I often wonder how my career path would have changed had I seen more women in all of the various wine industry roles when I was studying viticulture & enology. If, perhaps, I would have actually become a vineyard manager rather than just working for one had I known about @_cabrenae . Or if I would have fought harder to become a winemaker if any of the harvests I worked as a seasonal cellar worker had been for someone like Wynne of @peakeranchwines or Tara and Mireia of @camins2dreams . Or if I would have aimed to become an owner and operator of a regenerative & biodynamic vineyard and winery like Anna of @solminerwine . Please don't misunderstand me, I value all of the people I've worked for. They are each kind and wonderful and I learned a lot from them, but they *were* mostly men and so it was hard for me to actually see myself in the roles they were training me for. THIS is why I work SO fucking hard to photograph underrepresented groups in this industry. Not only women but BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks as well. Because showing the growing diversity of this industry--not only in winemaking roles but also as vineyard managers, CEOs, hospitality leads, marketing directors--could mean the difference between a talented person pursuing their ambition and not. A path is easier to walk when someone else has walked before you. I don't ever regret where my own path has led me because I know now that my purpose is to tell the stories of these people so that a burgeoning vineyard manager, winemaker, winery accountant, or whatever will be able to see themselves in the role they aspire to. We have a very long way to go in this industry but I'm here to walk this path with you all and share your stories along the way. Those pictured here are only a small handful of the incredible people I am proud to have photographed and am working to tell their individual stories in the coming years! Oh yes, and a very happy Women in Wine Day (I'm happy to share my birthday with such an auspicious day!) #womeninwine #womeninwineday #representationmatters