Women Leaders in Wine & Spirits

JOEY WÖLFFER Wölffer Estates The Hamptons, NY

PRIYANKA KULKARNI Villa Maria Marlborough, New Zealand When she learned she couldn’t pursue her dream of becoming a pilot in the air force, her sister suggested a trip to Nashik, home of India’s emerging wine scene. She was immediately hooked, graduated with a degree, and took a role as assistant winemaker at York Winery in India. She received her master’s degree in France and then worked in many countries including New Zealand. In 2019 she became a Winemaker at Indevin Group— the biggest wine producer in New Zealand and owner of Villa Maria Wines.

DIANA FORNASERO & MARINA MICELI Vina Cobos Mendoza, Argentina Diana Fornasero, head winemaker at Viña Cobos, began her career with the winery in 2013 as an intern at 23. Born in Córdoba and raised in Mendoza, she has over 11 years of experience, rising to Winery Manager in 2022 and now serving as Production Manager, leading winemaking and vineyard operations. Marina Miceli, Head of Third-Party Vineyards, joined in 2020 as a Vineyard Assistant and was promoted in 2022. A Mendoza native with a degree in Agronomic Engineering from the National University of Cuyo, she oversees third-party vineyards.

SANDRA TAVARES Wine & Soul Douro, Portugal

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.

Sandra, owner and winemaker of Wine & Soul, started her winemaking journey in 2001, with the goal of creating wines that showcase the traditional varieties of Portugal’s Douro Valley. She has since achieved international acclaim for her wines. Sandra is a highly talented oenologist, considered by many to define the new Douro generation.

LOUISA ROSE Yalumba & Hill-Smith Family Vineyards South Australia and Tasmania, Australia

LAURA PRINCIPIANO Zuccardi Mendoza, Argentina

NADIA ZENATO Zenato Veneto, Italy

HEATHER FRASER Yalumba & Hill-Smith Family Vineyards South Australia, Australia

Founded in 1960 by Sergio and Carla Zenato, the Zenato winery was originally based on the production of quality wines from an indigenous variety, Trebbiano di Lugana. Over time, the winery has been passed to Sergio and Carla’s children, who have maintained and expanded upon this vision. Their daughter Nadia currently handles the marketing and promotional activities for the company.

Head Winemaker. Laura graduated as an Agricultural Engineer from the National University of Cuyo, and she leads our Winemaking department and the Research and Development department, which brings together young winemakers and agronomists dedicated to studying the terroir and factors that influence wine quality and each micro-region. Since joining the winery in 2009, she has worked on the foundational concepts for the winery’s design and construction. Among her experiences, she has participated in harvests abroad in Italy and Spain, as well as in various wineries in Mendoza.

Heather started working at Yalumba’s laboratory in 1999, and quickly moved into production. She has a passion for nature and sustainability and took the winemaking responsibility of the Yalumba Organics collection in 2011. In 2020, Heather became the driving force behind Yalumba’s sustainability program, The Next 5, leading a team of dedicated individuals to achieve their social, economic and environmental sustainability goals now and for the next five generations.

During her 25-year career at Yalumba, Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, Louisa has become one of the world’s most respected winemakers – forging an identity for Australian Viognier, challenging perceptions of Barossa Shiraz, leading her viti- and vinicultural teams to ever greater heights, and giving up her nights, weekends, and spare moments for the betterment of Australian wine. Louisa is also in charge of the winemaking at Pewsey Vale in Eden Valley and Jansz in Tasmania.

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