As Belle & Bottle grows from an online wine club to a robust community of women in wine, from winemakers to winery owners, industry association executives, retailers, and wine enthusiasts from around the world, we thought it was time to share the story of how the company was born.

In this week’s podcast/video post, Founder Laura Huston tells us what drew her into the world of wine, how she got Belle & Bottle going as a local wine club, and what inspired her to pivot to an e-commerce business.

Belle & Bottle has just launched a crowdfunding campaign with iFundWomen to help expand the business and pay it forward by establishing a method to support female founders. Why? Because while many women are starting up businesses in industries that are all connected to wine - agriculture, food, hospitality, and travel - we still lack the resources to build, grow, and connect with customers. Not just fiscal resources, but marketing, promotion, customer acquisition, operations… all of it.

Belle & Bottle wants to help change that.

To learn more about our commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs and to contribute to the crowdfunding campaign - there are some truly fabulous rewards to check out! — go here.

Enjoy the episode!

From episode 7 of the Belle & Bottle podcast, a clip from Laura’s conversation with Stacy about her approach to writing about wine and the importance of continuing education.

Stacy Briscoe, Managing Editor of Wine Enthusiast Magazine, joins Laura this week to share her journey into wine journalism and wine education. She tells us how she got her start and discusses her focus on regenerative agriculture, which she has written about extensively. Laura and Stacy discuss the experience of being a woman in the wine industry and the importance of having a supportive network, and Stacy shares some of her favorite wine recommendations.

Stacy joined Wine Enthusiast in 2022 after freelance writing for the publication for several years. Previous to this role, she was the managing editor for Wine Industry Network, the assistant editor of Wine Business Monthly and staff writer of Wines & Vines magazine. She has also written freelance for numerous publications including SevenFifty Daily, Sonoma Magazine and the SF Chronicle, among many others. Stacy regularly speaks at wine industry events, has completed her WSET Diploma, teaches WSET courses at the Napa Valley Wine Academy and, most recently, has been accepted as a Master of Wine Stage 1 student.

This week’s guest is Lacey Lybecker, co -owner and president of Cairdeas Winery in Lake Chelan, Washington. Lacey joins Laura to talk about opportunities for women in the wine industry and why she and her husband decided to start Cairdeas Winery, despite limited resources. Lacey and Laura discuss the importance of hospitality, lessons learned from the restaurant business, and Lacey tells us about some of the wines she’s loving right now.

Lacey is the President and co-owner of Cairdeas Winery. She manages the business operations including marketing and sales; but also loves taking part in harvest cellar work, tending the vines, blending, and bottling. Prior to working full time at the winery, Lacey held marketing management roles in the fields of nonprofit, events and hospitality. Currently, she serves on the Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and is the Vice Chair of the Washington State Wine Commission Board of Directors. Lacey & her husband Charlie (the other co-owner) are also raising two boys and a vineyard seemed like the best backyard for their kids to grow up in.

This week, Laura welcomes Luanne Boushey of Washington's acclaimed Boushey Vineyards. She and her husband Dick Boushey planted their first commercial vineyard in 1980. A former teacher, Luanne tells Laura about embracing all aspects of winemaking and why building relationships with small wineries has been a key aspect of their success.

Luanne shares the story about her unexpected her journey into wine, starting with her father's passion for wine and family travels through Europe. After she met her husband, the couple took a risk and planted their first commercial vineyard in 1980. They have since expanded their vineyard holdings and now sell grapes to about 55 wineries, focusing on building relationships with small producers and continuing to support the Washington Wine community. Luanne emphasizes the importance of learning about all aspects of winemaking, shares tories about the grassroots marketing efforts they used to promote their wines in the early days, and discusses the Women of Washington Wine event, which aims to honor and recognize the achievements of women in the industry. Enjoy the episode!

