Bolney Wine Estate’s Post

Do you know that feeling when you get butterflies because you're meeting someone you really admire? That was me when this picture was taken at our first AMP Conference in 2019. I'm posing with Sarah Shadonix. She's the visionary and founder of Scout & Cellar. It's blurry and I was so nervous and excited to take a picture with her. To me, she's a celebrity although she's incredibly approachable and genuine. Here's an excerpt from an article about her published in Authority Magazine. "Less than 20% of winemakers and distillers are women. Traditionally, women were excluded from these industries. This number is slowly rising as more women choose to study this profession and enter the wine and spirits fields. What is it like for those women who work in this male dominated industry? What are some of the challenges that these women face? Is there hope for better representation, and better wages, for women in the wine and spirits industry? As a part of our series about women leading the wine and spirits industries, we had the pleasure of interviewing Sarah Shadonix. Founder, CEO, and Head Wine Taster of Scout & Cellar, Sarah Shadonix, began her career as a litigator. After discovering the hundreds of additives permitted for use in wine production, she knew something had to change. She left her almost decade-long career to pursue her passion for wine full-time. In just four years, she launched Scout & Cellar by sourcing and producing an entire collection of brands and organizing an internal infrastructure overseeing more than 17,000 independent consultants. Shadonix earned her Advanced Certificate from the Wines & Spirit Education Trust and became a Certified Specialist of Wine. Using this knowledge, she developed a soil-to-sip process that culminates in a commitment to grow grapes without toxic pesticides and make wine without artificial processing aids and ingredients. This process was given a name: the Clean-Crafted Commitment®, which is the standard to which every Scout & Cellar product is upheld." Yes, I'm one of the 17,000 (That number is higher now). It's such a pleasure to be part of this clean-crafted wine movement. These days, everyone should diversify their income with something they enjoy. This "side gig" kept me positive when my job was eliminated. They always cut marketing first... Why not make it wine. #winebusiness #sidebusiness #lovewhatyoudo

"Each Time A Woman Stands Up For Herself She Stands Up For All Women" - Mary Angelou In light of IWD I thought I'd re-introduce you to Two Female Founders standing up in the male dominated wine industry, one glass of rosé (sometimes two 😉 ) at a time! Since leaving my job in 2022 to run Pink Diesel full time there are a couple things I've learnt and I thought I'd share them with you: 🌱 Naivety - can be an advantage. I didn't have a background in the drinks industry or a career in wine, but I have made it my mission to meet with female founders, drinks founders, wine academics, people in the industry and the likes to continue to get my head around what it actually takes to make a drinks business. Thank you to a few, but not all of them who have given me the time of day and continue to help me: Queena Wong Lucy Busk (Wright) Luke Boase James Stillwell Jack Orr-Ewing (and all the KINDREDS!) Richard Longhurst and so many more! 🥅 End Goal - What hat are you wearing today? Whilst you are wearing many hats as a Founder, (Accountant, Marketing, Sales, Logistics, Events, PR etc. and my all time favourite Stock Controller ( 👷♀️ !) you can get caught up in all sorts of distractions and reasons as to why you're choosing to do something... I have to remind myself everyday what the sole purpose is and for Pink Diesel it splits into 3: 👉 Bringing the wine industry an alternative rosé fuel that appeals to the Younger Generation Wine Drinkers (relatable story, transparent supply chain, educate). The Fuel-ture of wine drinking is in our hands, lets get current! 👉 Working with alike minded producers, wholesalers, brands, clients & people who share the same qualities around sustainability. Our liquid is High Environmental Value certified and we make wine guided by nature with a single-source, family run producer in Provence. 👉 Don't sweat the small stuff, have FUN. After all Marina Ayton have built this brand upon our pure love for life (and pale rosé 🙃 )! The wine industry rightly focuses on the HOW. HOW do you drink wine, taste, smell, serve, pair it?! Whilst there is an art to this and we don't dismiss it - it's also about WHO you drink wine with, WHERE and WHY! Fuel Good Times as we say... because memories will last longer than a bottle of wine, well certainly for us two 👭 ... 🍷 ✨

Thanks to Jacopo Mazzeo, PhD, and SevenFifty Daily for the recent interview which focused on the challenges surrounding labour standards in the global wine industry. I was pleased to shed some light on this topic, which largely remains hidden behind the beauty of vineyards. Behind every bottle is a team of people whose labour is essential to the production process. As a minimum, the wine industry should ensure fair wages, provide safe working conditions, and uphold the dignity of all its workforce. Awareness is the first step towards transformation. Whether wine enthusiasts, industry professionals, or consumers, we all have a responsibility to ensure that every bottle we uncork represents ethical practices. Real change requires collective action. In an industry as diverse as the wine industry, collaboration is the key enabler to drive meaningful impact. The Sustainable Wine Roundtable is working with its members towards more transparency in the wine supply chain. We invite any wine business to join our global community and play a role in shaping the future of the industry and its people.

