Women in the wine industry: Switzerland needs more female winemakers

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Émilienne Hutin Zumbach (55), Céline Dugerdil (44) and Camille Cretegny (35) learned their craft from scratch in their parents’ business and partially completed their oenology studies in Changins (VD). Today, they run the business in the vineyard, cellar and marketing alone or with their partners. And they want the proportion of women in this “men’s field” to continue to increase.

Winemakers want more women in their profession

Émilienne Hutin Zumbach has been working in all areas of Domaine Les Hutins in Dardagny since 1989 and has managed it since 2008. Céline Dugerdil is the owner and manager of Domaine de la Printanière in Avully. Following basic agricultural training, Camille Cretegny first completed her law degree before becoming head of Domaine de la Devinière in Satigny in 2022.

Blick: There is a serious need for skilled workers in wine production. How do you encourage young women to receive vocational training in this sector?
Emilienne Hutin Zumbach: I often hire female interns or trainees. I also try to ensure that my employee fulfills the role of mother and winemaker. This shows young women that balancing work and family in our profession is complicated but possible. As a mother of three children, I am aware of this challenge.
Celine Dugerdil: Winemaking is a challenging but versatile profession in which women can liberate and develop. It’s okay if your family doesn’t come from this industry.
Camille Cretegny: The more women we have at the top of our companies, the easier it is to motivate young women to start this great profession. Our study shows that the profession is also open to women.

The proportion of women in viticulture and wine technology education professions in Switzerland is remarkable. In German-speaking Switzerland, the rate is 25 percent, according to Jürg Bachofner (63), director general of the German-speaking Swiss wine industry association. In Ticino, two out of 19 apprentices are women. At the agricultural school in Châteauneuf (VS), the proportion of women in viticulture is 22 percent and in wine technology 17 percent.

However, these figures should be treated with caution as the number of students is very low, meaning a girl may have more or a boy less significant influence. The proportion of women at Changins College of Oenology has increased from ten percent over the decades to 38 percent today.

What prejudices do women still struggle with in wine production?
Camille: I think there are still reservations about the physical difficulty of the job or the use of machinery in the vineyard. Prejudices are related to the work done in the vineyard rather than winemaking in the cellar.
Selin: Now should I say that women already have to be “better” in every profession in order to break down prejudices? Seriously, women are accepted and respected in this profession.
– Emilienne: Fortunately, a lot has happened and I think women are respected in the industry. We are on the right track. Derogatory comments have become rare, even if you have to assert yourself as a team leader! I’m more worried about salaries. Are they the same for men and women? Or about the opportunity for women to take over a business. I am also interested in regulating working hours. The aim is for women to be able to work part-time in production and maintain a family life.

Source : Blick