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Supporting women in wine

A group of women working in the male-dominated wine industry is working to change the image.

Les Dames Wine is a local endeavour to raise scholarship funds for B.C. women in the beverage and food industry.

Coming full circle from her start in the wine industry, Mireille Sauvé, director of the Wine Umbrella and member of the B.C. Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier, is blending her wine skills with her desire to support women in wine, as she was given a boost when she first started.

Thanks to a scholarship from the Dames organization, Sauvé became Canada's youngest female sommelier in 1997, and together with a team of women she is paying it forward with the production of the Dames Wine.

Proceeds from the sale of the wine, both a white and a red, will support food and beverage education for women in B.C.

"A number of extraordinary women have benefited from scholarship funds provided by Les Dames d’Escoffier, and many are now taking part in this project to raise funds for future scholarships," says Sauvé. "Everyone who buys this wine can savour each sip while supporting dynamic women."

Grapes for the two wines, which have limited production, have been sourced from vineyards throughout the Okanagan, and the wines have been produced at Meyer Family Vineyards in Okanagan Falls.

Bottling takes place at the end of this month with a release date in mid-May.

Fewer than 550 cases will be available for purchase and bottles will appear on wine lists at several B.C. restaurants.

"Creating the Dames Wine celebrates women in BC's wine industry," adds Sauvé. "These are unique wines and the first project of its kind in Canada."

The Les Dames d'Escoffier is a a society of professional woman.

Its purpose is to promote the understanding, appreciation and knowledge of food, wine, hospitality, nutrition, food technology, the arts of the table and other fields as they relate to these disciplines.

Women in BC are invited to apply for scholarships annually to pursue their education in these fields.

For more information click here



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