International Associated Women In WineInternational Associated Women In WineInternational Associated Women In Wine

June 2006
General assembly in Santorini Greece
5th  Meeting of the International Association of Women of Wine
in  Santorini Greece

The fifth congress and fourth general assembly of the International Association of Women of Wine was held with great success in Santorini from Thursday the 1st until Sunday the 4th June 2006 in the congress centre "Petros Nomiko's" in Santorini.

The "Greek Women of Wine" who were responsible for the organisation of both congress and general assembly took pleasure in welcoming to our country delegations from Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Germany and Hungary.

During the congress elections were held for the new board of the International Association members of which are as follows:  

  • Coraline de Wurstemberger  (Les Artisanes de la Vigne et du Vin -  Switzerland),  President
  • Sonia De Galimberti  (Amavi  Spain),  Vice-president, 
  • Sabina Mosbacher  (Vinissima -  Germany),  Treasurer,
  • Krisztina Sajgo  (Hungarian Lady of Wine,  Hungary),  Secretary, 
  • Mary-Irene Triantafillou  (Greek Women of Wine), Communication Officer,
  • Rosangela Riccadonna  (Le Donne del Vino -  Italy),  member
  • Françoise Rigord, France – member

The International Association accepted as new members the following associations; The Women of Tokay from Hungary, Brazil and Femmes Vigne Rhone from France. Thus bringing the total member associations to 12 with an approximate total of 2.662 members internationally.

Associations from other countries also expressed an interest in becoming members next year.

Le Donne del Vino undertook to organize the next general assembly in Italy. This will be held in Verona in November 2007. 

Following the initiative of the Greek Women of wine to carry out research on the subject  "Women as Wine buyers and consumers", and to present the results at the general assembly, the new board decided to ask all members to carry out the same research in their country and to present the results in the next general assembly, in Italy 2007.

The objectives of the research were firstly to collect information concerning the role that wine plays in women’s every day life, to understand the psychology of women as buyers and consumers, to create a marketing tool for the associations of women of wine in each country, but also for wine companies attempting to reach the female market,  to gain a better idea of the market and to give ideas to the international association how better to help and inform consumers worldwide and finally as a means by which the International Association of Women in Wine might become better known.

During the congress visits and tastings were made at the following wineries; Gaia, Costas Antoniou, Boutari and Paris Sigalas giving participants the opportunity to see the unique vineyards of Santorini and to taste wines from the local varieties such as Assyrtico, Athiri, Aidani and Mavrotragano the only red variety grown on Santorini. 

On the final day of the congress a wine exhibition was held giving the chance to the participants at the conference, the professionals of Santorini but also participants at the "Ambelos" Conference (international scientific conference on vines and wine) which was being held simultaneously at the Petros Nomikos centre, to taste wines from the different regions of Greece, but also from the  foreign producers of countries that participated in the congress.

The congress was supported by the following sponsors: SEO (Hellenic Federation of Wine Producers), HEPO and the companies HELIOTOPOS, conference organizers and GAIA FOODS.  Considerable help was also given by EDOAO (National Interprofessional Organisation of Vine and Wine).