First, they’re phenomenal wines. Second, they’re delicious proof of the quality, value, and outright excellence that female vintners and winemakers are bringing to every region on the globe. From a 97-point Napa red ranked atop the vintage to member-favorite bargains from Burgundy and South America, this collection shows off the talent and toil of some of the most formidable women in wine.
2022 Ornellaia Le Serre Nuove dell’Ornellaia Bolgheri Rosso Tuscany
2022 Ornellaia Poggio alle Gazze dell’Ornellaia Toscana Bianco Tuscany
For years, Ornellaia’s reputation had been tied to the name Axel Heinz, the world-renowned director of the estate. But those paying close attention also knew the name behind the name: Olga Fusari. A longtime protégé of Heinz, she succeeded Heinz at the Ornellaia helm.
Ornellaia’s Le Serre Nuove is made from the same estate vineyards as the flagship, and in the ’22, Fusari crafted a 95-pointer, one of the greatest Le Serre Nuoves yet. Her 2022 Poggio alle Gazze Tuscano—a white that critic James Suckling has compared to “drinking a glass of Bordeaux’s legendary dry white Domaine de Chevalier and a glass of the great Hermitage blanc from Jean-Louis Chave at the same time”—is one of the most extraordinary whites you’ll ever taste.
2018 Portfolio Red Wine Limited Edition Napa Valley
Geneviève Janssens is a living legend. A Wine Enthusiast Winemaker of the Year, she served as Director of Winemaking at Mondavi for two decades and created the legendary wines of Opus One. Needless to say, few can rival her experience and mastery when it comes to Cabernet Sauvignon.
Portfolio is Janssens’ passion project, and her seamless 2018 Limited Edition is a bottle that goes beyond blue-chip. The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes hail from the mythical Block 8 of Hendry Ranch Vineyard. The Cabernet Franc comes from To Kalon’s neighbor, Detert East, believed to be the oldest planting of the variety in the Napa Valley. From one of Napa’s greatest vintages, this is a must-have bottle that’s getting harder and harder to find.
Melinda Kearney is a Colorado restaurateur-turned-Napa-vintner. Her daughter Michèle Ouellet is a model whose taste for rosé was cultivated in the cafés of Europe. Together, they specialize in rosé—and produce one of our favorite versions made in California.
Grown on vines that top a half-century of age, the Provence-inspired True Rosé is the only wine Melinda and Michèle make. They press the grapes exceptionally gently then ferment them long and slow in stainless-steel tanks to preserve fresh-fruit flavor and vibrant acidity. The result is a wine whose vibrant character will have you dreaming of lazy days under the umbrellas at a Côte d’Azur café.
2020 Dalla Valle Vineyards Maya Oakville
2021 Dalla Valle Vineyards Collina Red Wine Napa Valley
Few Napa Valley wineries cause a shiver of envy and anticipation in collectors like Dalla Valle. And while many know Maya Dalla Valle as the inspiration for Dalla Valle’s flagship “Maya” bottling, the world is now getting to know her as the winemaker continuing her family’s world-class reputation.
“It doesn’t get any better in 2020,” said Jeb Dunnuck about the ’20 Maya bottling, a First Growth–quality blend of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Dalla Valle’s Collina bottling is grown on the exact same eastern Oakville terroir as their top bottlings, offering a great opportunity to experience Dalla Valle—and Maya’s—magic for an affordable price.
2023 Black Cabra Malbec Mendoza
Patricia Ortiz is a wine-world powerhouse. Owner of Fincas Patagónicas, she’s got wineries in three key areas of Argentina—oh, and she’s a mother of five, a social psychologist, and an MD!
Ortiz’s Black Cabra Malbec is a value standout, even in a country known for remarkable values. The grapes hail from the sustainably farmed Zolo and Tapiz estate vineyards—two of Ortiz’s other brands—and are hand-harvested and manually sorted twice. After fermentation in stainless-steel tanks and a half-year’s rest in oak, the result is a wonderfully satisfying bottle, and an even better deal.
2022 Prosper Maufoux Domaine Vigne Au Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits Blanc
2021 Prosper Maufoux Domaine Vigne Au Roy Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits
La Revue du Vin de France is one of France’s most respected wine publications—and the first woman to win Winemaker of the Year honors from the august publication was oenologist Nadine Gublin.
Gublin leads the winemaking at Prosper Maufoux, a historic estate (founded in 1860) and the source of some of the great Burgundy bargains we offer. Her 2022 Domaine Vigne Au Roy Bourgogne Hautes-Cotes de Nuits Blanc is a gorgeous white that’s richer and more generous than Chablis, but lighter on its feet than Meursault. The 2021 Domaine Vigne Au Roy Bourgogne Hautes Cotes de Nuits rouge hails from prized Pinot vines. For Chardonnay and Pinot Noir fans alike, these are two outstanding values from one of the most restricted and tightly allocated wine markets in the world.
