As we mark International Woman’s Day this Friday 8^th March it seems particularly pertinent at Berkmann Wine Cellar’s head office. In only the past two months the new recruits to the company are predominantly women, taking on the top spots of Senior Wine Buyer, Head of Marketing, Head of Customer Relations and our educators at Veraison.  Does this trend support reflect the broader wine trade? Are the days of the red trouser brigade numbered?

One of the newest recruits to BWC would agree. Emma Dawson, our new Senior Wine Buyer, a Master of Wine and previously a buyer for Marks and Spencer for nine years.

Emma says:

“There is evidence out there to support women are taking on the wine world by stealth. Jancis Robinson has arguably been preparing the ground for many years, as the most trusted source of wine knowledge and critique. At any trade tasting today, the proportion of women is slowly gaining ground on men. Not only that, I can see many women blasting through the wine glass ceiling. I can name a number of retail buying teams with more women than men; including the one I was part of at Marks and Spencer. As a Master of Wine, it is interesting to note that whilst there are only 132 women MWs of the total 384, in 2014 and 2015 more women than men passed. If that trend continues, we should see that percentage of women rising to level pegging in the next decade.

When I think of the creative wine events I’ve seen in recent years, so many have been the brain child of women; such as the RAW wine fair or Wine Car Boot. And the newly founded “Women in Wine” network in London that is helping create even stronger connections. I hear they’ve had complaints from men who want to join.

So why is this trend emerging particularly in wine? I wouldn’t point to those scientific studies that suggest women are better tasters than men.  It might simply be that working in wine is a wonderful way to spend your career and women are quite rightfully staking their place among that tribe”

As we look into the wider industry we are also seeing the rise of women attend our events especially at this year’s portfolio tasting, both customers and the suppliers. Working with many Women in Wine from customers to wine makers, the evidence is clear and we are experiencing #BalanceforBetter in the wine trade. Follow us today and every day as we discover the Women in Wine at Berkmann Wine Cellars.