The Rise of Women Winemakers in the Breedekloof Wine Valley
It comes as no surprise that some women find it hard to start a wine career in what is, in essence, a male-dominated industry. But have times moved on for the better?
Last week I attended the official media launch of the Breedekloof Chenin Blanc Initiative at True Italic in Bree Street, Cape Town. If you are at all familiar with the Breedekloof valley, you would know that decades ago you would seldom find women in a winemaking position. In fact, back in those days, you would only find women on farms if they were married to male farmers!
After tasting through the wines of the “Breedekloof Makers”, consisting out of nine male and three female winemakers, one thing became apparent: it’s no longer just men shaping the Breedekloof Valley’s vinous landscape.