WOMEN’S VOICES
One of the main goals of the Women in Wine Expo (WIWE) is to highlight the work of women in wine, whose voices—from East to West, North to South—have too often been left out of wine history. By sharing these stories and making these women visible, WIWE—and this series of interviews—aims to change that.
Over the past months, our founder, Senay Özdemir, has been speaking with women across the wine industry—winemakers, cellar masters, and industry leaders—to hear their experiences, perspectives, and passions. Each conversation reveals a different side of the craft, and together they paint a richer picture of how women are shaping the future of wine.
tina pfaffmann:
“Every Vintage Is a Dialogue with Nature”
“I’m often asked how being a woman has influenced my work. I work emotionally and closely with my grapes, my vineyards, and my wines. Whether that’s because I’m a woman, I can’t say.”
Among these voices is Tina Pfaffmann, a German winemaker whose approach to viticulture is deeply personal and attuned to nature. Growing up on her parents’ vineyard, she learned early that winemaking is more than a profession—it is a way of life. Each vintage, she explains, is a dialogue with the land: a reflection of soil, climate, and season, shaped by patience, care, and personal attention.
How did you become a winemaker, and what inspired your path?
“I grew up on my parents’ vineyard, so wine was always part of my life. My father inspired me as a child, but as I grew older, it was nature itself that captured my imagination.
The idea that I can accompany a wine for an entire year—working in harmony with nature while adding my own touch—has always fascinated me. Today, my wines are my companions, my diary, and a new experience every year. With every vintage, my respect for the natural world grows deeper.”
How has being a woman influenced your work in the vineyard, the cellar, and the wider wine industry?
“I’m often asked how being a woman has influenced my work. I work emotionally and closely with my grapes, my vineyards, and my wines. Whether that’s because I’m a woman, I can’t say.
I’m ambitious and strong-willed, yet also deeply vulnerable at times. If these traits are seen as feminine, then they have shaped my approach to winemaking and allowed me to push my limits physically and creatively. Above all, I enjoy the process immensely.”
Have you faced challenges or prejudices as a woman in winemaking?
“Yes. At the time, I was too young to handle them well. Today, I would act differently. Still, those experiences—both highs and painful moments—were formative and helped me grow personally and professionally,” she says.
Who or what has most influenced your development as a winemaker?
“The people who took me seriously from the start and believed in my passion for vineyards and winemaking. My mentor, Hans Günter Schwarz, was particularly influential,” she notes.
What guidance would you give to women aspiring to technical or leadership roles in wine?
“Very simple: Follow your own path. Do what you enjoy.”
How do you see the role of women evolving in German viticulture?
“We should focus on developing German winemaking as a whole. Gender aside, we share the responsibility of ensuring that wine remains a cultural asset—something sustainable, enjoyable, and valuable. Protecting our soils, respecting natural rhythms, and producing authentic wines is a responsibility we all carry.”
Is there a wine or vintage that best reflects your journey?
“Each vintage is unique. Every year tells its own story—both professionally and personally. I aim to capture this narrative in my wines—they are truly my diary,” she explains.
Do you have a message for the ProWein and WIWE audience?
“My profession is my life. My joy comes from working with nature and translating its rhythms into wine. I hope my wines invite others to share in that journey—and to experience sustainability, authenticity, and terroir in every glass.”
Her words capture the spirit of WIWE: celebrating women, sharing their stories, and ensuring that their contributions are recognized. By making these voices visible, the wine world can finally start to tell a fuller, richer history—one that includes the women who have long shaped it.
Tina walks through her vineyard in Frankweiler, in Germany’s Pfalz, where Riesling and Pinot Noir flourish.
Read the interview with Kerstin Houf here. More interviews with German women in wine are coming soon—stay tuned.