March Wine Club: Women Adapt
Welcome to March (we made it!) and our story about wines that are good for the planet—and the people who live here, too! We’re here to help you discover all the ways in which the wine industry is changing for the better—from grape to glass—and how you can be a part of it.
This month we’re looking more closely at the theme of people and their role in both caring for the planet and benefiting from others that do. And—given that it’s International Women’s Day on March 8—we are focusing on women winemakers and three cool projects that feature women at the helm.
Why support women in wine? Because when we all have an opportunity to have a seat at the table, we all benefit from the diverse talent on offer. There are outstanding women in all parts of the wine industry, and this month we’re telling their stories. (And look no further than UnWined and Revel, our fab partners, and the women that make the shop and restaurant hum!)
Do you have wines you’d like to see in the club? Wine recommendations you need on the fly? Shoot me a note! I’d be more than happy to chat.
Dumbarton Oaks last spring.
The Wines
Our first wine comes to us from Switzerland and the Cruchons, a super cool (wine) family with women in the lead. Winemaker Catherine Cruchon took over winemaking in 2010 from her grandfather, and she’s joined by 3 other women in the Cruchon family who handle the administrative side and work in the vineyards.
What’s more, the Cruchon family is one of the first families to farm biodynamically in Switzerland. Since 2018, they’ve been certified by Demeter, an international biodynamic certification body that is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
This wine is 100% Chasselas, a white grape that likely originates in French Switzerland and is particularly prominent in the canton of Vaud, which is where this wine hails from. We are really excited to bring you a Swiss wine—the first for our club. Hope you find it as refreshing as we did!
— Henri Cruchon La Cote Chasselas "Le Morget" 2021
Our next wine is perfect for those weeks where winter starts to appear mostly in your rearview mirror and you encounter one or two budding trees here in Virginia that make you stop and pause (as I did earlier today). From Matt and Lentil Purbrick, the husband and wife team behind an Australian wine project called Minimum, we bring you a rosé that’s a blend of 73 percent Sangiovese, 15 percent Syrah, 9 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3 percent Chardonnay. It’s savory on the palate and makes you think of a serious French rosé but with new world panache.
In addition to making deliciously fresh wines, Minimum passes the sustainability test with flying colors. In 2017, they converted their property to organics and began to use regenerative farming techniques, including cover crops, mulching, under-vine cultivation, no chemicals or pesticides, and advanced water-saving practices. What’s more, they are B-Corp certified, like Unico Zelo, the Australian producer we hosted at UnWined at a member event last year.
The importer of this wine stands solidly behind these values, too. Minimum is imported by Jane Lopes and Jonathan Ross, the duo behind Australian wine importer LEGEND. They are all about running their business with care for people and planet—check them out!
— Minimum Rosé 2022
Our next woman to profile is Sammie Steinmetz of Günther Steinmetz in Germany. Sammie is an American woman of color who was stationed in Germany when she was in the U.S. Air Force in the mid-2000s. She fell in love with the wines (Riesling, especially!) and with German winemaker Stefan Steinmetz, got married, and stayed! She and Stefan make this super cool wine which is a field blend of red medieval grape varieties that I had never heard of. Sammie, Stefan, and their children harvest their grapes in their vineyards in the steep slopes of the Mosel, which is no easy feat for the feet. If you want more wine from this family, do check out their Riesling Sekt, which we had on Valentine’s Day and really enjoyed! Cheers!