As has change into a January custom, Wine Business Advisor has once more chosen 10 people from throughout the wine business who showcase management, innovation, willpower and inspiration — each throughout the business and in society at giant — as its Most Inspiring Folks honorees.
These people have been chosen from greater than 100 nominations submitted by WIA members final November. It wasn’t straightforward, however the editorial staff zeroed in on individuals who, they felt, have positively impacted the U.S. wine tradition (and past) over the previous yr.
Beneath are our 2022/2023 Most Inspiring Folks, in alphabetical order. Thanks for the dedication, ardour and motivation you encourage in our business every day.
—Alexandra Russell, Managing Editor
Editor’s Notice: One characteristic profile shall be launched per day for the subsequent 10 enterprise days. Hyperlinks to full articles will activate as they’re revealed. ______________________________________________________________________
Peter Bell: A ‘Mild Titan’ within the Finger Lakes
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce Peter Bell, winemaker emeritus and enthusiastic booster for the Finger Lakes wine business, as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Since bringing his winemaking experience to New York’s Finger Lakes area in 1990, Bell has performed a serious function within the regular improve in wine high quality throughout the realm. His profession has earned awards and accolades, however he’s in all probability most admired for his open mentoring type, which has influenced winemakers close to and much. Congratulations Peter!
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Remy Drabkin: A Common Drive for Holistic Fairness
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce winemaker, LGBTQ+ advocate and Mayor Remy Drabkin, as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Remy is a whirlwind of power who brings willpower and fervour to the tasks she chooses. Past winemaking (which she’s fairly good at, by the best way), she’s working to carry social and environmental fairness to the wine business and past. Her crowning political achievement — so far — is being the primary lady and queer-identified particular person elected Mayor of McMinnville, Ore. Hers is a narrative to not be missed. Congratulations Remy!
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Susana Cueva Drumwright: Mentoring Deprived College students by Stanford College
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce Susana Cueva Drumwright, winemaker and philanthropist, as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Via her Vida Valiente Basis, she’s elevating funds and recruiting mentors to assist deprived school college students keep the course and earn their levels — from Stanford College, no much less! It’s a trigger close to to her coronary heart: “There are folks whom you come throughout that take an opportunity on you, and that may actually change the trajectory of your life,” Cueva Drumwright observes. “We need to increase [our students’] view about what’s attainable.” Congratulations Susana!
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Tom Gamble: Embracing and Enhancing Napa Valley’s Biodiversity
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce third-generation farmer and environmental activist Tom Gamble, as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Gamble is consistently on the lookout for new methods to enhance each his vineyards and the encompassing lands. Over time, he’s moved steadily towards natural farming whereas additionally fostering native sustainability initiatives such the Napa River Restoration Challenge, Fish-Pleasant Farming, Napa Inexperienced and extra.
“I’m doing what I’m doing for the longer term,” he says. Congratulations Tom!
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![Robert Mazza holding SCCA special label sparkling wine, Mazza Wines national sponsor and "Official Sparkling Wine" for SCCA [Photo courtesy of Robert Mazza, Inc.]](https://wineindustryadvisor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/3BobMazza_SCCASparklingWine-300x200.jpg)
Bob Mazza: Elevating the Profile of Pennsylvania Wine Since 1972
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce Robert “Bob” Mazza as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Mazza has mixed a life within the vineyards (at his household’s Mazza Vineyards — now Robert Mazza Inc.) with a ardour for selling and advancing the Pennsylvania wine business. Over time, he’s performed a key function in founding a number of state and nationwide wine advocacy organizations, together with the Pennsylvania Wine Affiliation, Pennsylvania Wine Advertising and marketing & Analysis Program Board, and what would change into WineAmerica.
Says one colleague, “[Bob is] apprehensive about getting one thing finished, not who’s going to get the credit score for it.” Congratulations Bob!
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Steve Myers: Working Towards Gender Fairness within the Wine Business
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce Steve Myers, president of Distinguished Vineyards, as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Underneath Myers’ management, Distinguished Vineyards has invested in new channels, enhanced buyer experiences and bought wineries — all whereas reaching constant double-digit progress. However what really units Myers aside is his give attention to positively impacting the folks round him.
After an eye-opening expertise at a Ladies of the Vine & Spirits World Symposium, Myers set about remaking his management staff to embrace gender variety. The result’s a financially profitable wine firm that’s a optimistic agent of change.
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Elizabeth “E” Slater: Wine Advertising and marketing Grasp Extraordinaire
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce marketer, instructor, mentor and entrepreneur Elizabeth “E” Slater as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Over a greater than 30-year profession, Slater has honed her wine advertising expertise to razor sharpness after which shared her information as a instructor, speaker, marketing consultant and business advocate.
However as she says, “It’s not all concerning the wine.” Her actual superpower is her potential to attach with folks, convey info and go away a long-lasting impression.
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Terry Wheatley: Cowgirl Grit & Wine Sisterhood
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce Terry Wheatley, president of Classic Wine Estates, as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Trailblazing a path for ladies within the wine business for half a century, Wheatley has earned a fame for willpower, innovation and true grit. This most cancers survivor has led established corporations and began new ventures. Regardless of the place she hangs her hat, she brings success by management.
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Emily Wines: Leaning in Amid Court docket of Grasp Sommeliers Disaster
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce the appropriately monikered Emily Wines as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
Following a sequence of scandals, the Court docket of Grasp Sommeliers’ U.S. department was in shambles. Fairly than be a part of the mass exodus of members, Wines stepped as much as lead CMS in a brand new route, repairing its fame by going through the controversy head-on. Her selection to remain and work towards remodeling the group has led to a extra various and welcoming membership.
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Warren Winiarski: A Lifetime of Achievement and Management
Wine Business Advisor is proud to announce the legendary Warren Winiarski as one in every of our Wine’s Most Inspiring Folks Award recipients!
It’s laborious to think about what the wine world could be like if Winiarski had not seen one thing particular in an previous prune orchard in Napa, which he transformed to winery in 1970. By 1973, wine coming from the property was incomes native raves.
Successful the Judgment of Paris in 1976 for this very Stag’s Leap Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon would show to be Napa’s shining debut on the world stage. However for Winiarski, it was merely making a traditional wine.
Right this moment thought of a residing legend, WIA is thrilled to incorporate Winiarski on this yr’s Most Inspiring Folks.
