Our Story
Women For WineSense was founded by Julie Johnson and Michaela Rodeno in 1990 to counter a strong anti-alcohol narrative taking hold at that time.
Industry icons Margaret Duckhorn, Rosemary Cakebread, Kit Wall, Lynne Carmichael, Dawnine Dyer, Zelma Long, Lili Thomas, Annette Shafer, Susan Sokol-Blosser, Gabrielle Saylor, Cathy Clifton, Margrit Mondavi joined the initiative to advocate for the healthful enjoyment of wine.
The team wrote letters, gathered support of others in the industry, visited the Capitol, initiated educational programs in schools and left no strategy unexplored. Their dedication and work paid off.
60 Minutes, an influential news program, aired “The French Paradox” in 1991.
Red wine sales increased by 39% in 1992.
Congress declared American Wine Appreciation Week in April 1993.
Michaela Rodeno shared in her book, From Bubbles to Boardrooms, “Legislators in Sacramento and Washington were eager to meet with us. The media wanted to hear more. I have never felt or seen such energy in my life, before or after, the early days of Women For WineSense.”
Having achieved their initial mission, the WWS members decided in 1994, during a strategic planning meeting facilitated by Karen Jess-Lindsley and Linda Cyrog, to continue the organization as a forum for wine education and relationship building.
Since then the organization has continued to grow, following their initial vision.
Women For WineSense began hosting national Grand Events and other national conclaves in wine-growing regions of the US for members to visit and support local wineries, enhance their wine knowledge and grow relationships with professionals and enthusiasts across the country.
WWS added exclusive, members-only international trips for its members to explore global wine regions together.
In 2004, Women For WineSense debuted Professional Roundtables for wine executives to meet, exchange ideas and grow their professional networks. These roundtables continue today both in person and online.
In 2020, during the outbreak of Covid-19, Women For WineSense quickly adapted and evolved its programming to host online events for chapter events effectively. This led to the introduction of national membership.
2025 brings the 35th anniversary of Women For WineSense, with renewed commitment to its initial founding goals and celebrations coast to coast, including a Grand Event in Napa Valley.
Notable Events
- 1990: Napa-Sonoma Founding Chapter Opens
- 1991: First National Conference
- 1992: Finger Lakes and Portland Chapters Open
- 1994: American Wine Appreciation Week declared by Congress
- 1998: Seattle Chapter Opens
- 1999: Rochester Chapter Opens
- 2004: Professional Roundtables Introduced
- 2007: Dallas Chapter Opens, First Grand Event in San Francisco, CA
- 2008: Second Grand Event in Napa, CA
- 2009: Pittsburgh Chapter Opens
- 2010: Third Grand Event in Napa, CA
- 2012: Fourth Grand Event in Napa, CA
- 2014: Central Florida Chapter Opens
- 2015: 25th Anniversary Celebration and Fifth Grand Event in Napa, CA
- 2017: Los Angeles Chapter Opens, 27th Anniversary Celebration and Sixth Grand Event in the Finger Lakes, NY
- 2018: Grapevine Chapter Opens
- 2020: National Chapter membership becomes available
- 2023: Texas Hill Country Chapter Opens
Our National Presidents
- Julie Johnson 1990- 1991
- Sharon Goldman 1993- 1994
- Michaela Rodeno 1994
- Lynne Carmichael 1995
- Cathy Clifton 1996
- Rebecca Robinson 1997
- Claudia di Clemente 1998
- Kerry Manahan-Ehlow 1999
- Caroline Coleman Bailey 1999- 2001
- Kim Ledbetter Bronson 2001- 2004
- Gabrielle Leonhard 2004- 2008
- Karen Jess-Lindsley 2008- 2011
- Rebecca Moore 2012- 2013
- Jonjie Lockman 2014- 2015
- Karla Barber 2016- 2018
- Donna Schlosser-Long 2018- 2023
- Amy Gross 2023- present
