The wine industry is run by a “boys’ club”

The food industry has long been dominated by men, and the wine industry is no different: In an interview with the New York Times this week, Amy Bess Cook, founder of Woman-Owned Wineries, says that her research has shown that out of 10,000 wineries in the United States, only 600 are owned by women. The San Francisco Chronicle recently published an investigation into sexual misconduct and assault allegations against Dominic Foppoli, a winery co-owner and mayor of Windsor, a small town in the heart of California’s Wine Country. The story has underscored how the industry has long been run by a “boys’ club.” In addition, the wine industry can be difficult to break into unless you have money and connections. “There’s just a wall unless you come in with generational wealth or get investors,” says Cook.