New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Linda Adams — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 20:32:00 GMT

This is a great article discussing the history of influential female sommeliers and the lasting mark they have made in this industry. However, these women have, more or less, the following in common -- being at the right place at the right time, superiors that believed in them & opened the doors of opportunities, and the single status when they began their wine careers (single meaning not tied down to marriage and motherhood). Wine was/is a second career for me and I came into as a mother. This has been the most challenging aspect of my career. Eater recently released an article on the obstacles that mothers specifically face in this industry with seeking time off, maintaining benefits, and retaining their position upon maternity leave. I think we need to raise awareness on female sommeliers mixed with motherhood. Having tried to be a part of this industry as a mother has caused me to take a break after 11 years because basically no one wants to support women who want both: motherhood and the world of wine. No one should have to choose. It's a freedom of choice and employers should respect and embrace it. After all, we all came from somewhere.

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Nicole Hakli — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 19:14:14 GMT

I would love to meet some of these ladies at the Women in Wine Conference in New York!

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Rachel Driver Speckan — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:44:51 GMT

Beautiful piece. Wonderful questions that create a lovely dialogue.

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Ivy Anderson — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 06:01:17 GMT

Love this piece.

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Alicia Ajolo — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 09:14:28 GMT

I don't even want to get into suits and pockets...

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Cara Patricia / DECANT Bottle Shop & Bar — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 07:33:55 GMT

I hope this is as inspiring to you as it was to me, regardless of your gender. A+

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Cara Patricia / DECANT Bottle Shop & Bar — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 07:32:52 GMT

THIS IS GREAT.

Too many articles that try to "celebrate" the female sommelier instead turn us into a novelty, an adjective, a pat-on-the-head-good-job-how-do-you-balance-work-and-family oddity in a 'male dominated industry', when in fact, 52% of the restaurant industry is women.

I'm glad to see these profiles without comparing the weight of lifting cases to that of lifting a toddler (I've no idea what a toddler weighs). I am glad that maybe some of the dudes in our industry can read about the weirdness that these sommeliers have experienced simply because they aren't men. It's kind of unfair, ain't it? Wouldn't it be weird if that happened to you?

Remember that there is no real difference in the job between a man and a woman, except maybe its easier for a man to buy a suit jacket with real pockets.

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Jill Zimorski — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 04:52:03 GMT

Thank you, Andrea Robinson, for mentioning Madeline Triffon. Obviously this piece is solely about NYC-based Sommeliers, and briefly mentions some others around the country, but the discussion of pioneering female Sommeliers isn't a discussion without mentioning Madeline. She was working as a Sommelier before, and for longer than, some of these fine women and her experiences and stories are awesome. She's a continual source of inspiration.

RE: New York City's Pioneering Female Sommeliers

Andrea Robinson — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 18:55:48 GMT

Beautifully done piece--thanks for including me in such amazing company!