nicolás Catena Zapata at the family winery and founded the Catena Institute of Wine. She is currently managing director of Bodega Catena Zapata and works closely with Alejandro Vigil and Luis Reginato to make the vineyard selections and blends for the family’s wines. Laura is also founder of her own Luca Winery in Mendoza, Argentina, as well as a practicing part-time physician of Emergency Medicine in San Francisco. Laura splits her time between Mendoza, Argentina and San Francisco, California.
The Wines:
Parés Baltà Brut Cava, Penedès, Spain (2 bottles)
Thirty Bench 2017 Small Lot Triangle Vineyard Riesling, Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada (2 bottles)
Domaine Françoise 2015 André Chorey-les-Beaune “Tue Boeuf”, Burgundy, France (2 bottles)
Tiny Batch Wines 2019 The Blau, Blaufränkisch, Four Mile Creek, Ontario, Canada (1 magnum)
Antonella Corda 2018 Cannonau di Sardegna, Sardegna, Italy (2 bottles)
Catena 2017 Appellation Vista Flores Malbec, Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina (2 bottles)
The Details:
The Femmes du Vin Holiday Case ships in late January 2021. We require a $100 refundable deposit to secure every order.
Okay, let’s do this! I’m ready to order the Femmes du Vin Holiday Case. The 11 bottle mixed case is $533 plus delivery fees. The price includes all taxes, a charitable donation and our $25 procurement, admin & repackaging fee. For each case that is purchased, $75 will benefit the Femmes du Vin organization.
Delivery fees are estimated at $25 Ontario (shipping locations & fees). We use professional wine couriers, wherever possible..
We need to have total orders which are a multiple of 6.
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