Our Story
Founded by acclaimed author, Deborah Brenner, Women of the Vine is an assembler of sustainable grape growers and winemakers into a collaboration to bring their products to market under one brand. Women of the Vine is proud to donate to Farm Aid and support keeping America’s family farmers on the land.
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For 16 years, Brenner traveled the world as a marketer of computer technology used by television and film studios and was involved in four successful high end technology startups. She found success as an executive but she longed for a change and to unleash her entrepreneurial spirit.
From 2002-2005, Ms. Brenner ran her own marketing and public relations firm, SmallFishBigPond, and worked with many prestigious companies such as Cinecitta Studios of Rome, Quantel, NBC and CNBC.
But her passion for food and wine led to a trip to the Napa Valley and a fortuitous lunch with Karen Cakebread, from Cakebread Cellars. Curiosity and her journalism education prompted Brenner to do more research on women in the winemaking business. The idea for Women of the Vine was born, and Brenner was soon trekking to California to interview passionate (and famous) winemaking women entrepreneurs.
In the process, Brenner realized that along with the book, she could champion these women more directly by going into the business herself, so the Women of the Vine® label was born.
Women of the Vine was selected in December 2007 by "Wine Spectator" magazine as Critical Reading, the best new books of the year for any wine lover’s library. Ms. Brenner was recently awarded the "2010 NYC National Association of Women Business Owners Signature Award", the "2009 NY Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion of the Year" and the "University of Delaware Presidential Citation Award for Outstanding Achievement". Brenner also received the “Rising Star” Award by Women for WineSense at their annual conference at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA.
From 2002-2005, Ms. Brenner ran her own marketing and public relations firm, SmallFishBigPond, and worked with many prestigious companies such as Cinecitta Studios of Rome, Quantel, NBC and CNBC.
But her passion for food and wine led to a trip to the Napa Valley and a fortuitous lunch with Karen Cakebread, from Cakebread Cellars. Curiosity and her journalism education prompted Brenner to do more research on women in the winemaking business. The idea for Women of the Vine was born, and Brenner was soon trekking to California to interview passionate (and famous) winemaking women entrepreneurs.
In the process, Brenner realized that along with the book, she could champion these women more directly by going into the business herself, so the Women of the Vine® label was born.
Women of the Vine was selected in December 2007 by "Wine Spectator" magazine as Critical Reading, the best new books of the year for any wine lover’s library. Ms. Brenner was recently awarded the "2010 NYC National Association of Women Business Owners Signature Award", the "2009 NY Small Business Administration Women in Business Champion of the Year" and the "University of Delaware Presidential Citation Award for Outstanding Achievement". Brenner also received the “Rising Star” Award by Women for WineSense at their annual conference at the Culinary Institute of America in St. Helena, CA.
She was also named one of the People of the Year by Rockland Magazine in 2007 and is a recipient of the "40 under 40" Award given by the Rockland County Economic Development Corporation. The award is given to honor Rockland businessmen and women who are making their mark on Rockland County through their commitment to growth, development, professional excellence and the community-at-large.
Ms. Brenner resides in New York.
