25 Mar Cultivating Community: The Power of Women in Santa Barbara Wine

March 25th is National Women and Wine Day and to celebrate, I am sharing the story I wrote for The Tasting Panel Magazine (May/June 2025) entitled: In The Path of Pioneers – How The Women Winemakers of Santa Barbara County Pay It Forward.

Santa Barbara County is often considered a standout when it comes to the presence of women winemakers. While the statewide average in California hovers around 10-15% of head winemakers being women, Santa Barbara County tends to exceed that percentage. Some estimates suggest that around 20-30% of winemakers in Santa Barbara are women, which is notably higher than many other wine regions.

To celebrate the women winemakers and culinarians of Santa Barbara, and in conjunction with International Women’s Day, thirty-two female winemakers and twenty female chefs were honored at the annual Women Winemaker and Culinarians Celebration. What began eight years ago as a one-day event has grown into a four-day festival, and in 2024, the Women Winemakers & Culinarians Foundation became an official 501(c)(3) non-profit. Its mission is to empower and support female winemakers and culinarians by fostering a community that champions their craft, creativity, and leadership.

I attended the one-day event eight years ago and it was great to return and see how the event has grown. The weekend included a Tribute Dinner for Lane Tanner, the first female winemaker in Santa Barbara County and the second in the country to have her own label, a dressy wine/cocktail party entitled “Sips and She-Nanigans – A Sassy Soiree”, and a Grand Tasting featuring 32 female winemakers. It is really such as beautiful thing to see such a strong community of many women winemakers.

Read the entire story in The Tasting Panel Magazine (May/June 2025) In The Path of Pioneers – How The Women Winemakers of Santa Barbara County Pay It Forward.