Winebow Women Leaders

DIANA FORNASERO & MARINA MICELI Vina Cobos

JENNIFER LOCKE The Crimson Group California

JENN TOYZER Ume USA

ABIGAIL ESTRADA Textbook Napa Valley, CA

In Mendoza, Argentina, Viña Cobos is led by two local experts. Head Winemaker Diana Fornasero joined as an intern in 2013. With 11 years of experience, she rose to Winery Manager in 2022 and now serves as Production Manager, overseeing all winemaking and vineyard operations. Marina Miceli, Head of Third-Party Vineyards, joined in 2020. An agronomist from the National University of Cuyo, she was promoted in 2022 to manage the winery’s external vineyard partnerships and grape sourcing.

With extensive global experience in the fine wine sector, Jen joined Crimson Wine Group as its Chief Executive Officer in December 2019. She brings to the company inspirational leadership skills and an industrywide reputation for delivering results and leading high performing teams in a collaborative and innovative style. Prior to joining Crimson, Jen was Senior Vice President of U.S. Luxury and Direct-to Consumer Sales, Americas, at Treasury Wine Estates (TWE).

UME is the first-ever U.S.-produced plum spirit, founded in 2020 by Jenn Toyzer, who envisioned creating a drink that would offer a truly unique experience. Bright, tart, and lightly sweet, UME’s vibrant fruit flavor stands out on its own or adds a stunning twist to classic cocktails, like the signature UME Spritz. With half the sugar of comparable liqueurs and aperitifs and a 17% ABV, UME is the Purple Potion for a new era.

Abigail Estrada earned her Enology and Viticulture degrees from UC Davis. Abigail brings wine knowledge from her harvesting experiences in Italy, New Zealand, and Israel to influence the iconic “bold-yet balanced” Textbook wines.

JOEY WÖLFFER Wölffer Estates The Hamptons, NY

LAURA PRINCIPIANO Zuccardi Mendoza, Argentina

CRISTINA ALLEN Volans Tequila Jalisco, Mexico

DOROTHEE ZILLIKEN Zilliken Saar Valley, Germany

As Head Winemaker and an Agricultural Engineer from the National University of Cuyo, Laura leads both the Winemaking and Research and Development departments. She oversees a talented team of winemakers and agronomists dedicated to studying terroir and micro-regional factors influencing wine quality. Since 2009, Laura has been instrumental in the winery’s foundational design. Her extensive expertise is shaped by international harvests in Italy and Spain, along with significant experience across various prestigious wineries in Mendoza.

Cristina Allen co-founder of Volans Tequila learned that the craft and beauty of tequila is always attainable but only with the right processes in place. Cristina studied music production and has always had a knack for creativity. Volans tequila is the love child of husband and wife team, Chad and Cristina Allen and Chad’s mother Lonnie Allen. Everything about this brand screams family, values and tradition. It is their love of Mexico, the culture, the food, the people, and the tequila that drives them to bring the best tasting tequila to you.

Joey Wölffer is a New York Native, entrepreneur and the Chief Brand Officer and Co-Owner of Wölffer Estate Vineyard based in the Hamptons. With a mission to carry on the innovative legacy of her father, Joey and her brother Marc took over the winery in early 2013. That same year, they introduced the brand’s iconic Summer in a Bottle Rosé, which traditionally sells out each summer and is the number one fastest growing rosé in New York City.

The Zilliken family traces its winegrowing tradition back to 1742. The estate is currently managed by Dorothee, who has been working with her father, Hans-Joachim “Hanno” Zilliken, since 2007. She took on full responsibility in 2016, with the ongoing guidance of Hanno, and the indispensible help of her mother, Ruth, and husband, Philipp.

Women Leaders in Wine & Spirits

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