Celebrating Female Winemakers
lf winemaking has historically been a male-dominated profession, there is an increasing number of incredible female winemakers out there, and we are very proud to list a number of them at Drop.
In Burgundy alone we have three exceptionally talented and highly respected grape juice-fermenters, in the shape of Céline Gagnard, Agnès Paquet and Nathalie Fèvre.
It would be reverting to stereotype, not to mention outdated cliché, to trot out the old adage that Burgundian red wines are the feminine to Bordeaux's robust masculine. But it would be fair to say that there is a grace and poise to Céline Gagnard’s Chassagne-Montrachet, its structured, wild berry top notes underpinned by an earthy richness that speaks to the soils from whence it came.
Agnès Paquet’s Pinot Noir is similarly generous with its presentation of fruit - cherries spring to mind - though with a core that is more mineral and savoury, the better for avoiding straight-up fruit-bomb territory.
It’s not all about Pinot
It’s not all about Pinot in Burgundy, of course, and Nathalie Fèvre’s Chablis is, dare we say, an absolute steal at £26. Yes we know that’s not a bin-end price but for Chablis of this quality, it should raise an eyebrow. It’s lean and steely, with an almost saline edge and a finish so bright and citrus-driven it will have you reaching for the next oyster before you know it.
Head about 450km north-east and you’ll reach the Mosel, where Sybille Kuntz is playing her part in putting to bed historically sniffy opinions about cheap and sweet Blue Nunnish efforts from this region.
Her Kabinett Trocken Riesling is moreishly dry with just a hint of richness and texture and energy.
Languedoc
Back in the other direction we go to the south-west of France in the Languedoc, where Dutch winemaker Lidewij van Wilgen makes a Syrah blend from old vines that is lip-smackingly inky, opulent and wild.
Samantha O’Keefe - Lismore
And finally, a Drop stalwart in the shape of Samantha O’Keefe, a Californian in South Africa whose winery was burnt down by wildfires in 2020 and who has painstakingly rebuilt the whole thing from scratch. We’ve listed her wines since launching Drop in 2016 and this Sauvignon never fails to hit the spot.
You can find all of the aforementioned delights alongside some truly delicious nibbles all delivered to your door on the Drop App.