The Kelowna Chamber of Commerce will host a Women of Wine luncheon panel Jan. 24 to discuss the growing role of women in what was, for a long time, the male-dominated world of wine.
Slated for the Kelowna Yacht Club and starting at 1:30 pm, the panel will feature Sandra Oldfield, president and CEO of Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Ann Sperling, winemaker at Sperling Vineyards and Southbrook Winery and Elaine Triggs, co-proprietor of Culmina Family Estate Winery.
Moderating the discussion will be the award-winning wine writer, John Schreiner, author of Icon: Collectible and Iconic Wines of British Columbia, which will be published in May.
“I have been writing about British Columbia wineries since 1977, when almost no women were involved directly,” said Schreiner.
“The landscape is entirely different today. In many wineries, women are becoming the driving force in disciplines ranging from vineyard management to winemaking and marketing. The industry should take a lot of pride in having unlocked so much talent.”
Oldfield was been named one of Canada’s Most Powerful Women in 2016 as a trailblazer with hopes to keep pushing the BC wine industry to greater heights, Sperling brings 25 years of international winemaking experience home to the vineyard she grew up on and Triggs not only focuses on wine sustainability, but has also been involved in the development of a Niagara-based winery with world-renowned Architect Frank Gehry.
“The chamber has wanted to host an event highlighting the remarkable accomplishments of women making strides in the wine industry for years. We are delighted to shine a bright light on three remarkable women in the wine industry,” said Caroline Miller, business development manager at the Kelowna Chamber of Commerce.
Tastings of wine from Oldfield, Sperling and Triggs wineries will be provided for a donation to the Kelowna Yacht Club youth sailing program and there will be a book signing by Schreiner following the event.
To register go to: http://www.kelownachamber.org/events/Women-of-Wine-Luncheon-Panel-1932/details or call the chamber at 250-861-3627.
