I HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE

There’s a phenomenon sweeping wine country in Northern California: women vintners and winemakers are adding whiskeys to their portfolios or moving into whiskey-making completely. The variations in how this is happening are numerous, ranging from collaborations using their wine barrels in partnership with distilleries, to whiskey distilleries popping up in wine country. One thing is for certain: the whiskeys they are producing are adding to the craft spirits movement in some pretty unique and impactful ways.

“More wineries are starting to dip their toes into the spirits industry,” says Wine Country Women author Michelle Mandro. “It’s a product that doesn’t rely on the same agricultural conditions as wine, which could provide some production flexibility in some seasons. With the frequency of wildfires and the risk of smoke taint, this could be an option to produce another quality product they can sell. Because of the popularity of Bourbon and whiskey and their interest in the spirit, women in wine country are pursuing their desire to try something different to diversify their portfolio of products.”

It is often said among women whiskey drinkers in particular that their love of the bold flavors in red