D.C. Wine

*All you need to stay informed is Google and a glass of wine!*

It’s true, “what I’m reading posts” are some of the easiest blog posts to put together and have been around since blogs were first created. But the combination of helping people discover new things and be more informed about what’s happening in the wine world, is what It’s Wine By Me is all about.

Besides, when friends ask me, ‘How do you know so much about wine,’ it all comes back to poking around the Internet and staying on top of what others are reporting. So, here’s what’s currently crossing my radar.

Harvest News

While California celebrates the start of Harvest 2022, more worrisome eyes are focused on the wildfires south of Bordeaux.

First Grapes picked in Napa Valley (Decanter)
Sonoma Valley’s 2022 Grape Harvest Begins (Wine Industry Advisor)
Smoke Threatens to Choke Bordeaux (Wine-Searcher)

Women in Wine

Remember the Instagram uproar over D.C.’s women in wine? Some local publications took notice, too. Plus, some additional headlines worthy of your attention.

Women in Wine Want You to Remember Their Names (Washingtonian)
After WaPo Critic Couldn’t Name Any Local Female Sommeliers, D.C.’s Wine Women Speak Up (DCist)
More wine sellers make representing diverse vintners a priority (The Washington Post)
Why Women in Wine Are Hustling to Stay Afloat (Wine Enthusiast)

A flurry of Instagram stories lit up my feed early this week after The Washington Post’s food critic failed to name any of the city’s female sommeliers during his weekly live chat.

The questioner even suggested there were only just a few. But the reality is there are an abundance of women in top wine positions across the Washington. And just as Tom Sietsema asked in his reply, a list of D.C. Women in Wine curated by local industry women quickly emerged. Nearly 80 names as of this writing are included.

*A screenshot from Tom Sietsema’s Q&A discussing women somms.*

The tone of the Instagram posts ranged from outrage to opportunities to thank and uplift those who have been pivotal to opening doors for others in the industry.

And this illustrates why approaching wine and women is complicated. The perception of the lack of women in wine far outweighs the reality of what the community looks like.

Following these women, however, might be a good place to start: D.C. Women in Wine.