The rising profile of women in the wine business has done much to reshape an industry long considered a boys club. While statistics on women in the American wine industry are scarce, in recent generations women have flourished as winemakers and sommeliers, top executives and critics, educators and more. According to UC Davis, a top incubator for American wine professionals, since the 1990s, roughly half of the graduates of the school’s viticulture and oenology program have been women. In the past decade, the number of women undergraduates enrolled in the program has consistently, albeit slightly, surpassed that of men. The Tribune spoke with four prominent women in Chicago about some of the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve navigated their careers in wine. Tap on our bio link to read more. ----- Photo 1: Alpana Singh, a former master sommelier, is seen at her restaurant Alpana in Chicago on March 14, 2025. Photo 2: Regine Rousseau, a veteran wine educator and sommelier, tries a sample of a 2024 Gassier Côtes de Provence Rosé before appearing on WGN-TV Daytime Chicago for a segment titled “The Rise of Women In Wine” on March 13, 2025. Photo 3: Maverick Beverage Company portfolio manager Rachel Driver Speckan stands for a portrait before hosting a wine dinner at El Che Steakhouse and Bar in Chicago on March 12, 2025. Photo 4: Master sommelier and adjunct professor Jill Zimorski, left, shows Marvin Gibson, 21, right, and Carter Wideman, 22, center, how to open a bottle of brut rosé sparkling wine while teaching a course on wine and beverage management at DePaul University in the Loop on March 11, 2025. ? Anna Lee Iijima / Chicago Tribune ?️ Chris Sweda, Audrey Richardson and Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune / @mandophotos
March 21, 2025
The rising profile of women in the wine business has done much to reshape an industry long considered a boys club.
While statistics on women in the American wine industry are scarce, in recent generations women have flourished as winemakers and sommeliers, top executives and critics, educators and more. According to UC Davis, a top incubator for American wine professionals, since the 1990s, roughly half of the graduates of the school’s viticulture and oenology program have been women. In the past decade, the number of women undergraduates enrolled in the program has consistently, albeit slightly, surpassed that of men.
The Tribune spoke with four prominent women in Chicago about some of the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve navigated their careers in wine.
Tap on our bio link to read more.
-----
Photo 1: Alpana Singh, a former master sommelier, is seen at her restaurant Alpana in Chicago on March 14, 2025.
Photo 2: Regine Rousseau, a veteran wine educator and sommelier, tries a sample of a 2024 Gassier Côtes de Provence Rosé before appearing on WGN-TV Daytime Chicago for a segment titled “The Rise of Women In Wine” on March 13, 2025.
Photo 3: Maverick Beverage Company portfolio manager Rachel Driver Speckan stands for a portrait before hosting a wine dinner at El Che Steakhouse and Bar in Chicago on March 12, 2025.
Photo 4: Master sommelier and adjunct professor Jill Zimorski, left, shows Marvin Gibson, 21, right, and Carter Wideman, 22, center, how to open a bottle of brut rosé sparkling wine while teaching a course on wine and beverage management at DePaul University in the Loop on March 11, 2025.
? Anna Lee Iijima / Chicago Tribune
?️ Chris Sweda, Audrey Richardson and Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune / @mandophotos
While statistics on women in the American wine industry are scarce, in recent generations women have flourished as winemakers and sommeliers, top executives and critics, educators and more. According to UC Davis, a top incubator for American wine professionals, since the 1990s, roughly half of the graduates of the school’s viticulture and oenology program have been women. In the past decade, the number of women undergraduates enrolled in the program has consistently, albeit slightly, surpassed that of men.
The Tribune spoke with four prominent women in Chicago about some of the challenges they’ve faced and how they’ve navigated their careers in wine.
Tap on our bio link to read more.
-----
Photo 1: Alpana Singh, a former master sommelier, is seen at her restaurant Alpana in Chicago on March 14, 2025.
Photo 2: Regine Rousseau, a veteran wine educator and sommelier, tries a sample of a 2024 Gassier Côtes de Provence Rosé before appearing on WGN-TV Daytime Chicago for a segment titled “The Rise of Women In Wine” on March 13, 2025.
Photo 3: Maverick Beverage Company portfolio manager Rachel Driver Speckan stands for a portrait before hosting a wine dinner at El Che Steakhouse and Bar in Chicago on March 12, 2025.
Photo 4: Master sommelier and adjunct professor Jill Zimorski, left, shows Marvin Gibson, 21, right, and Carter Wideman, 22, center, how to open a bottle of brut rosé sparkling wine while teaching a course on wine and beverage management at DePaul University in the Loop on March 11, 2025.
? Anna Lee Iijima / Chicago Tribune
?️ Chris Sweda, Audrey Richardson and Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune / @mandophotos
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