Virginia's Wine Women Come of Age

 January 27, 2025

In 2022, Melanie Natoli made history. The winemaker at Cana Vineyards in Middleburg became the first woman to craft the winning wine in Virginia’s prestigious Governor’s Cup competition since it was redesigned in 2012. She was joined on stage by Maggie Malick (Maggie Malick Cave Wines) and Rachel Stinson Vrooman (Stinson Vineyards), whose wines also made the Governor’s Cup Case. Natoli aptly observed that, two years ago, there number of women standing among the crafters of Virginia's top 12 wines was zero.

Maggie Malick (l) and Rachel Stinson Vrooman (r) join Melanie Natoli on center stage at the 2022 Virginia Governor's Cup Gala

Emily Hodson of Veritas receives Rich Smith Award 

January 2025 was a big month for Emily Hodson, head winemaker at Veritas Vineyards. Her 2023 Reserve Chardonnay was served at the Presidential Inaugural Luncheon. She earned Best in Class awards at the San Franciso Chronicle Wine Competition for both her 2023 Sauvignon Blanc and her 2023 Monticello White plus four additional golds. To top it off, Emily received the Rich Smith Award of Excellence for outstanding contributions to the American grape and wine industry. 

The wine world, and not just in Virginia, is beginning to take notice of the women making their mark in our exciting wine region.  

Nancy Bauer, founder of Virginia Women in Wine,
shares the love with Virginia Wine Dog Ecco

And if they haven’t noticed, Nancy Bauer will make certain that they do. Last year, the founder of Virginia Wine Love launched Virginia Women in Wine (VWW). Inspired by the growing recognition of the leading role women are taking in the wine and hospitality industries, the organization’s mission is to strengthen Virginia's wine industry through women-led media and marketing ventures, networking opportunities, and support for projects to raise the bar for women in Virginia wine. 

In conjunction with Women’s History Month this March, Virginia Women in Wine will publish an exciting study, Closing the Gender Gap in Winemaking. VWW also is sponsoring a wine trail from March 14-31, with events showcasing women winemakers, growers, and leaders of the Birthplace of American Wine. 

Women may not have been among the wine pioneers in Jamestown or at Mr. Jefferson’s Monticello, but women certainly have been up to their elbows in Virginia wine since practically the beginning of the modern era. 

Lucie Morton and Biscotti
(Photo by Dave McIntyre)

Lucie Morton began planting grapes in Virginia in the early 1970s. Today, she is among the East Coast’s leading viticulturalists and advises on where and what to plant in vineyards across the state and throughout the region. Morton received is the Virginia Wineries Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the American Wine Society National Merit Awards and was named one of Wine Industry Network’s most inspiring people in 2021.

VA Wine Pioneer Juanita Swedenburg

Juanita Swedenburg was among the first wave of winery owners in the modern era, opening Swedenburg Estate Vineyards in Middleburg in 1987. In the 2000s, she led the fight to allow wineries to ship their wines across state lines – a battle she won in the U.S. Supreme Court in 2005. Swedenburg died in 2007, and the winery was sold and now operates as Greenhill Winery and Vineyards.

The Horton clan with Gov. Youngkin
at the 2018 Governor's Cup Gala

Sharon Horton worked side-by-side with her husband Dennis from the founding of Horton Vineyards in 1989. Since Dennis’s death, Horton has become a multigenerational women-led winery.  Sharon continues to oversee the vineyard, with daughter Shannon and granddaughter Caitlin carrying on the tradition as winemakers.

Rachel Stinson with Ecco at Red Wine Tasting

Rachel Stinson Vrooman also has deep roots in Virginia’s wine industry. It was a family decision when the Stinsons decided to turn their farm property into a winery. Scott says he asked who wanted to become a winemaker and daughter Rachel, then a photojournalist in New York, "made the mistake of raising her hand." Her first vintage was 2010.  

Jenn Breaux in the tatsing room with Ecco

Among Virginia’s 300-plus wineries, many have women at the helm. Jennifer Breaux took over operations of Breaux Vineyards in 2005. The sprawling 404-acre estate in Loudoun County is one of the largest in the Commonwealth. Recently, Jenn returned to the tasting room to give her customers that personal touch.

Kelly Knight and Teresa Delmare talk
about running the family winery

At Rappahannock Cellars' annual soup event this past November, founder and patriarch John Delmare announced that Rappahannock is now a women-owned business.  While John continues in a strategic role, daughters Kelly and Teresa have taken over operations of the venture, which currently produces around 12,000 cases of wine annually.

Athena Eastwood shows Ecco her
double-gold winning Petit Verdot

Eastwood Farm and Winery was a women-run enterprise from its birth in 2020. Founded by commodities attorney Athena Eastwood and her daughters Megan Taub and Hannah Velie, almost everyone working at the winery is female. While Athena finds the industry challenging regardless of gender, she says the prevalence of women "creates an environment where all the women help each other - sometimes even bringing their babies to work." Eastwood won two double golds and two golds at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition.

Judging just wrapped up for the 2025 Virginia Governor's Cup. We look forward to learning which women will take the stage with award-winning wines this year.