Women on Wine choice: The best French sparkling wines

Members are mostly women wine merchants, women winemakers, women in wine marketing, women who are involved in their husband's wine production, sommeliers, oenologists, wine journalists, wine experts, wine enthusiasts - or just simply - wine lovers. (Photo: Illustration)

Apart from being a positive cry of approval in the Anglo-Saxon world, Women on Wine (WOW) is also the name of an interesting Croatian association, „Women on Wine," founded by journalist, editor and writer Sanja Muzaferija. It gathers more than 150 Croatian women engaged in winemaking or who simply enjoy and worship wine. Members are mostly women wine merchants, women winemakers, women in wine marketing, women who are involved in their husband's wine production, sommeliers, oenologists, wine journalists, wine experts, wine enthusiasts-or simply wine lovers …

Founder of Women on Wine association, Sanja Muzaferija

The association came to life in 2011, after Muzaferija saw a photograph of Croatian vintners at an audience with the president, where the only woman present was a prominent winemaker from island Peljesac, Mrs. Mare Mrgudic. It seemed unfair to Muzaferija who personally knew many women on the wine scene. Thus came the idea for an association that would unite and consolidate women connected to wine. Right from the start WOW became very active with branches established in Zagreb, Split and Rijeka, regularly organizing wine tastings, wine excursions, wine „schools”, wine promotions, and will celebrate a nice and round 15 th birthday this year.

The founder and president, a well-known journalist, Sanja Muzaferija says: "The initial idea was to start a small group of women who are often considered to be ignorant or at least less knowledgeable about wines and who only differentiate between 'white' and 'red' wine - convinced that this perception is not only untrue but a blatant prejudice. 

I wanted to unite and give an opportunity to women who actually per haps did know less than an oenologist or a sommelier, to learn more about wine, as well as highlight the women who are prominent in the business, but were still somehow left in the shadow. The agenda was at least threefold: learning/studying; promoting; having fun."

So far WOW have organized or co-organized more than 200 events.

"On various occasions, we have tasted many interesting wines, taught and promoted Croatian wines, enjoyed, socialized, and visited wine cellars and vineyards in Croatia and Europe," says Sanja.

The Association garnered significant national and international attention, showing that women are not just present in the wine world and willing to show their strength to the world; eagerness to learn more and help each other (especially women winemakers, wine regions that need help in promotion, etc.) WOW regularly participates in wine events nationally and abroad collaborating with Donne del vino Italia where Muzaferija has represented them at the World Forum in Milan twice.

They even received an international award and recognition from “Les Femmes et Vins du Monde” from Belgium.

Within project “What Women Want” WOW members have engaged in a

yearly competition to choose the best Croatian wine based on their feminine taste. The pre-selection is made every year by a different, well- known sommelier, and all members then get a chance to cast a vote by mail. In the end, a blind jury of three educated women decides the winners in six categories and an overall winner. Unlike the medals and diplomas winemakers usually receive at different contests, here the winners in each category receive a tangible award: a valuable sculpture designed by the renowned “Grupa” design group.

As the first prize, the WOW Association gives a Grand Prix and takes the winner (the author of the WOW wine of the year) to a wine region of the world: up till now - to Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne in France, Burgenland in Austria, Tuscany, Veneto, Franciacorta and Piemonte in Italy, Penedes in Spain and Vilany in Hungary. The award has earned high respect and esteem among wine producers over the years.

The goal of WOW is always the same: promoting wine culture, promoting different Croatian wines, wine regions, and winemakers, especially women networking, tastings, and discovering new interesting winemakers. Although her primary aim is to promote Croatian wines, especially the indigenous varieties, Muzaferija appreciates all good wines, and personally prefers sparkling, white and rosé wines. Among the sparkling's, the French are the best – both Champagnes and crémants.

"I prefer brut nature or extra brut sparkling wines and nice and dry rosé wines. My favorite sparkling wines are Taittanger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs, and Amour de Deutz, and I love Ruinart . But one cannot afford to drink some prestigious drinks like these very often. I liked champagne from a small wine house Henri Giraud, but also like some cremants from Jura region like Domaine Baud Génération 9,"concludes Muzaferija.