The Women of Chateauneuf du Pape - in front or in backup.

"Things are rather simple here. In Bordeaux, wealthy people went there to make wine. Here, the people are farmers, and they were born here."
-Mark Perrin, Chateau de Beaucastel in Wine Spectator - July 2006

The best wines from Chateauneuf du Pape are produced at relatively small family owned properties.

These properties have quite often been in the family's possession for several generations or at least the ancestors have been wine growers.

Of course there are a few properties owned by people coming from other departments but there are only a few domains in the appellation owned by big companies or wealthy people living in other parts of France. (More than two?) 

Wine production in the area is a family business. This fact means that all members of the family have a job to do in fields, cellars, office or reception. Maybe it's naturel, that the hard (sometimes very hard) work in the stony fields are men's work, but all the other tasks at a property can just as well be done by women. Someone would say be done better by a woman. I have heard a wine grower (male) say that he would prefer women in the cellar because he thinks they will be more patient and more careful when handling the wine.

If you go back maybe only 10-20 years only few of the wine growers had an education at wine schools. They had learnt the wine making from their father or by working at a family member. The new generation is often well educated. There are probably just as many girls as boys at the wine schools today. In Chateauneuf du Pape you can meet many young women who have finished an oenological education.

I think the equality of men and women has been achieved among the wine growers, although the old tradition of giving the oldest son some rights of priority still might have some importance in some families.

Below some of the women of Chateauneuf du Pape. 
My apology for not being a professional photographer.

Søren Gudiksen

Jaqueline André Owner and winemaker, Domaine Pierre André	Marie-Lucile Brun owns Domaine Juliette Avril. She is assisted by her son Stephan Brun.	Marie-Francoise and Jean-Claude Vidal share the work at the small Domaine du Banneret. Both of them have a full time job elsewhere.
If you visit Domaine la Bastide Saint Dominique you will be kindly received by Marie-Claude Bonnet, if her son Eric and her husband Gérard are not present.	Sylvette Jacumin runs togehter wint her husband Alain and her son Albin Jacumin (right) Domaine la Begude des Papes.	Dany Berthet-Rayne supports her husband Christian at Domaine Berthet-Rayne but she also owns Domaine Cigalon in Courthezon.
Monique Chaussy runs Domaine Mas de Boislauzon together with her son Daniel.	Josette Boiron, Domaine Bosquet des Papes. She owns the domain together with her husband Maurice and her son Nicolas.	Domaine des Bruquières is a family affair run by mr. and mrs. Courthil-Thibaut.
Lucien Brunel at Les Cailloux controls that the labels are in the right position. She helps her husband André Brunel	Sylvie Vacheron owns one of the most well known domains Le Clos du Caillou.	Michel Maret at Domaine de la Charbonniere has much support from three women. Here two of them: his wife Mireille and his daughter Caroline.
Corinne, born Mestre, inherited Domaine de la Cote d'Ange and runs the domain together with her husband Yannick Gasparri.	Amelie Barrot is together with her sister Gaelle the young generation at Chateau des Fines Roches, still owned by their mother Catherine Barrot.	Hèléne Chouvet is responsible for fields and cellars at Domaine Fontavin Photo: The domain
Madame Mayard takes care of visitors at Domaine Galet des Papes, when Jean Luc Mayard is working in the fields.	Visiting Domaine du Grand Tinel you will probably be received by Béatrice Jeune, one of the three siblings form the young generation at the domain.	Maybe Christophe Sabon at Domaine de la Janasse takes most decissions concerning the fields and cellars, bus his sister Isabelle is the chef in the office and reception of visitors.
Maybe Pascal Lafond at Domaine Lafond is the boss but surely his wife plays an important role.	Christiane and Serge Chastan at Domaine Lou Frejau run the domaine in visible harmony.	The two sisters Catherine and Sofie Armenier (married Estevin) own Domaine de Marcoux.
André and Cécile Mathieu Domaine Mathieu.	No less than four women at Chateau Maucoil (and Chateau Cabriéres): Agnès, Danièle, Carole and Bénédicte Arnaud.  Photo: The domain.	Mylene (left) and Celine Sabon are togehter with Thierry and David the new generation of Sabons at Clos du Mont Olivet. Photo: The domain.
Laurence Deydier, the daughter of Pierre Deydier at Domaine des Clefs d'Or, Photo: The domain	Laurence Feraud at Domaine de Pegau is always mentioned as le chef by her father Paul Feraud	Emilie Boisson takes care of everything at Domaine du Père Caboche. Her father Jean-Pierre Boisson has many political tasks.
Three siblings run Domaine du Pere Pape: Didier Mayard and his two sisters: Françoise (left) makes the wines and Béatrice is in the office.	Three brothers and their familiy run Domaine Roger Sabon. In the reception you will often find Delphine Sabon the daughter of Denise Sabon.  Photo: The domain	Only a couple of years were needed before Isabell Ferrando had made the wines from Domaine Saint Prefert very well known    Photo: The domain
Christine Estoulle took over at Cuvée des Sommeliers from her father Jacques Mestre and runs the domain today together with her husband.	Mireille Fabre makes the wines at Domaine Tour Saint-Michel and runs the domain together with her father Henri Fabre.	Claire Michel has finished the wine school and succession at her father's Domaine Vieux Donjon seems secured. Photo: The federation

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Updated 2006-11-29