Being a Woman in the Wine Industry Isn't So Difficult

Diary #2: I was raised with the motto, “Nothing is impossible at Gaillard!” We were always told that we would find solutions to all our challenges. As a result, being a woman in the wine industry isn’t that difficult—especially since I’m far from being the first female winemaker!

A female winemaker and proud of it

In the basement, I ask the people I work with to always adjust to whoever has the least strength: there’s no point in tightening the pipes like a maniac! (And if worse comes to worst, I have a wrench to loosen them!). On the other hand, I don’t try to fight nature; there are tasks I’m less skilled at, and I find people on my team to take my place. For example, you’ll never see me handling a chainsaw.

Wine is often associated with a masculine image

I’d say the challenge lies more with the public (the consumers). For example, my sister has her own winery, and she handles everything there. Her partner, Thibaut, helps her out at trade shows, but he doesn’t work in the wine industry. Many times, when customers ask him questions that are too technical, he turns to Jeanne for the answer, so she gives the information directly to the customer, and the customer (usually a man!) then turns back to Thibaut to ask more technical questions—but it’s still Jeanne who has to answer them! I think that in French culture, wine (and agriculture in general) is associated with a reassuringly masculine image. Even though people have no problem seeing women in viticulture, custom dictates that they’re more likely to turn to a man for a discussion!

Find my wines on Les Grappes

Elise Gaillard (Madeloc Estate)