Women of the Vines
The number of women in the wine business is growing, but it’s still dominated by men. When Judy Jordan founded J Vineyards &Winery, of Sonoma, Calif., more than 30 years ago, everyone from the lawyers to the farmers were men. Never herself having a female mentor, Judy has set out to change that for future generations of women.
Through her new venture, Geodesy Wine, Judy established a program that empowers young women and provides scholarships in the field of agriculture. It is fully supported by profits from wine sales.
Made in Oregon, Judy’s chardonnay drinks like a grand cru Chablis; it makes you salivate and is ridiculously good. The brand also includes a pinot noir from Oregon and a red blend from Napa. Small production, well-made wines, they taste even better when considering their philanthropic mission.
Another woman intent on giving back is Sarah Newcomb. She owns The Wine Room, a wine bar and retail shop, in downtown Fort Myers, and partners with local nonprofits to donate 3 percent of her sales. Sarah joins me with wine picks for the month.
Sarah’s Picks
Tattoo Girl Rose, 2018
These labels are beautiful. The spirit of the winery embodies what we do here. It’s about being bold, it’s about being free to express yourself. All of these labels of wine feature a different tattoo girl and the winery features real tattoo girls on its website every month. It comes from Washington state. The rose has a great, fruity aroma. It is a slightly sweet wine, but not too sweet. It’s balanced and has a nice, easy finish. ($38.89)
Riojana Family Selection Torrontes
I seek out smaller production, family-owned wines, many of which are organic. Not only is this Argentinean winery sustainable using ethical farming practices, it’s Fair Trade Certified. This is dry but fruity with nice texture. I just love it and so does everyone else when they try it. We do weekly tastings to introduce people to different wines like this. It smells so good; it tastes a little like a nectarine and it is fun to taste as it changes temperatures in the glass. ($35.89)
Cape Coral Cabernet Sauvignon
People see this and say, “No Way. This was made in Cape Coral?” It’s actually one of our private label wines from Santa Clara County, California. We have five private label wines, but the cabernet is No. 1. I like wines that are smooth and balanced, and this is one of them. It’s a little on the sweet side; good for those just getting into red wines as well as those who already love it. The pricing on my bottles all end in .89 — it’s the year I was born. ($46.89)
Gina’s Picks
Markham Vineyards Napa Valley Merlot 2017
This one is made by Kim Nicholls, one of the first female winemakers in Napa Valley. She’s been making wine for more than three decades and made a lasting impression on me after I watched the PBS TV series episode, “Vintage: Napa Valley 2012.” Merlot from Napa gets the back-burner next to cabernet and it’s too bad, especially when considering such a lush wine like this one. It smells like plums and a touch of exotic spice. Full of fruits like raspberry and cherry, it has a good amount of acid and an herbal quality, that would complement herb-encrusted meats like lamb. ($50)
Oceano Chardonnay 2018
The winery is only a few years old but the woman behind it has a long, decorated history. Rachel Martin made wine at Boxwood Winery in Middleburg, Va., for 15 years. Now in San Luis Obispo, Calif., her small-production chardonnays are getting rave reviews. This is a food wine, with great acidity. Its nose is floral, fruity and fresh. Its flavors include lemon curd, green apple, kiwi and they’re fun to uncover. If you can find the 2017 vintage, it uses different clones, and while still acidic, has a little more weight — which can’t be blamed on COVID-19. ($38)
Avaline Red
Avaline is a wine brand founded by actress Cameron Diaz and her friend, fashion entrepreneur Katherine Power. They wanted a wine that was clean, organic, vegan-friendly and free from the innumerable additives and extras that can be added to wines but are not legally disclosed. Avaline has a white and a rose, but this is the brand’s first red. Just released last fall, it’s a blend of grenache and syrah with fresh cherry, medium spice and tannins. The finish is like a cherry Jolly Rancher. ($24)
