Women in Wine Leadership Symposium Announces First Annual Conference

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Jul 25, 2012) - The Women in Wine Leadership Symposium (WWLS), dedicated to empowering and educating women in the wine industry, is pleased to announce details of its first annual conference. Hosted by Winebow Inc., the WWLS event is by invitation-only and will be held in Manhattan (NYC) on October 15, 2012. 

The Women in Wine Leadership Symposium is the first program of its scope to bring together women from across all sectors of the wine industry (sommeliers, retailers, educators, journalists, etc.) as well as winemakers and winery owners from around the world. The WWLS will provide a network forum to explore a range of issues relevant to women in the industry. Attendees will be encouraged to share personal histories, challenges and success stories during the half-day conference.

The WWLS will feature panel discussions and a guided wine seminar, as well as a luncheon and walk-around tasting. Panel discussions will touch on topics including trends in wine service and sales, finding balance in an industry where workdays often extend well into evening hours, and the importance of mentorship. The symposium aims to provide tangible strategies to help women further their careers within the ever-changing wine world.

As recently as the 1980s, the number of prominent females in the U.S. wine industry could be counted on one hand. While that number has greatly increased, among the current 129 professionals who hold the title Master Sommelier in North and South America, 18 are women. In 2011, there were 13 new Masters of Wine (MW) worldwide, which nine were female, including four from the US.

"In the last few years, we have seen a surge of women coming into their own in the wine industry and garnering the recognition they deserve," commented Mary Ewing-Mulligan, the first woman in America to become an MW. "I am thrilled to be part of such a timely event as the WWLS and to help inspire the newest generation of women in the industry."

To date, the WWLS has confirmed several prominent women in the wine industry to be symposium participants including Christy Frank, Leslie Sbrocco, Madeline Triffon, Marilisa Allegrini, Laura Catena, Xandra Falco, Viviana Navarette, Heidi Scheid, Tamra Washington, and Nadia Zenato. Additional panelists will be announced in the coming months.

The WWLS event program was guided by an advisory board comprised of Ms. Ewing-Mulligan and other leading women in the industry including Mary Gorman-McAdams, MW; Lisa Granik, MW; Karen King; Linda Lawry, DSW, CWE; Laura Maniec, MS; Melissa Sutherland Amado; and Beth von Benz. Ms. Ewing-Mulligan will also serve as the symposium's keynote speaker and panel discussion moderator.

To learn more about the WWLS, please contact Lisa Mendelson at lmendelson@cornerstonepr.com or 212-605-0370.

About WWLS
The WWLS was created as a think tank to bring together leading women across all sectors of the wine world, both established trailblazers and younger "up and comers," to share success stories and discuss the challenges women face in the industry. The main objective of the WWLS is to empower women. Inspired by the exceptional women winemakers and producers in their extensive portfolio, Winebow conceived the idea to showcase the talents of women in the industry with the hope of creating an annual networking event.

About Winebow, Inc.
Winebow, Inc., founded in 1980 by Leonardo LoCascio, is a major importer, distributor and developer of a wide range of acclaimed fine wines and spirits from the world's most prominent growing regions. Winebow is headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey with offices in New York; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Boston; Chicago; Seattle and Wallingford, Connecticut. For more information please visit www.winebow.com.

About Cornerstone Communications
Cornerstone Communications, Ltd. is a full-service public relations, marketing and event management agency specializing in wine, food, travel, and other lifestyle clients. With over 25 years of experience, Cornerstone Communications has built a reputation in expanding brand awareness with fresh approaches and providing effective marketing solutions for luxury products. For more information, visit www.cornerstonepr.com.