The wine business has long been dominated by men with few exceptions. Although women have been present in the business they are rarely celebrated.

Like in a lot of other businesses, things are changing. Women have stepped to the forefront when it comes to winemaking, and rightfully so. Although the majority of vintners are still men there’s more and more proof that women are better at making wine. Perhaps it has something to do with a more delicate touch and better sense for nuance.

Food & Wine has recently published a list of twelve excellent wines made by woman from all over the world. Here it is for you:

2013 Dido Venus la Universal Montsant

From Spain’s Montsant region, this is a wine created by wife, Sara Perez, and husband, Rene Barbier. It’s a blend of Garnacha Blanca and Macabeo aged in French oak.

2012 Montenidoli Tradizionale Vernaccia di San Gimignano

Tuscan winemaker Elisabetta Fagiuoli creates wines with beautiful minerality from organic grown grapes. This particular wine is 100% Vernaccia and is traditionally fermented.

2012 Pride Mountain Viognier

American winemaker Sally Johnson set up shop on Pride Mountain in Napa Valley. Aged in part stainless steel and part neutral French oak barrels, this Viognier is ripe with aromas of white peach, honeysuckle and has a rich mouthfeel.

2012 Otto’s Constant Dream Sauvignon Blanc

The first letters of this wine’s name form OCD. This is no coincidence. Fiona Turner and Melissa Saunders searched wide and far for the perfect plots of land in New Zealand’s Marlborough. Otto’s Constant Dream is a classic Sauvignon with notes of freshly cut green grass, passion fruit, sage and salty minerality.

2013 Occhipinti SP68 Bianco

Arianna Occhipinti started making wine at only 24 years old. Her winery is located in Southwestern Sicily where she works with several grape varietals. This wine is a blend of Albanello and Zibbibo. It has a bright nose of citrus, mainly lemon with floral notes.

2009 Deux Montille Soeur Frère Les Coeres 1er Cru Montagny

Together with her brother Etienne, Alix de Montille continue their family’s tradition of winemaking. He focuses on red wines while she is in charge of making Chardonnay based wines. This wine in particular has notes of lemon curd, almond skin and golden apple.

2012 Antica Terra Botanica Pinot Noir

In Willamette Valley, Oregon, Maggie Harrison is head winemaker at a new estate purchased by friends of her. An amazing expression of Pinot Noir, The Botanica yields subtle aromas of red raspberry, black tea, cardamom and plum skin.

2011 Corison Cabernet Sauvignon

With 30 years of experience, Cathy Corison is a veteran winemaker. She started her own label in 1987 and grows her grapes in California between Rutherford and St. Helena. Her Cabernets have a lovely structure and can age for years.

2010 Keplinger Lithic

Helen Keplinger has been in the wine business from a young age. She worked with several renowned brands and people before starting her own label, Keplinger, in Napa Valley. A blend of Grenache, Syrah and Mourvedre this Lithic displays aromas of blackberry, violet, plum and anise.

2011 Foradori Teroldego

Hailing from the Dolomites, Elisabetta Foradori took over her family winery at a very young age. She has brought back attention to an ancient grape varietal with this perfectly balanced Teroldego.

2011 Domaine Gramenon Pourpre Côtes du Rhône

When Michèle Aubèry-Laurent’s partner and husband died in a car crash she took over their estate in the Northeastern corner of the Côtes du Rhône. Since then she created a cult following for her wines. Her Pourpre consists entirely of Grenache from 50 – 80 year old vines.

2011 Meritxell Palleja Nita Priorat

Meritxell Pallejà is a young woman devoted to making wine in Spain’s Priorat region. Although the region is known for extracted styles of wine, she is taking a different path, creating much more delicate expressions with little use of new oak. This wine is a blend of predominantly Garnacha and Cariñena.

[Article by Alexander Eeckhout]