Women in Wine Expo at ProWein: Celebrating Women, Terroir, and Wine

This year, the Women in Wine Expo (WIWE) was honored to be invited by ProWein to organize a masterclass showcasing wines made by women winemakers. We chose the topic Cool-Climate Wines because it is both a current trend and relevant to ProWein’s location in a cool-climate wine region. It was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the stories, craftsmanship, and unique perspectives of women winemakers in front of an international audience of wine professionals.

Her Terroir, Her Story

The masterclass “Her Terroir, Her Story” explored how women winemakers interpret terroir — not only the soil, climate, and vineyard conditions but also their own vision, identity, and experiences — and how these elements influence the wines they craft.

Conducted by the WIWE team, Nelly Ward, wine educator, and Senay Özdemir, founder of WIWE, the session featured four inspiring women winemakers from Sweden, Poland, the UK, and Canada. Each presented a wine that reflected their region, philosophy, and personal approach to winemaking. Their stories shared common themes: dedication to quality, respect for the vineyard, and a commitment to expressing place and identity through wine.

The masterclass was fully booked, with even ten participants standing to taste. The wines made by Emma Berto, Beata Janton, Susanna Busi Jacobsohn, and Sue-Ann Staff, alongside the principles of the Women in Wine Expo, drew strong interest from the press. Following the session, several journalists from Greece, Denmark, and Turkey, as well as the PR team of ProWein, spoke with Senay about the initiative and its broader mission to increase visibility and recognition for women in wine.

For those who want to learn more about the participating winemakers and their wines, a special brochure for the masterclass is available for download here.

Building Global Connections

During ProWein, Senay also met with leaders of two of the world’s leading women in wine organizations: Trixi Bannert of Vinissima in Germany and the vice president of Le Donne del Vino in Italy. Conversations highlighting the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing across borders, strengthening the global network of women in wine.

A Sparkling Collaboration: Cava with Vinissima

Another highlight was the Cava tasting in collaboration with Vinissima, celebrating the contributions of women to Spain’s sparkling wine sector. The tasting illustrated the power of collaboration to showcase women’s expertise and expand their international visibility.

Thank You

These experiences were made possible thanks to the dedication of many people. We extend our gratitude to the ProWein team — Kerstin Houf, Fleur Foerster, and Sarah Simon — for inviting us to create this masterclass and for their continued support. A special thank you also goes to the participating winemakers, Emma Berto, Beata Canton, Susanna Busi Jacobsohn and Sue-Ann Staff who believed in our work and supported our goals. And of course the Masterclass would not have been curated so wonderfully without the WIWE team — Nadia Zammal, Nelly Ward, and Ildikó Nagy — whose preparation, passion, and teamwork made these sessions seamless and inspiring.

Looking Ahead

This edition of ProWein reminded us that wine is not only about taste but also about stories, people, and shared vision. Through events like these, WIWE continues to foster a growing international network where knowledge, experience, and opportunities are shared, amplifying the voices of women in wine around the world. Thank you to everyone who joined us — we look forward to continuing these conversations and welcoming you to future WIWE events. Cheers to women in wine, from East to West, and North to South!