Gender Equity in the Central Virginia Wine Industry: A Growing Concern
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) – As the wine scene in Central Virginia expands and garners attention nationwide, some women in the industry are raising important questions about gender equity.
The Gender Gap in Winemaking
Athena Eastwood, owner of Eastwood Farm and Winery, points to stark statistics that reveal a gender imbalance in winemaking roles. “How is it 2025 and there’s still only 17% of women who are winemakers?” she pondered, expressing her surprise at the slow progress.
After transitioning from a career in environmental commodities law to founding her own winery, Eastwood was shocked to discover that the disparities she had hoped were behind her still pervaded the industry nationwide. “It’s pretty consistent throughout the country, but it’s also pretty consistent throughout other industries,” she noted.
Women Leading the Charge
Determined to narrow the gender gap, Eastwood joined forces with other passionate women in the field. Together, they formed Virginia Women in Wine, a group dedicated to investigating gender disparities and driving meaningful change.
Eastwood explained, “Part of the mission of Virginia Women in Wine is to fund projects that are going to create meaningful conversation around the issues and help to advance women in wine and also to help advance Virginia wine.” This initiative has recently culminated in a report outlining the current challenges and proposing actionable solutions.
Addressing Subconscious Bias
A key issue highlighted in these discussions is the prevalence of subconscious bias. According to Eastwood, this bias contributes to fewer opportunities for women, making it difficult for them to enter the winemaking field or advance within it.
“A lot of the issues we face are in spite of well-meaning people,” she remarked, emphasizing that the goal is not to create division but to foster inclusivity. She believes that both men and women share the same overarching aim: “We’re building a wine region,” she said. “And the more prominent that the other wineries are, the more people that are gonna come visit us.”
Support from Male Counterparts
Many men in the industry are taking notice and showing support. Wes Roberts, owner of Lovingston Winery, welcomes the growing presence of women in wine. “Look, they’re just as smart, just as capable, just as creative and just as excited about wine as everybody else,” he stated.
Likewise, Jake Bushing, a winemaker at Eastwood, values the inflow of diverse talent. “I’ve been in this industry for about 28 years now and watching the influx of talent coming from all directions is wonderful,” he shared. Fellow winemaker Jonathan Wheeler from Trump Winery echoed this sentiment, noting that the number of women in the field continues to rise year after year.
Progress and Future Goals
Eastwood emphasizes that enhancing the representation of women in winemaking is a collective benefit. “It’s so important to get women into these roles,” she asserted, stressing the importance of mentoring. “Then for those women to help bring other women along,” she added, indicating that creating a supportive environment is crucial for achieving long-term equity.