WineGB’s Roadmap: Cultivating Success Under Nicola Bates. We chat with her on 'Building a sustainable future for British winemaking'. Nicola Bates, the CEO of WineGB, brings a wealth of leadership experience and a fresh perspective to the UK’s wine industry. With a background that spans policy advocacy, strategic growth, and championing diversity, Nicola is poised to lead WineGB into an exciting new phase. As the first female CEO of the organization, her tenure begins at a time of remarkable expansion for the English and Welsh wine sector, with production and sales climbing to unprecedented heights. In this interview, Nicola shares her vision, the strategies underpinning WineGB’s newly launched three-year plan, and how she aims to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Here are the questions she answers: 1) Nicola, as the CEO of WineGB, can you share your initial vision and key priorities for the organization in the coming years? 2) In your previous role at the Portman Group, you were instrumental in driving significant policy changes. What are the key policy and regulatory matters within the UK wine industry that are your primary focus right now? 3) You've been a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion throughout your career. How do you see yourself incorporating these values within WineGB and the wider UK wine industry? As the first female CEO of WineGB, how do you view the role of women in the wine industry, and what initiatives might you pursue to support and empower more women to enter and thrive in this field? 4) The launch of the £1.5m 'Future Winemakers' Scheme aims to boost the UK wine industry. What are your thoughts on this initiative, and how do you see it shaping the future of UK winemaking? How will WineGB support this initiative and ensure its success? 5) Could you tell us about any programs to encourage and champion sustainable practices within the UK wine industry? 6) Looking at the current trends and challenges within the UK wine sector, what do you see as the most significant opportunities for growth and innovation in the next decade? ....more....here. Click on the below link.

Australian Wine Lists Look To Diversity - by Jeni Port   For the best part of 31 years I have been judging Australian wine lists for the annual Australian Wine List of the Year Awards. I have been in the front row of change and I have watched the fall of Riesling, the capitulation of chardonnay to sauvignon blanc on lists, followed by its inevitable slow decline. Red wines fared much better on Australian wine lists, although cabernet sauvignon still tends to make up the numbers. But, in recent years, there has been one growing trend that I have watched with interest and fully applaud: wine lists acknowledging the rise of women winemakers, viticulturists and producers. It is a heartening sight, especially when you consider the ongoing fight for gender equality in the Australian wine industry and the work of Australian Women In Wine – of which I am an Advisory Board member – drawing attention to serious issues such as equal pay, equal opportunity, sexism in the workplace and more.   Some wine lists note the role of women in the production of wines listed on their menus with the symbol, ♀   Others make note of their role in introductory and tasting notes. More recently, I have seen some regional restaurants promoting features on their region’s women winemakers. If you are in a wine region, eating at a local restaurant, tasting the local wines, it makes sense to discover more about the people who make the wines, and that definitely includes women. One Canberra wine list offers a flight of four wines by the 90ml pour made by local women winemakers. Regional restaurants, in particular, take note: this is exactly what is possible and exciting about highlighting an aspect of regional wines.   The Australian wine industry remains a male-dominated industry. Efforts by Australian sommeliers – many of them a new generation of young women - to highlight the exciting diversity that exists in Australian wine and, indeed, the wines of the world   As one sommelier notes on his list: “Women are paving the way for an inclusive future in wine. Cheers to their fearless spirit and delicious creations. Together, they are uncorking creativity, flavour and a whole lot of fun.”   Well said.  

Check out this interview with Founder & CEO of Diverse Powered Brands and Women of the Vine & Spirits, Deborah Brenner in Beverage Trade Network! She's only getting started with Diverse Powered Brands!!

In honour of International Women’s Day, Anna-Marie Julyan in the Waitrose & Partners Weekend magazine engaged with five female FMCG brand founders, asking for their sage advice and top tips when they started out. 👍 I suggest seeking (brutal) feedback from friends and family before you launch a product - I sent out questionnaires with our first samples of Childs Farm Ltd 🤞 Pip Murray of Pip & Nut | B Corp, advises that if you have an idea, don’t hang around and just head down to a market stall and start selling! 🌱 Annabel Thomas says to find your reason to believe - sustainability and organic practices in the case of her brand Nc'nean Distillery 🏭 Bonnie Chung of Miso Tasty warns that the recipe and manufacturing process can take much longer than expected. 🥧 Camilla Stephens of Higgidy, stresses the importance of building a brilliant team and finding individuals better than you to handle different responsibilities. Solid advice for anyone on their FMCG journey right now 💪 Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dSuVEp7G (pages 6-7). #fmcg #newbusiness #retail #femalefounders

👉 .HumanRights: food & beverage companies show a focus on communication. 🔎 Our research considered 5 companies active in agri-food production, another sector where public attention to human rights is increasing. 🏢 Compared to companies in other sectors analyzed, the 5 companies included in the study show, on average, more commitment to communication and advocacy, strengthening their credibility through targeted partnerships and active use of LinkedIn to spread their messages. However, there remain significant opportunities for improvement in their strategic approach. ✨Among the notable examples is Lavazza Group, whose communication is enriched by stories of relevant projects supporting the rights of local communities. Also noteworthy is Ferrero, which addresses the topic through corporate leadership and a dedicated report. 👉 To find out more and get the white paper of the study, visit our blog: https://lnkd.in/dCZdgDmY #HumanRights #Sustainability #Lundquist #LundquistResearch #Food #Beverage

If you hire or employ Gen Zers, this webinar is for you. Learn what makes them tick, and how to recruit, manage and retain them. Here is the recording in case you missed it. WINE WOMEN winejobs.com #genz #recruiting #hiring #retention #wineindustry

Wine is at its best when the environment and workers are respected in its production 🍇🤝🍷 "We want our products to be enjoyed knowing that it's not done at the cost of our planet or people. For wines, this means, for example, that we choose our partners carefully, and we continuously look for certified producers," says Catarina Weckman, Sustainability Manager for wines at Anora. One such producer is Montlaiz, an Argentinian family-owned Fairtrade-certified winery, and a partner of Anora. "In Fairtrade, we are part of a chain of doing good, and we know that we are not alone. Together with the management of the farm, we improve the conditions of our employees, our families, and the entire community," says Bruno Costa, an employee at Montlaiz winery. Click the link in the comments to read (in Finnish) Catarina and Bruno Costa’s interview! 💙💚   #FairTrade #HumanRights #SustainableFarming #Biodiversity #Equality #Reilunkaupanviikko Fairtrade Finland – Reilu kauppa ry