Lauren Buzzeo, founder /editor / and publisher of Full Pour Magazine, joins Laura to talk about her journey into the wine industry and the creation of her own publication. She shares her philosophy of providing a platform that tells the stories, history, and culture behind different categories of drinks. She also explains the unique advertising program of Full Pour Magazine, which includes spotlighting nonprofits and a crowdfunding initiative called the Flow Into Community program, which is a partnership with advertisers to support a nonprofit spotlight page in each issue. She and Laura discuss being a woman in the industry and Lauren shares her recommendations for a wide range of beverages, including South African Chenin Blanc, infused seltzers, non-alcoholic options like Curious elixirs, and sour beers.

Lauren has nearly two decades of experience in publishing and drinks media, formerly as the Executive Editor at Wine Enthusiast, where she occupied a variety of roles throughout her more than 15 year tenure, and prior to that at a business management firm for authors and publishing houses, working in client relations, contracts and back-of-house administrative functions. A champion of informative yet approachable and accessible drinks journalism, she appreciates equal-opportunity enjoyment of quality consumables across a wide range of categories as well as the lifestyle that finds room and openness for them all. When not enjoying a glass of South African Chenin Blanc, a good stout or an infused cocktail, she can be found enjoying food prepared by her chef husband or playing with her two kids and two fur babies.

Follow Lauren on Instagram @laurbuzzed

Sarah Goedhart, head winemaker for Hedges Family Estate, joins Laura to talk about the family vineyard, the difference between organic and biodynamic farming and the benefits it brings to the land and the wines. Hedges Family Estate is committed to producing high-quality wines with minimal intervention, including a biodynamic Cabernet and a single-varietal Syrah. Sarah talks about their strong focus on sustainability and commitment to employing women in key roles, including vineyard manager, head chef, and hospitality director.

Elizabeth Keyser, winemaker at Rocky Pond Estates, shares her unexpected journey into wine, from her days as a marketer in New York to wine innovator in Washington. Liz discusses establishing a new AVA, the sustainable practices implemented at Rocky Pond, and shares her perspective on being a woman in the wine industry. Liz and Laura also talk about standout wines from the Rocky Pond portfolio and the exciting expansion that the winery is currently undergoing.

In this episode, Hillary Sjolund shares her journey, from her introduction to wine at UC Davis to working at both Pine Ridge and Di Stefano Wineries, to starting her own business. She discusses her transition to Sonoma County, the key moments that shaped her approach, and the importance of balancing art and science. She shares her experience of building Aperture Winery alongside founder Jesse Katz, and offers advice for women looking to pursue a career in winemaking. She also shares what’s next at Aperture, and some of the wines she’s loving right now. Enjoy!

In this episode:

01:55 Hillary’s Career in Wine: From California to Washington

04:17 Starting Own Laboratory Business

07:47 Key Moment in Wine Journey

10:55 Balancing Art and Science in Winemaking

28:13 Advice for Women in Winemaking

28:40 Finding Your Passion

33:22 The Importance of Perseverance and Learning from Mistakes

34:19 Opportunities and Challenges in the Wine Industry

39:05Exciting Wines and Vineyards at Aperture Wines

44:57 Distinct Profiles of Wines from Different Regions (and what she’s drinking now)

For too long, wine has been presented as a special product reserved for those who can afford it, or those who can drink it “knowledgeably”. One thing is right - wine is special. But, good wine doesn’t require you to be an expert to drink it. 

Belle & Bottle is committed to changing the conversation about wine, especially for women. To understand a bit more about what we mean when we say “wine from the female perspective”, this Forbes article has some clues. “…because the wine-making industry is traditionally male dominated, the marketing is likely to be dictated from a male perspective.” Which means that you might not choose a great bottle because the label doesn’t speak to you as a woman, as mentioned in that Forbes piece, or the mass market wine industry isn’t talking about the small production, family or women-run wineries. We want to change that. Our mission is to bring you the stories of the people and places behind the unforgettable bottles you haven’t discovered yet. The podcast talks about wine from the female perspective, but it is for everyone to enjoy.

In this podcast, Belle & Bottle founder Laura Huston welcomes winemakers, sommeliers, chefs, industry experts - and, people who love wine — to have a conversation about what they’re drinking, what’s in the bottle, and the wineries that we should all know about! The first episode drops on Thursday, June 6 and will be available everywhere. Listen, subscribe, share, leave us a rating and review. Cheers!